Education is a high priority for many grantmakers but opportunities to use impact investing tools are less familiar to many foundation leaders today. Join Mission Investors Exchange to learn how two foundations, the Walton Family Foundation and Lumina Foundation, have built and innovated their impact investing programs in education.
This 90-minute live webinar will, through an interview-style format, take participants step by step through these foundations’ impact journeys. The conversation will include two deep dives into investment approaches developed as a result of years of learning and growing their programs to meet mission goals.
Participants will have an opportunity to pose questions, both seeded as a part of registration and taken during the live event. Speakers will offer specific advice to those interested in growing or expanding their philanthropic investing practice in education.
Speakers:
Beth Bray, Program Officer with the Walton Family Foundation
Beth Bray has served as a Program Officer with the Walton Family Foundation since 2013. In her role with the Foundation, Beth is responsible for managing K-12 investments in a number of Midwestern and Indianapolis – one of WFF’s thirteen target cities. Beth also leads Foundation giving in the area of charter school facilities. In 2016, Beth led the creation of the Building Equity Initiative, a $250 million strategic investment fund established by the Walton family to help charter schools access affordable facilities.education
Prior to joining the Foundation, Beth served as the Director of Charter Schools under Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and was responsible for the oversight of 24 public charter schools. Beth began her career in public policy as a researcher and lobbyist for The Children’s Bureau, a statewide children’s service agency, before joining the charter schools team under former Mayor Bart Peterson in 2007.
Beth holds a B.S. from Ball State University and a M.S.W. from Indiana University. She lives in Indianapolis with her husband and young son.
Holiday Hart McKiernan, Executive VP, COO and General Counsel, Lumina Foundation
Holiday Hart McKiernan is executive vice president, chief operating officer and general counsel for Lumina Foundation. She oversees operations, legal affairs and board governance. She speaks frequently on legal, governance and policy issues concerning nonprofit organizations and higher education. Holly began her career practicing law concentrating on nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations and prior to joining Lumina in 2003 was executive director and counsel for Alpha Chi Omega where she advised universities on approaches to high-risk student behavior.
She serves on the board of directors for DePauw University, Christian Theological Seminary, St. Vincent Foundation, Antioch University board of governors, the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy board of visitors, and the Council on Foundations’ public policy committee. She also serves on the Indy Chamber’s education and workforce council.
Holly received her B.A. from DePauw University and her J.D. from Indiana University.