Burke grew up in Seattle and got involved in activism after spending time in Mexico and Central America. He learned to organize as part of groups like the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) and Resource Generation, worked as a national campaign organizer at Community Change, and is currently on the boards of Got Green and the Institute for Policy Studies. He sees donor organizing, fundshifting, and wealth redistribution as key to building movements, and thus loves his job as the SJF Development Director. Burke also enjoys jumping in freezing cold water and hopes to start a polar bear club someday. He lives in Seattle with his partner Krista, their son Lucas and daughter Ida.