Impact Investing Fundamentals for Foundations Series: 201-Level Session
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This event is free for CMF members.
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About the Event
Join us throughout 2025 for a multi-part series on impact investing fundamentals. Each session will focus on different aspects of this practice, growing your knowledge and your network all year. All programs will be recorded and available to CMF members on demand; live participants will benefit from live Q&A with CMF Impact Investing Expert in Residence Jennifer Oertel and guest speakers, as well as peer discussion time.
This second program in the series is a 201-Level session, walking through essentials in each core step of the impact investing process, with a deeper dive on effectively bringing your colleagues along on the impact investing journey. We’ll also discuss the steps you’ll need to take to get started in impact investing, such as designing your program and impact investment thesis, determining how much to allocate to impact investing, drafting the impact investment policy and sharpening your internal approval process. We will also offer guidance in selecting external advisors who can support your organization along your impact investing journey, and briefly discuss sourcing and structuring deals. You’ll hear real examples of impact investing in action across a variety of issue areas and deal types, and come away with insider tips for foundation staff. We will hold space to welcome your questions and offer thought partnership in talking through any current challenges and successes in your impact investing efforts.
Access the first session (101-Level) recording on YouTube as a primer or refresher on impact investing basics.
The third and final session of the series (301-Level) - taking place September 15th (1 pm) - will feature a deep dive into the deal process, using examples of various types of deals. We will cover the differences among them by way of risk, time and cost as well as return. We will also walk through more impact investing deal examples and leave ample space for Q&A.
Bert Feuss
Bert Feuss is Strategic Advisor with Community Capital Advisors (CCA), a national consultancy providing foundations with the guidance they need to prudently implement impact investing strategies. With sixteen years of community foundation leadership experience in development, finance and investments at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and over three decades of experience across philanthropic, nonprofit and corporate sectors, Bert brings extensive experience navigating growth and implementing prudent, equity-focused investment practices, policies and place-based investment strategies. At CCA, Bert leads investment consultant/OCIO searches for purpose-driven clients, and advises on governance, investment policies, and impact investing programs. Bert speaks regularly on impact investing and has served as a board or committee member for Mission Investors Exchange, FAOG, Northern California Planning Giving Council, and UC Davis Foundation.
Jennifer M. Oertel
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.
Questions?
Denise Temple via email
or call 616-850-2136