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Birgit Burton
Executive Director of Foundation Relations at Georgia Institute of Technology and Founder of the AADO Network
Professional Background
Birgit Smith Burton is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in foundation relations and media communications. With a strong career dedicated to fostering philanthropic relationships and enhancing communication strategies, she has become a respected leader in her field. As the Executive Director of Foundation Relations at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Birgit plays a pivotal role in securing funding and building sustained partnerships that advance the university's mission and objectives. Her comprehensive experience includes a progressive tenure at Georgia Tech, where she has held several key positions, from Associate Director to Senior Director of Foundation Relations, ultimately leading to her current executive role.
Birgit's background is marked by her dynamic approach to building relationships with foundations and other funding entities, ensuring that the goals of the institutions with which she collaborates are met. Her previous roles have included significant leadership positions that have equipped her with skills and insights necessary for navigating the complexities of educational funding. She has made substantial contributions to the growth and visibility of foundation relations at Georgia Tech, crafting initiatives that align the needs of the institution with those of potential donors and partners.
Education and Achievements
Birgit holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Media Communications from Medaille College, where she developed a solid foundation in effective communication strategies. This educational background has been instrumental in her various leadership roles, allowing her to engage effectively with diverse audiences, including potential donors, stakeholders, and academic leaders. By leveraging her educational experience, she has successfully driven initiatives that communicate the value of partnerships and collaborations through clearly articulated narratives and impactful messaging.
Birgit previously served as the Area Director at the United Negro College Fund, where she worked tirelessly to support historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This role revealed her commitment to educational equity and served as a platform for her to advocate for increased support for these vital institutions. In addition, she has a background in public relations, having worked as the Director of Public Relations at JohnHill Enterprises, where she honed her skills in crafting messages that resonate with audiences and drive engagement.
Achievements
Throughout her career, Birgit has achieved numerous milestones, particularly in the realm of foundation relations. Her leadership at Georgia Tech has resulted in increased funding support from various foundations, enhancing the university's capacity to innovate and excel in research and education. She is known for developing strategies that effectively align donor priorities with institutional goals, resulting in sustainable and impactful support for Georgia Tech. Her ability to foster these vital connections showcases her keen understanding of the intersection of education, philanthropy, and communication.
Birgit has pioneered initiatives that not only attract funding but also engage donors in meaningful ways, fostering long-term relationships built on mutual respect and shared vision. She continuously seeks ways to enhance the giving experience for donors and to showcase the positive impact of their contributions on student opportunity, research advancement, and community engagement. Birgit's commitment to cultivating a culture of philanthropy is evident in her work and is reflected in the positive outcomes achieved through her efforts.
With a career dedicated to elevating educational institutions through effective foundation relations, Birgit Smith Burton exemplifies the effectiveness of strategic communication and relationship building in philanthropy. Her influence at Georgia Institute of Technology and beyond embodies her passion for education and her skillful approach to fostering philanthropic support.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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