The Jewish Funders Network has named Josh Miller, a senior program officer at the Jim Joseph Foundation, as the latest recipient of the JJ Greenberg Memorial Award, which is given to an outstanding young Jewish foundation professional.

Miller, who received the award at the 2014 JFN conference this week, was also given $5,000 to be used for professional development or tzedakah.

The award is named after JJ Greenberg, a JFN board member who was executive director of the Steinhardt Foundation/Jewish Life Network from its inception in 1995. He was instrumental in the creation of such landmark programs as Birthright Israel, the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, and the Makor/Steinhardt Center in New York.

Greenberg’s family, friends, and colleagues created and endowed the award following his 2002 death in a traffic accident when he was just 36.

The award is presented annually to an individual who, like Greenberg, exemplified the highest of Jewish values and the relentless pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life.

Miller, who has been with the Jim Joseph Foundation since 2008, manages a $34 million portfolio of grants for organizations and programs that foster Jewish learning experiences for youths.

Miller said he first met Greenberg at training sessions while a Hillel Steinhardt Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award named in JJ Greenberg’s memory. JJ was the first foundation professional I ever met,” Miller said. “His genuine kindness, humility and readiness to listen are qualities I have sought to emulate in my own practice as a program officer.”

A series of essays by past recipients of the JJ Greenberg Memorial Award can be found here.