Supporting Brighter Futures in Arizona
The Burton Family Foundation fosters positive transformation and empowers individuals and communities across Arizona.
Our Mission
Guided by a belief in the inherent dignity of all individuals, our mission is to advance individual achievement through support for education and human services programs and initiatives. We prioritize support for high-need, underserved, and underrepresented groups, working diligently to eliminate disparities and create a pathway to shared prosperity.
Our vision is a thriving Arizona where every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential, and communities are marked by resilience, inclusivity, and shared prosperity. The Burton Family Foundation envisions a future where education is a catalyst for social mobility and basic human needs are met through programs that ensure the well being of all residents.
Our Vision
Our Approach
Our strategy prioritizes collaboration and innovation. Through strategic partnerships and targeted investments, we strive to create lasting change in the following areas, which reflect our funding priorities.
Youth & Education
We believe in the transformative power of education to uplift individuals and communities. The Burton Family Foundation supports programs at all stages of learning, fostering economic mobility and active civic participation.
Promoting Student Engagement and Success
College preparation, access, and workforce readiness programs that prepare youth for success in post-secondary education and support career exploration opportunities, with an emphasis on programs that connect students to high-wage/high-demand career fields in Arizona.
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming that inspires appreciation for the role that science plays in human advancement and prepares students for math proficiency in high school.
Experiential learning opportunities- in the classroom and through youth centers, clubs, and extracurricular academic programs- that inspire youth to learn, grow, and explore their passions in safe and inclusive environments.
Youth-focused arts and culture programming that stimulates cognitive and emotional development, fosters critical thinking, celebrates human achievement, and promotes historical and cultural understanding.
Civic engagement and education programs that deepen understanding of our nation's democracy and the responsibilities of citizenship
Early learning programs that provide a foundation for later learning and development, with priority consideration given to programs that prepare students for reading proficiency by third grade.
Innovations in Learning and Student Achievement
We support programs that create, test, and evaluate innovations in education that seek to enhance access to quality education, eliminate disparities in academic performance, and improve outcomes for learners.
Supporting Educator Recruitment and Development
We support programs that promote the teaching profession, celebrate the critical role educators play in our communities, and support the ongoing growth and development of education professionals at all levels, all with the aim of recruiting and developing educators in service to Arizona’s students.
Human Services
We believe in the inherent dignity of all individuals and prioritize basic human needs to advance community wellbeing and economic prosperity. Our funding priorities are the following:
Supporting Basic Needs
We support programs that provide basic needs support for individuals and families on the brink of, or currently experiencing, homelessness through the provision of emergency financial assistance administered by emergency and permanent supportive housing, healthcare services, food, clothing, personal hygiene items, and transportation.
Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees
We support programs that help immigrants and refugees residing in Arizona with navigating community services, accessing healthcare and education, attaining employment, and establishing safe and stable housing. Additionally, we invest in legal services programs that help immigrants and refugees navigate the United States legal system.
