The Birgit Burton R.I.S.E. Fund

for Women of Color in Fundraising

Meet Birgit

Birgit Smith Burton was 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.

Birgit’s career in fundraising has been a 33-year labour of love. From the start, her focus has been to create a sector that’s inclusive and reflective of the community. In 1999, she started the African American Development Officers Network (AADO), an organization with a mission to provide professional development, education, employment support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for fundraisers of color.

In 2021, Birgit made history as the first African American female to join the election slate as chair-elect of the sixty-year old, Association of Fundraising Professionals. Birgit will make history again in 2022, as the first African American female chair of the association. Under her leadership, AFP has introduced new initiatives to welcome and advance underrepresented fundraisers into the association and sector.

Birgit also serves as board chair for the A.E. Lowe Grice Scholarship Fund and Hosea Helps. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Birgit earned her BA in media communications from Medaille College in Buffalo, New York.

The Fund’s mission is to advance women of color in fundraising by providing Resources, Inspiration, Support, and Education (R.I.S.E.)

About the Fund

The R.I.S.E. Fund seeks to complement, not compete with, other educational awards, funds and organizations working to advance women of color in the fundraising profession. We encourage our donors to support the various awards advancing the education of women of color in fundraising.

Founded by a group of Black female fundraisers and working with allied organizations also supporting the advancement of women of color in fundraising, the R.I.S.E. Fund will annually contribute $2,000 USD to each allied organization to award educational stipends to eligible recipients selected from among their membership.

Funds must be used within 18-months of receiving the award

Eligibility Requirements

R.I.S.E Fund applicants must:

Be a woman of color living in the US or Canada
Have fundraising and/or development designated as their primary responsibility in their organization

The following groups of individuals are not eligible to receive the educational stipend:

Any and all officers, managers or trustees of any of the allied organizations
Any and all members of the selection committee of any of the allied organizations
Any and all substantial contributor to any of the allied organizations
Any US or Canadian government officials
Any and all family members of the above listed groups

Permitted usage of the educational stipend

The educational stipend can be spent on any combination of the following:

Registration fee and travel to a fundraising education session or conference
Any academic course which positively impacts the applicants fundraising career
Membership fee to fundraising membership organization
Initial certification or recertification fee for the CFRE Certification Exam

Selection Criteria

Each allied organization will independently develop and implement its bias-free selection criteria
Annually, allied organizations will nominate one eligible candidate from among its membership
The educational stipend will be awarded on an objective basis

Allied Organizations

Currently there are four allied organizations. Organizations working for the education and/or advancement of women of color in fundraising are welcome to participate. To find out more about becoming an allied organization contact us.

The Rooted Collaborative

The Rooted Collaborative ™ is a global community focused on the holistic evolution and advancement of female leaders of color in the social impact sector. Our goal is to help women of colour cultivate their unique personal, professional and wellness goals that will help them design and live a purpose-driven life.
With a growing online community that spans over sixteen countries, including the U.S, Canada, the UK and South Africa, we’ve learned a thing or two about building relationships that extend beyond borders. It’s kinda our superpower.
At The Rooted Collaborative ™, we believe that living a contented and balanced lifestyle comes from utilizing multiple pathways to achieve overall health and wellbeing. We work to ensure you reach your desired goals for the life and success YOU want.

Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective

We are a collective of Black identifying people, rooted in the historic tradition of Ubuntu, “I am, because we are.”
We inspire and elevate our fundraising sector as the leading advocate and thought collective for Black Canadian philanthropy.
We do that through empowering Black fundraisers, creating learning opportunities, inspiring Black philanthropy and cultivating meaningful partnerships for the benefit of Black non-profit professionals.

F3 – Fabulous Female Fundraisers

F3 was founded out of a need to support women of color in the field of nonprofit fundraising who are often marginalized, overlooked, and dismissed. A small group of women in Atlanta, GA convened bi-monthly to provide support for one another. Common experiences, respect for individual contributions, and passion for nonprofit work created a bonded network. Through a shared view of giving back to transform the world, F3 was formed to celebrate womanhood, professional development, and the impact we make individually and collectively.
We provide a safe space for women of color in fundraising who need support to grow personally and professionally. We support women who wish to pursue a career in fundraising with mentoring and professional advice. We help to advance the field of fundraising by sharing our talents, passion, and experience.