Chicago Philanthropy: Doubling Down on Mission

Richard Driehaus

Richard H. Driehaus is the architect of Driehaus Capital Management's equity investment philosophy. As Chief Investment Officer, he has overall responsibility for ensuring the integrity of the equity investment philosophy and reviewing absolute and relative investment performance of various equity strategies.

Driehaus has been featured in numerous print and television financial media. Barron’s named Diehaus to its 20^th Century All-Star Team, identifying him as one of the most influential members of the investment community during the past century.

From 1968 through 1973, Driehaus developed research ideas for the institutional trading department at A.G. Becker & Co. In 1973, he became Director of Research for Mullaney, Wells & Co and in 1976, he became Director of Research and a money manager for Jesup & Lamont. He founded Driehaus Securities in 1979, followed by Driehaus Capital Management in 1982 and Driehaus Mutual Funds in 1996.

He holds a B.S.C., an MBA, and an honorary doctorate degree from DePaul University.

Jennifer Fortner

Jennifer A. Fortner is a Managing Director in the Investment Management Division (IMD) of Goldman Sachs in Chicago. She works with privately held business owners, high net worth individuals, and foundations advising on wealth management strategies including: asset allocation, portfolio implementation, and charitable planning. Fortner is a Member of the Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management Top Advisors and Leadership Councils, founder and former Co-Head of the GS Chicago Diversity Network and the GS Chicago Women’s Network, a Member of the Operating Committee for the IMD Women’s Network, and a volunteer for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women and 10,000 Small Business initiatives. Fortner also serves as a Senior Managing Director Champion for the GS Disability Interest Forum and is the Divisional Recruiting Team Captain for the Chicago Booth School of Business. She joined Goldman Sachs in 1998 as a financial analyst and was named to her current position in 2011. 

In the community, Fortner is Chair of Special Olympics Illinois, which provides programming in sports, health, education, and community building for more than 22,000 athletes, 20,000 young athletes, and 45,000 volunteers throughout the state of Illinois. She is a Board Member and Investment Committee Member of Big Shoulders, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for inner-city Catholic schools located in Chicago’s most underserved communities, and a Member of the Visionary Leaders Council for “All Are Welcome”, working to build the capacity of Catholic Schools to serve the needs of students with disabilities. Jenny also serves as an Advisory Board Member for ARZU, a Member of The University of Chicago’s Women’s Board, and a past Member of the Visiting Committee for the University of Chicago.

Jenny was a recent fellow (2016) in the Leadership Greater Chicago program. In 2013, Jenny won the Distinguished Alumna award at her high school, Mother McAuley, for implementing a pilot program for teaching financial literacy. In 2008, she won the Highest Leaf Award for leadership and entrepreneurship from the Women’s Venture Fund. Jenny earned a BA in Psychology with Phi Beta Kappa honors from The University of Chicago in 1998. Jenny lives in the south suburbs of Chicago with her husband and their three children.

Maria Kim

Maria Kim is the President and CEO of the Cara Program, a social purpose organization dedicated to activating people and communities through the power of employment. Kim was appointed to her current role in 2014 after serving as Chief Operating Officer. Before joining Cara in 2005, Kim spent 13 years in the insurance industry. In her last private sector position, she led the technology division of a $400m insurance firm.

Cara helps men and women affected by poverty—and often the interrelated challenges of recovery, domestic violence, episodic homelessness, and incarceration—secure permanent employment through a comprehensive range of training, support, and job placement services. Since its inception in 1991, Cara has placed more than 5,100 individuals into quality, permanent employment at retention rates over 20 points higher than national averages.

The results don’t just end with employment, though. Over 80% of employed participants move onto permanent housing in which their families can thrive. They also maintain market-competitive businesses that create gateway jobs for those they serve. Cara was named by Chicago Magazine as one of the city's Top 20 Standout NonProfits to Support this Season for 2015 and was selected as the 2015 Social Innovator by the Chicago Innovation Awards.

Outside of Cara, Kim serves on the State of Illinois 21st Century Workforce Development Fund Advisory Committee and the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation. Her social purpose experience includes past board leadership at Horizons for Youth and her current role as a Founding Board Member for the EPIC Academy, a charter high school in South Chicago. Kim also serves on the boards of Rebuilding Exchange and Chicago Women in Philanthropy. She was a fellow for Leadership Greater Chicago's Class of 2008, served on the board for the Leadership Fellows Association in 2009 and 2010, was a 2012 American Marshall Memorial Fellow, and a 2013 TEDxMidwest Emerging Leader.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Joshua Hale

Joshua D. Hale is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Big Shoulders Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for inner-city Catholic schools located in Chicago’s most underserved communities in Chicago. Hale was appointed to his current position in 2012, after having served as Executive Director since 2005.

Founded in 1986, the Big Shoulders Fund raises $18-20 million annually and has a $45 million endowment to support 77 schools (64 elementary and 13 high schools) serving nearly 21,000 students – 80% minority and 61% living in poverty. Annual investments are focused on scholarships, operational management, professional development programs, health/wellness, leadership development, and an adopt-a-schoolprogram.

Hale is also involved with numerous professional and philanthropic organizations. He was a fellow in the Leadership Greater Chicago program and an inaugural member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Emerging Leaders Program. Currently, Hale serves on the Executive Committee of the School Board for the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Forums Committee of the Economic Club of Chicago, and the Board of Directors of The Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago. He is a member of The Chicago  Club, the Chicago Commonwealth Club, and of Vistage International. In 2010, Hale was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of Chicago’s “40 Under 40”.

Before joining the Big Shoulders Fund, Hale served as Director of Development / Public Relations at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. The model that Cristo Rey was founded on has since been replicated in other schools across the country. Prior to that, he worked for The Hale Group, Ltd., a strategic management consulting firm.

After graduating from Marquette University, Hale entered the Jesuit Volunteer International program and spent two years as a volunteer educator in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. He resides in Chicago with his wife and their two sons.