Reed Sandridge

Reed Sandridge has more than 15 years of nonprofit development experience with expertise in individual and corporate philanthropy and a reputation for finding innovative solutions to fundraising challenges. He has made significant contributions across various sectors, including environment, health care, and human services, with a particular passion for children’s issues, homelessness, poverty alleviation, and workforce development for disadvantaged communities.

Prior to joining The Compass Group, Reed founded Story Distillery, a bespoke agency focused on the intersection of fundraising and communications. He trained over 1,200 social change leaders to enhance their effectiveness using strategic narrative techniques resulting in millions of dollars of new revenue for nonprofits.

Reed’s development career also includes serving as the regional director for major gifts with the World Wildlife Fund where he worked with some of the organization’s most generous donors and board members. Additionally, he held the role of director of public-private partnerships for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an organization founded by the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association to promote healthy environments so that young people can achieve lifelong good health.

Reed has provided leadership on various boards and advisory councils. Notably, he served as president of the Community Housing Trust for five years and was the founding chair of the development committee for Street Sense Media. Having lived abroad in several countries, Reed brings a global perspective to philanthropy and has been actively involved in international organizations, including serving on Meridian International Center’s Global Service Leaders Advisory Council and the board of Vida Jovem, a Brazilian nonprofit dedicated to empowering children in São Paulo who are vulnerable and from low-income families.

Reed’s executive roles in the private sector have further enriched his professional journey. As president of the Americas division at Comptel, a Finnish-based software provider, he led sales and operations across North and South America, doubling revenue during his tenure. He is also the founder of Second Story Cards, a social enterprise that uses entrepreneurial frameworks to help people who have experienced homelessness create revenue streams that support their long-term housing goals.

In addition to earning his Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Spanish from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Reed has completed studies at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico and the Universidad de Valladolid in Spain.