Edward C. Miller

Edward C. Miller was born in New York City in 1892. The young man—known to all as “E.C.”—worked as the business manager of the West Side YMCA. In 1917, YMCA board members encouraged Miller to work on the War Savings Stamp Plan in Washington. E.C. Miller joined the Navy less than a year later and worked in naval intelligence for the duration of World War I.

Anguished by stories of the atrocities against Christian minorities in Asia Minor, he joined NER in 1919 and served as Assistant Treasurer. Miller continued to work for the organization during the transition to NEF, rising to treasurer and controller in the early 1930s. Constantly on the lookout for ways to help business operations run more smoothly, he developed an accounting system for fundraising agencies that became widely used in the philanthropic community. Miller was named Executive Director of NEF in 1937.

In February 1939, Miller was made a Chevalier of the Greek Order of the Phoenix by King George in appreciation of NEF’s work and in honor of Miller’s twentieth year with the organization. King Zog of Albania named Miller a Knight Commander of the Order of Skanderbeg for NEF’s assistance in developing Albanian schools.

Miller was instrumental in the collaboration between NEF and UNRRA during World War II. After World War II, Miller continued to develop collaborations between public and private agencies involved in overseas work. Miller retired in 1957 after 38 years with the organization, including 20 years as its director. He continued to serve as a consultant and secretary to the Board of Directors. He also taught seminars at Columbia University and New York University. Miller was a founder of the New York Office Management Association and the New York Council of Social Agencies. E.C. Miller died in August 1963.

Miller’s grandson, Ronald Miller, served on the NEF Board of Directors for many years.