As the founding executive director of the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, Robert Ashcraft's work advances the understanding of and effective practice for leaders of nonprofit/philanthropic organizations. Under Ashcraft's leadership, the ASU Lodestar Center has emerged as a global leader in advancing effective philanthropic and nonprofit practice as a distinctive community development strategy.

Ashcraft is also the Saguaro Professor of Civic Enterprise in ASU's School of Community Resources and Development and an affiliate faculty member of the School of Public Affairs. He teaches courses in nonprofit management and philanthropy. His leadership brought about the nation's first undergraduate degree in nonprofit leadership and management.

His research interests include nonprofit and social entrepreneurship education models, collaboration strategies and volunteer management.