Javier Alberto Soto

As President and CEO of The Miami Foundation—a community foundation helping individuals, families and corporations deepen the impact they make with philanthropy—Javier has successfully transformed the Foundation’s brand and positioned the organization as a prominent leader in the South Florida community. Most recently, he led the development of two new Foundation initiatives: "Our Miami: Soul of the City", which is focused on the development, retention and recruitment of young, creative talent in Miami and "Give Miami Day," a 24 hour on-line charitable giving event that raised $1.2M for 300 non-profits in Miami. Prior to joining the Foundation, Javier served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Dutko Worldwide, a multi-disciplinary public affairs firm. He spent much of his career in the public sector as a litigator in the Miami-Dade County Attorney's Office; the County's Director of Intergovernmental Affairs; and as Chief of Staff to County Mayor Alex Penelas. Javier also worked as a litigation associate at Holland & Knight. He is active on a number of community and professional association boards including: Board of Directors for TotalBank, a community bank; Chairman of Knight Foundation's Community Advisory Board; Board of Directors and Chairman of the Public Policy Committee of the Council on Foundations; Board of Directors for the Florida Philanthropic Network; and Member of the Orange Bowl Committee. Javier graduated cum laude in History and Political Science from Florida State University and earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a member of the 2013 Class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.