Birgit Smith Burton

Birgit Smith Burton is the executive director for Foundation Relations at Georgia Tech. She is a respected leader in the fundraising profession and a well-regarded speaker on the topics of fundraising and diversity. Birgit has authored articles and co-authored books including The Philanthropic Covenant with Black America. Recently, she received the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s 2020 Opportunity and Inclusion Award.

As the current chair-elect for the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ (AFP) global board, Birgit will serve in 2023 as the first African American woman chair in the organization's 60-year history. She serves as board chair for the A.E. Lowe Grice Scholarship Fund and Hosea Helps. Birgit founded the African American Development Officers Network, which provides professional development and networking opportunities for fundraisers of color. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Birgit earned her BA in media communications from Medaille College in Buffalo, New York.