The AACR Names Michael J. Burton as Chief Development Officer and Executive Director of the AACR Foundation
PHILADELPHIA, October 14, 2009 — The American Association for Cancer Research welcomes Michael J. Burton as the chief development officer and executive director of the AACR Foundation. Burton will head the AACR’s fundraising program and lead the effort to raise philanthropic revenues critical to the organization’s mission.
“Michael comes to us with a world of expertise and experience in managing development programs, corporate and foundation relations, individual and major giving, planned giving and capital campaigns,” said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the American Association for Cancer Research. “Michael’s background, which includes both high level fundraising and grantmaking, will be very valuable to the AACR as we move forward to further establish a leadership presence in the field of grantmaking. This year alone, following rigorous peer review of grant applications, the AACR will provide over $30 million in support to individuals working at major institutions in the U.S. and around the world. These funds will support innovative research projects being conducted by many talented investigators and will help to advance the science that saves lives.”
Prior to joining the AACR, Burton served as the assistant dean of development and alumni affairs at the Fox School of Business, Temple University. There, he led the Fox School’s Access to Excellence campaign, which successfully raised $50 million for the School’s priorities, including the private capital support for Alter Hall, the school’s new home. He has previous professional experience at the University of Pennsylvania, where he served as a special assistant to then university President Judith Rodin; at Princeton, where he raised corporate and foundation support for the university; and on Capitol Hill, where he served as a press and legislative assistant to the late Congressman Tom Lantos of California. In addition to his higher education and government experience, Burton worked on the program staff of the Venture Fund at the Pew Charitable Trusts.
“There is a deep professional satisfaction that comes from working for an organization with a compelling mission,” said Burton. “The nearly 30,000 members of the AACR are making breakthroughs in the prevention and treatment of cancer, and the individuals and organizations that support the AACR are part and parcel of that success. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in a leadership capacity at the AACR. There is much good work to be done, and I very much look forward to doing all I can to help ensure a bright future for this fine organization.”
A frequent speaker for various national fundraising and higher education associations, Burton earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes 30,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and nearly 90 other countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants, research fellowship and career development awards. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 16,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment and patient care. The AACR publishes six major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors and their families, patient advocates, physicians and scientists. CR provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy.
