10/15/2026
National Philanthropy Day is just 5 weeks away! We are honored to celebrate Robert C. Reifsnyder with the Lifetime Achievement in Fundraising Award.
Full Movers & Makers article here: https://moversmakers.org/2026/07/21/afp-announces-2026-national-philanthropy-day-honorees/
Robert C. Reifsnyder retired in 2018 after 43 years in United Way, including 18 years as President and CEO of United Way of Greater Cincinnati, the 5th largest United Way in the United States upon his retirement. After receiving his degree from Princeton University, he served several United Ways before becoming President of Metro United Way in Louisville in 1987 and President of United Way of Greater Cincinnati in 2001.
Under his leadership United Way of Greater Cincinnati initiated United Way 211, the Volunteer Connection, Success By 6®, Place Matters, Partners for a Competitive Workforce, The State of the Community Report, the Agenda for Community Impact, Child Poverty Collaborative and the Bold Goals for Our Region, and served as the Trusted Entity executing the Cincinnati Preschool Promise. During this time United Way also raised more than $1 Billion for community services.
Reifsnyder served on more than a dozen Boards during his time as President, including Every Child Succeeds, Health Improvement Collaborative, Xavier Williams College of Business, GRAD Cincinnati, Downtown Cincinnati Inc., Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Strive Education Partnership, Executive Service Corps and 3CDC. Nationally, he held several leadership positions in United Way Worldwide. In retirement he worked as a consultant for United Way Worldwide and serves or has served on the Boards of OneSource Center (Currently Board Chair), Playhouse in the Park, CancerFree KIDS, Boy Scouts and United Way NEXT. He co-chaired the Playhouse’s recent $50 Million Capital Campaign to build a new theater.
In Louisville and Cincinnati he has received awards including the NCCJ Humanitarian Award, IABC/PRSA Communicator of the Year Award, YMCA Strong Communities Award, Northern Kentucky University’s Lincoln Award, Boy Scouts Silver Beaver Award, Ohio United Way’s 100 Heroes Award, LEAD Magazine’s C-Suite Award, Business Courier’s CEO of the Year Award, GRAD Cincinnati’s Outstanding Community Engagement Award and the Leadership Center’s Nelson Schwab, Jr. Distinguished Alumni Award.
Rob and his wife Gretchen have been married for 50 years. They have two sons and two grandchildren.