Jill Miller is President & CEO of Bethesda Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that is both co-sponsor of TriHealth, a leading integrated health care system in Southwest Ohio, and creator of bi3, grantmaking initiative to transform the health and well being of all people in Greater Cincinnati.
Since 2010, bi3 has granted more than $56 million, making it one of Ohio’s largest health-based grantmakers. Under Jill’s leadership, bi3 invests in innovative ideas that have the potential to lead to breakthrough change in health practices – focusing on maternal/infant health, behavioral health, and addressing the social determinants of health. With a goal of reducing health disparities, achieving health equity is central to bi3’s mission.
Under her leadership, bi3 fueled new care models to reduce infant mortality, improve access to care, address social determinants of health, enhance end-of-life care, and improve health equity. Addressing these issues are essential for creating significant improvement in community health and in healthcare delivery. Jill has shared the work of bi3 locally, regionally and nationally through various speaking engagements.
Earlier in her career, Jill founded and led the Joey Votto Foundation, where she managed and facilitated grants, created new grassroots programs, and built meaningful relationships with community partners. She served as development director at Ronald McDonald House, where she exceeded fundraising goals, facilitated organizational change, and led efforts to empower board members and community volunteers. Jill also has held leadership roles in the financial and insurance industries.
In 2020, Jill served as Chair of the Funders Collaborative that helped guide the decision-making processes associated with the COVID-19 Regional Response Fund. The Fund rapidly mobilized to provide community grants to support the most vulnerable in our community. Jill also serves on Miami University’s Economics Advisory Board and Bethesda Foundation Board of Trustees.
She is a 2016 YWCA Rising Star, a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 39 and the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2016 Forty Under 40 class. Jill holds a Business Economics degree from Miami University and MBA from Xavier University.
Reflection
Professor Melissa Thomasson is the reason I majored in business economics and participated in the honors economics program my senior year. She challenged me to think critically and differently about the world around me. However upon graduation in 2003, my career path was unclear and the economy was weak due to the early 2000 recession. I knew I did not want to go into public policy, work at a central bank or attend graduate school (I prefer economic theory over econometrics), but unfortunately was not exposed to many other career options, especially in the nonprofit sector. Thus, I decided just to get my feet wet and accepted a position as an insurance underwriter.
I have had many "tours of duty" over the past thirteen years, serving as a budget analyst, financial analyst, professional fundraiser, nonprofit entrepreneur, and grant maker. My relationship building skills and sincere interest in people have allowed me to build a strong professional network which allows me to take on more risk. I have benefited from several mentors through the years, each contributing to my development and success. I recently was asked to write my six word memoir: Take a chance, never give up.
Personally, I want to leave a legacy of random acts of kindness and inspire my two daughters to do the same. I want my daughters to send Thinking of You cards for no reason. I want them to compliment the person working the drive-thru window and thank the janitor who cleans the floors. I want them to help someone up when they have been knocked down and offer forgiveness when they are wronged. I try to live each day by Maya Angelou's quote: People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.