Kathy Reich leads the Ford Foundation’s BUILD initiative both in the United States and in the foundation’s 10 global regions. BUILD is an essential part of the foundation’s strategy to reduce inequality, a strategy arising from the conviction that healthy civil society organizations are essential to driving and sustaining just, inclusive societies. To that end, Kathy guides Ford’s efforts to implement sector-leading approaches to supporting the vitality and effectiveness of institutions and networks that serve as pillars of broader social movements.

Before joining Ford in 2016, Kathy was director of organizational effectiveness and philanthropy at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, where she led a cross-cutting program to help grantees around the world strengthen their strategy, leadership and impact. Previously she had served at the Packard Foundation as policy analyst and program officer. Prior to that, she was policy director at the Social Policy Action Network, served as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill, and worked for state and local elected officials in California.

Kathy currently serves on the boards of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and the Peninsula Jewish Community Center. She was selected as a Schusterman Fellow in 2016. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University.