In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Birgit Burton, founder and CEO of the African American Development Officers Network, discusses the power of mentoring and its critical role in helping fundraisers reach their highest potential both for their own success and that of the organizations they serve. 

In her discussion with Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Susan Hosbach, Birgit talks about how mentoring has shaped her own professional development, how leaders can build a culture of mentoring—even when time is tight—and how mentors can be intentional about recognizing and nurturing talent that may not come from traditional backgrounds or networks.

About our guest

Birgit Smith Burton founded the African American Development Officers Network at Georgia Tech in 1999 to provide professional development, education, employment support, mentorship and networking opportunities for fundraisers of color. She is a well-regarded speaker on the topics of fundraising and diversity and has authored articles on diversity in the fundraising profession. 

Birgit co-authored the book, The Philanthropic Covenant with Black America, contributed to the book Five Minutes for Fundraising, A Collection of Expert Advice and tells 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.

During her 26-year career at Georgia Tech she led her team in raising over $700 million from private philanthropic foundations to support programs, scholarships and capital projects. 

For over a decade, she has served on the global board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has the distinction of being the first African American woman in AFP’s history to be voted chair of the AFP Global Board. 

Birgit received the Opportunity and Inclusion Award from CASE, which recognized her leadership in fostering inclusion and diversity within the fundraising profession. In 2020 the R.I.S.E. Fund was established in Birgit’s honor with a mission to advance women of color in fundraising by providing Resources, Inspiration, Support and Education.

Connect with Birgit on LinkedIn
African American Development Officers Network
AFP Global