CLIENT LOGIN

Living Your Legacy

your strategic partner in elevating the impact of your charitable giving.

About Us

Elevate Your Impact

At First Philanthropy, we help individuals, families, and organizations maximize the impact of their giving while building a legacy that endures. Whether you are launching a new foundation or sunsetting a foundation, refining your philanthropic vision, or planning for succession, we provide tailored guidance to ensure your generosity creates meaningful, lasting change.

We bridge your mission with action—collaborating with grantees, advising on impact measurement, and working alongside financial and estate planning experts.  From educating the next generation to optimizing grantmaking strategies, we simplify the complexities of giving so you can focus on the joy of giving and what matters most: making a difference.

Connection to Community

more than

1.8Million U.S. Nonprofits

REPRESENTING

$3.7Trillion Annual Revenue

Building a legacy of impact through strategic vision, focused leadership, and tailored solutions that integrate your goals into a community of lasting change.

Your Strategic Partners

With over 70 years of combined experience, we’ve guided more than $4 billion in philanthropy for high-net-worth families and nonprofits.

George Corton

Founding Principal

BIO

Laura Padron

Founding Principal

BIO

Danielle Bourgi-Balsinde

Senior Associate

BIO

Office:  (305) 390-8801

2000 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 500
Coral Gables, FL 33134
 
1200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Suite 500
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
 

Healdsburg
Sonoma County, CA  95448

 

For more information, please contact us at info@firstphilanthropy.com

George Corton

Founding Principal

Mr. Corton is the Founding Principal at First Philanthropy and Principal at Westside Capital Group where he spearheads business development, investor relations, and strategic growth initiatives. Over his 20-year career, he has been instrumental in raising over $2 billion in capital.

Before joining Westside, Corton served as Chief Development Officer at Florida International University (FIU), where he led a team to achieve record-breaking fundraising totals, including over $114 million in the fiscal year 2020-2021, as part of a $750 million campaign. He secured FIU’s largest alumni gift and helped establish CasaCuba, a cultural heritage center. Corton also held leadership roles at the University of Miami, where he contributed to the $1.6 billion Momentum Campaign and helped expand the School of Business’s reach internationally.

Born to Cuban immigrants in New Jersey and raised in Orlando, Corton earned both his bachelor’s degree and MBA from FIU. He co-founded the FIU Foundation Office of Inclusive Philanthropy and serves on several advisory boards, including Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education and the FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism. He is also a member of the Moss Foundation Advisory Board in Fort Lauderdale, a top-ranked corporate giving organization in South Florida and the President of the Hejl Family Foundation. Corton’s career reflects a deep commitment to philanthropy, education, and community development.

Laura Padron

Founding Principal

Laura Padron is a distinguished leader in philanthropy, boasting over three decades of experience in fundraising, grant making, board development, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President for Advancement at the University of Connecticut Foundation in support of the $1.5 billion “Because of UConn” campaign, achieving record-breaking successes, including the largest alumni gift in university history. Before her tenure at UConn, Laura held key positions at other distinguished institutions, including Associate Vice President at the Florida International University Foundation, where she exceeded the $750 million Next Horizon Campaign goal, and Assistant Dean for Development at the University of Miami School of Business, leading the school’s role in the $1.6 billion university campaign.

Prior to academia, Laura directed national programs at the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, including the prestigious Presidential Scholars in the Arts, White House Commission partnership and YoungArts program.

Laura’s innovative leadership and strategic vision have earned her numerous accolades, such as the 2021 Global Forum for Education and Learning Top 100 Visionaries in Education Award, as well as multiple CASE Gold and Platinum Awards. Laura is an active member of various professional organizations and frequently shares her expertise through speaking engagements and mentorship programs, continuing to inspire the next generation of philanthropic leaders. Her contributions to the field of advancement are widely acknowledged, positioning her as a respected voice in higher education philanthropy.

Beyond her professional achievements, Laura is passionate about causes that impact the lives of children and animals, reflecting her holistic approach to transformational change across sectors. Laura is an alumna of Florida State University and Delta Delta Delta sorority and is a former Board member and President-elect of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Miami.

Danielle Bourgi-Balsinde

Senior Associate

Danielle Bourgi-Balsinde brings over 15 years of experience in community relations and client-focused service.

Most recently, Danielle served as a Senior Relationship Support Specialist at PNC Bank, where she gained extensive experience in both wealth management and commercial banking. A civic-minded leader, she has volunteered with numerous organizations including the BBVA Miami Volunteer Chapter, the Ladies Empowerment Action Program (LEAP), and the International Rescue Committee.

Before entering the banking sector, Danielle worked with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, where she oversaw the Nonprofit, Sustainability, HR, and Military Affairs Committees. She also participated in Leadership Miami’s Class of 2015, completing community projects for Lotus House Thrift Shop.

Danielle earned her M.A. in International Development from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) in Paris, France, and her B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Florida. While pursuing her graduate studies, she interned with The Women’s Fund Miami.

Driven by a passion for purpose-driven work, Danielle is dedicated to helping clients maximize their impact through their foundations and philanthropic efforts.