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Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP®

Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP® is a professor at Texas Tech University where he directs the on-campus and online graduate program in Charitable Financial Planning and also teaches Charitable Gift Law at the Texas Tech University School of Law. He graduated, cum laude, from the University of Missouri School of Law where he was a member of the Missouri Law Review. While in law school he received the United Missouri Bank Award for Most Outstanding Work in Gift and Estate Taxation and Planning. He holds a Ph.D. in consumer economics from the University of Missouri, where his dissertation was on the topic of charitable giving. He worked as the Director of Planned Giving for Central Christian College, Moberly, Missouri for six years and later served as president of the college for more than five years, where he had direct and supervisory responsibility for all fundraising. During his presidency the college successfully completed two major capital campaigns, built several new debt-free buildings, and operated in the black every year after having operated in the red for 10 of the 11 previous years.

Dr. James has over 100 publications in academic journals, conference proceedings, professional periodicals, and books including 20 on neuroimaging and neuroeconomics. He has been quoted in a variety of news sources including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, the Associated Press, Bloomberg News and the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Inside the Mind of the Bequest Donor

Combining new fMRI neuroimaging results from his lab at Texas Tech University with experimental psychology, psychological theory, and survey research, Dr. Russell James will lead you inside the conscious and subconscious processes engaged by bequest decision-making. Although many fundraisers think that legacy giving is just like any other form of fundraising, these new studies using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) show just how differently the brain reacts to legacy decisions. This lively presentation by the author of the world's first published peer-reviewed research examining charitable bequest decision-making using fMRI will provide you with intensely practical suggestions for dramatically increasing success in legacy fundraising.

Each participant will receive a free copy of Dr. James’ book.

Don’t Miss Miami’s Jewish Community Study

Don’t Miss Miami’s Jewish Community Study

Don’t miss your last chance to participate in the Miami Jewish Community Study! The Miami-Dade Jewish Community Study is a once-a-decade study sponsored by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and conducted by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. The study will provide vital information on the number and makeup of Jewish households in Miami-Dade County, as well as their attitudes and needs.

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Women Lead Federation

Women Lead Federation

For the first time in the history of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, two women assume the organization’s top leadership positions. Lily Serviansky will become Chair of the Board and Mojdeh Khaghan Danial will serve as General Campaign Chair, following their installation at Federation’s 86th Annual Meeting, on Thursday, May 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Jungle Island Ballroom.

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Federation Participates in Collaborative Grant-Making

Federation Participates in Collaborative Grant-Making

Federation continues to prioritize the support of women and girls in the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attacks, this time, in partnership with 10 other nonprofit organizations through the Jewish Women’s Collective Response Fund.

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Volunteer to Chat With Ukrainians

Volunteer to Chat With Ukrainians

Make a difference in the lives of Ukrainians impacted by the ongoing conflict by volunteering to help improve their English through Connect for Good: Chat With Ukraine.

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