Sewing the seeds of SA Philanthropy

In 2018, Kay Burton co-founded the Burton Foundation with her husband Julian, where she experienced the challenge of finding the right opportunities to build connections with like-minded donors.

This led her to create the SA Philanthropy Network in 2024 with a simple yet powerful goal – to unlock South Australia’s incredible potential for community giving.

Today, Kay leads a powerful movement to foster a thriving culture of philanthropy in her new home state, through personalised guidance, the launch of innovative digital platform Funded, and dynamic networking events. Read on for our interview with Kay!

Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position 

I’m originally from the United States and studied journalism and public relations at the University of Maine. After graduating, I worked in politics on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. for a U.S. Senator.

In 2009, I moved to South Australia and joined the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), working across fundraising and communications. After my second son was born, I began doing pro bono consulting for not-for-profits here in SA and, alongside my husband Julian, set up our family foundation — the Burton Foundation — in 2018.

It was through that experience, as both a funder and someone supporting charities, that I saw how challenging it was to navigate philanthropy. That inspired me to launch the SA Philanthropy Network: a platform to connect people, grow giving, and help unlock greater impact across the state.

Take us through a typical day of work for you

My day always starts with coffee! Then it’s the usual school run fun — packing lunches and helping our five children (aged 19 to 6) get out the door — before I try to squeeze in a gym session and dive into whatever project I’m working on.

No two days are ever the same, which I love. My role is voluntary, but it’s easily full-time — and I appreciate the flexibility it allows. I spend a lot of time meeting with people across the sector, whether it’s funders, charities, or collaborators. I might be helping someone navigate our new digital platform Funded, planning or delivering an event, writing content, or developing new partnerships. Connecting people through philanthropy brings me genuine joy.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your career, and how did you overcome it? 

Without a doubt, the biggest challenge was having the courage to go out on my own and launch the SA Philanthropy Network.

It meant building something from scratch — something that didn’t yet exist here. I had to earn trust, bring people on the journey, and shift mindsets about what’s possible in South Australian philanthropy.

There were moments of doubt, but I stayed true to the vision and surrounded myself with generous, values-aligned people who believed in what we were trying to achieve — to inspire a greater culture of generosity and connection across the state. The SA Philanthropy Network has only been running for just over a year, and I’m so excited to watch it grow and continue building momentum. I recently launched Funded, a first-of-its-kind digital platform that simplifies philanthropy by providing a clear, accessible way for donors to
connect with community projects they’d like to support in our state.

How do you unwind after work?

There’s never a dull moment in a family of seven! I really enjoy cooking and love trying new recipes. I also love picking flowers from our garden in the Adelaide Hills. Evenings usually involve family time or kids’ sports training. We’ve also got a Bernese Mountain
Dog, Bo, and a cat named Ginger who keep things interesting. And yes — I’m definitely a fan of a glass of bubbles to end the day!