Explore impact investing fundamentals in this webinar tailored to serve both staff and board members.
Reasons to Attend:
- Navigate Technicalities | It’s easy to get lost in the jargon and technical definitions. This webinar will help you make sense of it all.
- Discover the “Why” and “How” | Learn about what motivates some foundations to choose impact investing and explore various strategies for approaching this work.
- Gain Legal Insight | We will briefly cover the most critical legal issues and considerations surrounding impact investing.
- See Real-World Examples | The second half of the program will highlight real-world case studies from foundations in the Midwest that are using impact investing to further their charitable goals.
Who Should Attend:
- Foundations that have recently started their impact investing journey or are considering pursuing this methodology
- Staff and board members who wish to learn more about impact investing
Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Oertel, Attorney at Bodman, PLC and CMF Impact Investing Expert in Residence
Jennifer Miller Oertel is CMF's Impact Investing Expert-in-Residence and outside legal counsel. She is a member of the law firm of Bodman PLC, where she leads the firm’s Tax-exempt Organizations and Impact Investing Group. With a background in securities law, private equity and mergers & acquisitions, Jennifer utilizes her corporate law and governance skills to assist family and corporate foundations, community foundations, public charities, regional associations, trade and labor associations, chambers of commerce, religious organizations and other tax-exempt organizations as well as impact investors, impact funds, and social enterprises, in all aspects of their business.
Since 2010, Jennifer has served as co-chair of the Nonprofit Corporations Committee (Business Law Section) of the State Bar of Michigan, which holds the responsibility of reviewing and updating the state’s laws governing nonprofit corporations in addition to reviewing legislation that regulates the solicitation of charitable contributions. Jennifer has served with Council on Foundations as a legal reviewer for National Standards for Accreditation of US Community Foundations, has judged “Crain’s Best Managed Nonprofits” and Serves on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee for Exponent Philanthropy. Among other honors, Jennifer has been elected to “Crain’s Notable Women in the Law,” “Top 100 Attorneys in Michigan,” “DBusiness Top Lawyers” and “Superlawyers.”
Jennifer is highly proficient in Spanish, has a background in social work and evaluation, and holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University. She has spoken and published both locally and nationally on impact investing and philanthropy and has served as a trustee of several for-impact organizations, winning many awards for her volunteerism, including being appointed as a fellow of the Michigan Bar Association Foundation and the American Bar Association Foundation, a global honorary society of fewer than 1% of existing attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities.
A recognized authority on tax-exempt organizations law, Jennifer is the Co-Chair of the Nonprofit Corporations Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. The Nonprofit Corporations Committee reviews and updates the state law which governs nonprofit corporations and reviews legislation regulating the solicitation of charitable contributions.
She is a frequent author and speaker on impact investing and philanthropy and has served on the boards of directors of several philanthropic organizations. Jennifer frequently judges social enterprise business plan competitions and has served as a judge for many nonprofit business plan competitions and for the Crain’s Detroit Business “Best Managed Nonprofits” awards. Jennifer is a fellow with the Council of Michigan Foundations, serving as an expert in Residence for Impact Investing. She also authors a blog, “Impact Investing: From A to Z,” for the Council of Michigan Foundations.
Jennifer is proficient in Spanish. She has a degree in Social Work from Michigan State University and worked in social work and evaluation before becoming an attorney.
What is the "Midwest Partnership"?
The Midwest Partnership Series is a collaboration between the Council of Michigan Foundations, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, Philanthropy Missouri, and Philanthropy Ohio.
Programming is primarily a monthly webinar that connects funders across the four states and are typically designed for community foundations, corporate foundations and giving programs, and/or family foundations. Occasionally, a program will be relevant to all foundation types -- and all foundation types may register for any program. Also occassionally, the states partner to host an in-person learning opportunity.
Participation in the webinars is free for Member organizations; Non-Members may register for events for a fee of $50 by emailing info@philmo.org.
