Life as a PhilCo

At Reed, we’re proud to be a PhilCo, with 18% of our business owned by the Reed Foundation. This unique ownership structure means that a significant share of the dividends we generate is directed towards good causes - creating lasting impact well beyond our commercial work. Many of these donations are distributed across a wide range of charities through our long-standing partnership with Big Give, where match funding doubles the impact of every pound contributed.

Being a PhilCo isn’t a box we tick, it’s woven into the fabric who we are. As James Reed, our Chairman and CEO, explains: “Being a PhilCo is a crucial part of our identity as a business. Our co-members are highly engaged, knowing that 18% of our dividends are channelled to good causes. Being a PhilCo is one of our key USPs to our customers.”

This approach strengthens our culture from the inside out. Our co-members are motivated by the knowledge that their work fuels meaningful social impact, and that together we contribute to long-term community benefit.

By embedding philanthropy into the structure of our organisation, we ensure that giving back is not dependent on short-term priorities - it is a permanent part of how we operate. This gives our customers confidence that when they work with Reed, they are partnering with a company that is driven by purpose as well as performance. Our PhilCo model differentiates us in the market and demonstrates our belief in business as a force for good.

Reed is not alone in this. Some of the world’s biggest and most successful brands have adopted this structure including Aldi, Bosch, Ikea, Lego, Patagonia and Rolex amongst others.

The Reed Foundation has been supporting charitable causes since 1972, when it was first established (originally as Reed Charity) by Sir Alec Reed. What began with small, local donations has grown into a major philanthropic force, driven by a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and unlocking greater impact across the charity sector.

A transformative moment came in 1987 when Sir Alec invested £5 million from the sale of a subsidiary into the foundation. This enabled the creation of significant new charities such as Ethiopiaid and Womankind, both launched with £1 million grants. Today, the foundation holds 18% of the shares in Reed Global, with dividends from this ownership forming its primary source of income.

Our focus: The power of match funding and Big Give

The majority of the Reed Foundation’s grant-making is channelled through Big Give, the UK’s leading match-funding platform founded by Sir Alec Reed. Acting as ‘champion’ funders, our foundation provides match pots that inspire thousands of additional donors to give.

This innovative model has helped Big Give raise more than £400 million for charitable projects to date. Its Christmas Challenge 2025 alone generated a record-breaking £57.4 million in one week, cementing its position as the UK's biggest public match-funding campaign for the second consecutive year. In the last year alone, the Reed Foundation gave £4 million, contributing to hundreds of charities through major Big Give campaigns such as:

• The Christmas Challenge (cause-neutral)

• Earth Raise (environmental)

• Arts for Impact (arts and culture)

• Women & Girls (gender justice)

• Emergency appeals supporting the Disasters Emergency Committee

The Reed Foundation does not accept direct applications. Instead, charities interested in match funding should apply to take part in a Big Give campaign, where they may be considered for champion funding. Participating also offers charities the chance to be introduced to philanthropists who care about their cause, while attracting new supporters.

Special initiatives

To mark the late Sir Alec Reed’s 90th birthday, in 2024, the foundation launched several special initiatives. One such programme saw a randomly selected Reed Group employee each week nominate a charity to receive a £10,000 donation - celebrating Sir Alec’s lifelong commitment to generosity and community impact.