121. How to Build a Pipeline of Talent & Inclusivity - Birgit Burton

Birgit Burton, AFP, AADO, We Are For Good Podcast

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Overview

Meet Birgit. She's our modern-day Renaissance woman in philanthropy. As founder of the African American Development Officers Network, Chair-Elect of Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Global and executive director of foundation relations for Georgia Institute of Technology, she's a triple threat in the development sector - in the best way! We're talking about the power of diversifying the talent pipeline in philanthropy and why "inclusion" should be a word we're all fighting to embrace and infuse as evergreen values in our organizations.

Today’s Guest

Birgit Burton, Founder of African American Development Officers Network

“It’s inclusion that we’re bringing in, right? Diversity is the measurable result. If we have inclusion, then the end result will be a diverse team.”

— Birgit Burton

Episode Transcript

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Episode Highlights

Birgit’s Story - 3:03
No longer standing out - 9:55
Founding story of The African American Development Officers (AADO) Network - 14:42
Make an impactful difference - 20:59
Don’t just check the box - 30:35
Preparing the next generation - 37:39
Dreams and visions - 44:09
Birgit’s One Good Thing - 48:28

Powerful quotes

“So you literally went and created the table, and you allow people to be seen to elevate and now your casting vision and dream for more diversity, more equity, more inclusion in this space, which desperately needs it. And you're leading that conversation, and you've got big dreams to unpack there. So (we) really want to dive into that conversation today.” - Jon

“These are the kinds of conversations we have got to have in this community, we need to understand because we need to figure out how we can radically do something different that makes someone feel like they can chase their passion.” - Birgit

“It wasn't just about being black. Because then we started talking about best practices, I mean, regular fundraising things. But our, the color of our skin wasn't an issue. Does that make sense? It was like, that does not what showed up. When we walked in the door, we're all black. Whenever I sat down, we talked about those things. So that was 25 people. And now it's grown over 23 years to 3000, I'd say about 10% our allies, not people of color who support me in what we do.” - Birgit

“Don't just be the token person, you know, be the best you can be no your job, contribute, make sure that you're invited when you have something to contribute.” - Birgit

“Let's have a team. Let's embrace somebody and help them understand the culture and understand the organization. Let's have a part of a stretch project.” - Birgit

“We've got to hold our leadership accountable. If we come together as a team, then we can go further.” - Birgit

“Every time I talk to someone who knows a little bit about it, fundraising as a profession is always something that they're passionate about, that they get excited about. What better job to have than to have one where you're raising money for something you absolutely care about that when you get up in the morning? You get excited about the work that you're going to do.” - Birgit

“You could help us have a discussion, you can help us mentoring program, you can post an intern, we're gonna get our intern, ship program up and running, you can host an intern at your organization, so somebody can get paid, and learn, you know, hands on, about fundraising, and to grow this pipeline.” - Birgit

“My thing is that she who has knowledge has power.” - Birgit’s One Good Thing

“If you are someone, and you've already made this decision, or you're moving forward with adding more people of color into your organization, that's a good first step. But I'm asking you, what is the next step? Plan your next step. How can you pour into this? How are you looking at how it impacts your website? And at the visuals? Do the people in your website represent the people you are serving? Look at your board, look at the people of color in your succession plan? And if you don't even do any of that, simply speak up when you see injustice in the world. And that is where the power of community and empathy begin. We can all pour into this and I am here for it.” - Becky

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