Community Culture - A Happy Hour Conversation - September 17

What would inclusion for AFP look like for you?

This is the first in a series of conversations to gather, learn, and grow a chapter culture rooted in principles of inclusion, diversity, equity and access. While open to everyone, please know this conversation is intended for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and will be facilitated by Birgit Smith Burton, Vice Chair of Membership Engagement at AFP Global,  to explore what a more inclusive AFP Greater Austin Chapter would look like. This event is FREE and open to AFP members and non-members alike. BYOD (Bring Your Own Drink).

Birgit Smith Burton is a respected leader in the fundraising profession having raised more than $500M during her 33-year career. As the executive director of foundation relations at Georgia Tech, she led her team in raising $309M toward the institute's most recent successful $1.8B capital campaign.

Birgit is a well-regarded speaker on the topics of fundraising and diversity. She has authored articles on diversity in the fundraising profession, co-authored the book, The Philanthropic Covenant with Black America and contributed to the book Five Minutes for Fundraising, A Collection of Expert Advice.  Birgit is excited to tell her personal story in the book Collecting Courage which shares the lived experiences of black women and men working in the nonprofit and charitable space – due out this fall.  She was proud to be selected by Georgia Tech leadership to participate in the first cohort of Leading Women @ Tech, which identified the next community of leaders who will guide the Institution in the 21st century and recently honored as one of the 2020 Faces of Inclusive Excellence which recognized faculty, staff, and students who are committed to gender diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Birgit serves on the global board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is Vice Chair for Membership and the immediate pas chair of the IDEA Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access).  She chairs the A.E. Lowe Grice Scholarship Fund, Hosea Helps board of directors and is an advisor for the Aspen Leadership Group. Birgit founded AADO, the African American Development Officers Network, which for 22 years has provided professional development, education, employment support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for fundraisers of color.  She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Birgit earned a bachelor's degree in media communications from Medaille College in Buffalo, New York.

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