The Power of Purpose: George Corton’s Billion-Dollar Impact on Education and Equity
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While Miami local George Corton is known professionally for his ability to cultivate impactful legacies for the most successful in the U.S., he is constructing an impressive one of his own.
Known as a powerhouse in the world of philanthropy, Corton is known for building bridges between institutions and communities while driving record-breaking fundraising success. With over 20 years of experience and more than $2 billion raised through leading high-impact campaigns, Corton has proven himself as a leader committed to equity, education, and cultural improvement.
Corton earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida International University (FIU) in 2003, later returning to complete his MBA in 2014. While originally intending to pursue law school, he came across the sophisticated world of higher education philanthropy.
“ Never realized it was a sophisticated profession... but it shaped my entire life because I got the great privilege of meeting super successful families and individuals who also had big hearts. ”
At FIU, Corton served as Vice President of Devlopment & Innovation Philanthropy and Chief Developemnt Officer.
Leading a 36-person development team, he played a key role on the university’s executive committee and delivered record-breaking results. Under his leadership, FIU raised over $114 million during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, as part of a $750 million capital campaign. Among his landmark achievements is securing the largest alumni gift in the university’s history, a donation of over $10 million from Chad Moss ‘94, leading to the naming of the Moss School of Construction.
A proud son of Cuban immigrants, Corton’s accomplishments also honor his roots through aiding in the founding of CasaCuba, a unique cultural and academic center to establish a Cuban cultural heritage center at FIU, where he now serves as Vice-Chair of the Board.
He also co-founded FIU’s Office of Inclusive Philanthropy, focused on increasing philanthropic investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. His dedication to inclusivity and representation earned him recognition from the Council for Latino Workplace Equity, where he was honored as a “Top Latino Leader” at their national leadership conference in 2016.
Prior to his time at FIU, Corton served as the Senior Director of Development at the University of Miami’s School of Business Administration.
He contributed to the Momentum Campaign, which raised over $1.4 billion for the university, and helped establish the school’s Founding Board of Overseers with prominent business leaders such as Jorge Mas, Joe Echevarria, and the late David Komansky. His global perspective led him to expand the school’s reach internationally, including launching a full MBA program in Puerto Rico.
Today, Corton continues to serve on several influential boards. He is an Executive Board member of the Hejl Foundation, a Board Member at Moss Foundation, and Secretary and Chair of Development Committee at Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education, the oldest Latino nonprofit in New York. He also serves as a member of the Executive Advisory Board for FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.
Whether empowering communities, encouraging transformative gifts, or guiding institutions towards financial growth, George Corton has had a monumental impact on Miami and is sure to leave a legacy behind.
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