Former President and CEO, GBPI

Taifa Smith Butler

Taifa Smith Butler is a former president and CEO of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, where she led the GBPI team toward accomplishing the organization’s mission and vision to improve economic opportunity for all Georgians. She is a problem solver, tireless champion for equity, working families and investing early in children — Georgia’s greatest asset.

Over 20 Years of Experience

Strategy | Public Policy | Data Analysis

Taifa brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, public policy research and data analysis in the public, nonprofit and private sectors. Prior to joining the GBPI team as deputy director in 2011, she served as the policy and communications director for Georgia Family Connection Partnership where she co-managed the Georgia KIDS COUNT project and monitored public policy and its impact on children, families and communities.

Taifa has served on various local, state and national committees and boards. She is member of Leadership Georgia Class of 2016 and is a Rockwood Leadership Institute Leading from the Inside Out Fellow, Class of 2017.

Taifa graduated from Mount Holyoke College and holds a master’s in public management and policy from the Heinz School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University, with a concentration in economic development and financial management.

Recent Posts by Taifa

hugs Budget and Taxes

Letter in Support of the American Families Plan and the American Jobs Plan

The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute recently sent a letter to Georgia’s U.S. representatives and senators to urge ...
people-2000600 (2) Budget and Taxes

Letter Urges Governor to Restore Budget Cuts, Deploy Revenue Shortfall Reserve

    Dear Governor Kemp, The proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 includes $1.2 billion in continued ...
people-2000600 (2) Blog

To A Healthy, Prosperous New Year

Today marks the end of 2020, and I know we all are breathing a sigh of relief as ...
Georgians need more federal support Blog

Georgians Need Congress to Prioritize Bipartisan Relief Package

Georgians have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression. Infection ...
letterwriter Blog

GBPI Writes Senator Perdue About the HEROES Act

GBPI recently wrote the following letter to Senators Perdue and Loeffler asking them to support the HEROES act ...
Doctors in hospital Blog

Georgia Won’t Thrive if People Don’t Survive

Key Takeaways: Years of disinvestment, poor public health infrastructure and systemic barriers have exposed Georgians’ vulnerability—particularly for those ...
Woman in Farmers Market Blog

GBPI Letter Urges Governor, State Leaders to Remove Barriers to SNAP During Pandemic

Dear Governor Kemp, It is commendable that Georgia is taking proactive and necessary steps to fight the spread ...
IMG_0250 Blog

Heading into a New Decade with Gratitude and Intention

Today marks the last day of 2019 and the end of the decade and GBPI’s 15th anniversary year. ...
PPP-promo-696x464 People Powered Prosperity

Investing in Georgia’s people is our best path forward

As published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday, January 27, 2019 Georgians are ready for a people-first strategy ...

Committed to a People-First Vision and Ready for What’s Next

Our 2018 Highlights that Mattered to You Most Can I speak my truth for a minute? Leading a ...
PPP-promo Blog

Looking Ahead: A People-First Agenda for Georgia

While the final votes are being tallied, one thing is clear: this election year saw unprecedented engagement. Voters ...
Family-with-new-home Blog

Georgians Say Yes to Our People-First Agenda

The public has spoken. It’s time to invest in Georgia’s people. Georgians struggling to make it to the ...

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