After six years on BEF’s board of directors, Jennifer Burran concludes her service next month, and we’re incredibly grateful for her contributions. During her tenure on the board, she served as board chair during the 2020-2021 school year, guiding the organization through its first responses to the pandemic. She’s worked in philanthropy for more than 20 years, including at the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Lemelson Foundation, and is now the director of grant operations at the Fidelity Foundations. She has two children who spent many years in the Beaverton School District. We asked Jennifer a few questions about her inspiration for supporting BEF and how her professional background influences her legacy with us.
Why did you join the BEF board?
Not long after my family moved here from Baltimore, I considered volunteering for our school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), but when I heard about BEF, it was really intriguing. I have this passion for creating equitable experiences for children and I thought that through BEF, I could contribute on a larger scale. I could impact all of the schools, not just one.
How has your background working in philanthropy benefited BEF?
I have a unique lens for understanding what funders look for in terms of organizational strengths, and that includes diversity. Diversity can manifest itself in leadership, board membership and the funding base. I started conversations with the board and BEF’s executive director Kristine Baggett about diversifying the organization and especially the board, and I think we’re starting to make good progress there.
What are you most proud of from your time on the BEF board?
As I said, we’ve really stepped up recruitment of a diverse board, which is very important to me. I’m also really proud of my contributions related to operations, since that’s a skill set I bring to the board. I was on the team that revamped the Beaverton’s Choice platform and marketing plan a few years ago, and I’ve worked with the staff to document policies and procedures. I also feel really good about the types of projects we’ve funded, including the Middle School Trades Exploration Program and Camp Achieve.
What impresses you most about BEF?
BEF demonstrates community strength as a collective, that’s the magic of BEF. It brings together so many different businesses and individuals in Beaverton to support the schools and appreciate all our teachers and educators. It gives me a sense of community and that I’m contributing to a larger effort.
What are your favorite things to do in Beaverton?
I love spending time outdoors in the beautiful parks in Beaverton, whether it’s the Tualatin Hills Nature Park or the pathways through Bethany.