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

ER_Rural_Hospital-696x522 Author

Medicaid Expansion Could be a Lifeline for Veterans

Memorial Day is one day we set aside to honor service members who lost their lives to protect ...
ChildrenBrothers-696x464 Blog

Reality Check: Stilling the Heart During a Tumultuous Season

Posted by Taifa S. Butler Newtown, Connecticut. Without saying anything else, I’m sure many hearts—like mine— fill with ...
letterwriter Taifa Smith Butler

All I Want for Christmas is…

Responsible policy that sees the plight of Everyday working people who Struggle to make ends meet. Where Policymakers ...
ChildrenBrothers-696x464 Blog

GBPI Hosts Fall Policy Forum: Expanding Health Coverage in Georgia

GBPI recently hosted its Fall Policy Forum, Expanding Health Coverage in Georgia. Nearly 200 supporters joined us for ...
Classroom-Elementary (1) Author

Trouble for Georgia School Districts

Posted by Taifa S. Butler If Georgia is going to grow jobs and stabilize the state’s economy, then ...
GoldDome2 Blog

Get Schooled Student success, Georgia economy threatened by state’s declining support

Posted by Taifa S. Butler As published by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Taifa S. Butler is the deputy ...
Classroom-Elementary1 (1) Blog

Powerball: Where the Dollars Go

Posted by Taifa S. Butler When the Powerball jackpot reached more than $320 million last week — the ...
ChildrenBrothers-696x464 Blog

GBPI Briefs Danish Parliament on State of Working Georgia

Posted by Taifa S. Butler Recently members of the Danish Parliament visited Georgia to learn about the state ...
Classroom-Elementary3-696x463 Blog

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Features GBPI Op-ed: Less HOPE for those who contribute larger share of their income to the lottery

As posted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Posted by Taifa Smith Butler Georgia’s commitment to graduate 250,000 more college ...
Baby-696x465 Blog

Reality Check: Optimism in the Midst of Stark Realities

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, some may travel great distances to spend time with family and ...

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