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.