As PEAK Grantmaking’s first chief strategy officer, Betsy Reid (she, her, hers), drives PEAK’s strategy forward, helping to advance the organizational vision to transform philanthropy through equity-centered, values-driven grantmaking practices by empowering its membership community as change agents in leading the way. In this highly collaborative role, she will ensure internal strategic alignment and help strengthen organization culture, working across departments to provide executive guidance and feedback on the development and deployment of an integrated portfolio of programs, initiatives, partnerships, and campaigns to ensure all are mission-aligned, responsive to the needs of PEAK’s community, and designed to maximize impact on the broader field of philanthropy. Key to her role is envisioning and driving progress in new ways that broaden PEAK’s reach and that strengthen and amplify the organization’s influence and impact.
As PEAK’s senior communications director from 2019 to 2023, Betsy guided the organization’s reach and influence strategies to members, the profession, and the larger field of philanthropy through strategic leadership, implementation, and management, to position and promot PEAK’s unique value proposition to its members and the field; develop and deliver high-value publications and resources; optimize the PEAK experience; and build PEAK’s reputation as an investor brand for philanthropy.
A movement builder at heart, with more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit communications and association leadership roles. Betsy is energized by opportunities to champion people, partnerships, and initiatives that drive social impact. Previously, she served as vice president, marketing and communications, at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits empowering its thousand-member network through knowledge-sharing, thought leadership, and community-building initiatives. She led Georgia’s Giving Tuesday campaign, GAgives, for its first seven years, which raised $28 million for the state’s nonprofits in that time (and continues to grow.) Prior career experiences include serving as education director at the Professional Photographers of America, founding executive director of the Stock Artists Alliance, and in roles as an advertising photography and video producer.
Betsy is an active volunteer, having served on committees at United Philanthropy Forum, Independent Sector, the American Society of Association Executives, and the Tufts University Alumni Association; as a Taproot pro-bono volunteer; as an advocate for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation; and as a board member for Atlanta’s Theatré du Rêve. She earned her bachelor of arts from Tufts University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
A relative newcomer to the Chesapeake Bay area, she has gained a passion for kayaking, crab cakes, Bergers cookies, and Old Bay.
