about robert j. (bob) reid, president

Bob started Edge Philanthropy following a 26-year career as the chief executive officer for a large family foundation.  In that role, Bob was instrumental in developing and supporting governance processes, actively engaging family members (including successful integration of multiple generations), recruiting and training talented professional staff members, developing and implementing innovative/effective grant programs across a wide array of disciplines (e.g., pre-k-12 education, higher education, community and economic development, health and healthcare, mental health, addictions, comprehensive social services, arts and culture, and quality of life initiatives), and has conducted numerous outcome studies.

As a practitioner and researcher in philanthropy, Bob has extensive involvement with a large number of foundations and professional associations such as the Council on Foundations, National Center on Family Philanthropy, Philanthropy Roundtable, Grantmakers For Education, Neighborhood Funders Group, the University of Chicago’s Embedded Funders Group, Philanthropy Southwest, and the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers. While Bob has extensive regional and place-based grantmaking experience, he has also been deeply engaged in global humanitarian projects on three continents.

Bob holds a PhD from Oklahoma State University, OPM certification from the Harvard Business School, an MBA from Santa Clara University, and an undergraduate degree in management from the University of Redlands.  Bob’s career spans the foundation, business, and nonprofit sectors. Research interests include philanthropic practice and organizational behavior.  Bob has presented on philanthropic practices and organizational behavior to academic and practitioner groups domestically and internationally. He has published research on practices in well over 100 foundations.