Impact Investing Fundamentals

Rebecca Gilliam began serving as the Executive Director of the Wayne County Foundation at the end of 2019.  She grew up in Richmond, Indiana and attended Indiana University completing her BS in Biology and the University of Minnesota, Duluth earning her Master’s Degree in Education. Rebecca began her professional career working in the museum field. Prior to taking the role at the Foundation she served the Muncie and Delaware County community as of Vice President - Visitor Experiences at Minnetrista - leading a team of professionals that created dynamic natural and cultural experiences for the East Central Indiana region. In 2023, Rebecca was selected as a Mitch Daniels Leadership Fellow which enables her to connect with thought leaders across the state. At the Foundation, she is excited to help individuals and families create a philanthropic legacy and support nonprofit organizations through grantmaking and educational resources.

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.