Advocacy & Impact Investing

Mary Ann is a board member, donor, and investor in innovative technologies and solutions for education, conservation, and equitable business.

Beyster Foundation for Enterprise Development

In 2005, Mary Ann became President of the Foundation for Enterprise Development, which was created in 1986 by her late father, Bob Beyster.  The foundation supports research, education, and programs that advance innovation, entrepreneurship and broad-based employee ownership.  Mary Ann has received awards for exceptional impact in employee ownership, and recognitions for start-up/small business innovation.  Initiatives launched include the Beyster Institute and the J.R. Beyster Special Collection at UCSD, the Rutgers’ Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, the Curriculum Library for Employee Ownership, EO Coursera, the Beyster Professorship, Fellows & Symposium, Rutgers/Aspen Institute EO Ideas DC Forum, EO Training in Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth at UMICH, Employee Participation and Ownership Scholarly Research Award at Academy of Management, and Best Paper Prize for Journal of Participation and Employee Ownership.  Published “The SAIC Solution” and “Names, Numbers, and Network Solutions”, and produced “We the Owners” documentary film.  Support to Platform Cooperatives through the Start.Coop accelerator. Cooperative/Social Enterprise development through The Industrial Commons , San Diego Food Systems Alliance’s Equitable Food Systems and Local Food Economy Lab, and regional Community Development Financial Institutions.

Non-Profit Membership

Mary Ann is Trustee of Beyster Family Foundations in support of health and human services, education, and art & culture, primarily in the San Diego region. She is also an active board member and initiative sponsor at leading academic and non-profits in climate and sustainability, public education, and performing arts.

Trustee Emeriti

Director's Council

Medallion Member, Board Member

Emeritus CA Board Member

Producer Club, Hall of Fame

Sustainability Sponsor; Former Board Member

Founder, Sustainability Scholarships

Innovation Competitions and Acceleration

Mary Ann is a founding sponsor and advisor to Start.Coop, UCSD’s Entrepreneur Challenge, StartR, Veteran Ventures, and StartBlue.  She has been a judge for two major social innovation competitions-JMK Innovation Fund and MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change.

Founding Sponsor

Application Evaluator

Application Evaluator

Founding Sponsor

Founding Sponsor

Impact Investing

Impact investing extends Mary Ann’s philanthropy and community involvement. Her portfolio includes investor notes, bonds, venture fund and equity positions to advance environmental health, community/worker well-being, and equitable wealth creation.

Her research in this field includes a published report in 2016 titled, Impact Investing and Employee Ownership: Making employee-owned enterprises part of the income inequality solution.  Read more here.

Member of EnVest, an investor membership organization in support of investment opportunities across range of environmental themes.