In January 2024, we launched NetHope’s ambitious 2030 Strategic Plan, shaped in close consultation with our committed nonprofit Members, private sector partners, and visionary donors. Since then, NetHope programs have directly reached over 5,000 people from 2,300 organizations around the world, Over the past year, we’ve awarded more than $450,000 in sub-grants, published 25 white papers showcasing nonprofit digital leadership, and hosted a record-breaking Summit. In addition, we responded to 19 humanitarian emergencies, hosted more than 470 vCISO hours, and hosted 80 dynamic Working Group sessions.
In January 2025, as the nonprofit sector faced drastic cuts to foreign aid assistance, we mobilized rapidly, launching resources to assess digital impacts, supporting operational resilience, and addressing the mental health toll on nonprofit staff. Our vCISO and vCIO services proved essential, and we worked with 30+ technology partners to unlock licensing relief, flexible contracts, and emergency support while launching the Emergency Digital 4 Good Bridge Fund. As a result, participation in the Global Humanitarian ISAC continues to grow with nearly 60 organizations working together with the support of the GH Partner Collective, our AI Lighthouse is up and running, and our digital skilling programs are thriving, including 2,000+ registrations for our latest Unlocking AI for Nonprofits courses. These initiatives are delivering right-timed, future-ready solutions for the sector. The 2025 NetHope Global Summit will bring together 120+ expert speakers supported by nearly 30 sponsors to chart our collective path forward. All of this reflects NetHope’s belief that success comes from our community working together to meet the moment, boldly moving forward to bridge digital divides for the good of people and planet.
A Leadership Transition
With NetHope on a strong footing for the future, and after thoughtful reflection, Lance Pierce is stepping down from his role as Chief Executive Officer at NetHope. The NetHope Board of Directors is grateful for his leadership, vision, and dedication since mid-November 2020.
Lance’s contributions to NetHope are marked by creatively and collaboratively solving the big problems together. His legacy with the team has seen NetHope’s organizational growth, programmatic innovation, and a bold commitment to the nonprofit space during even the toughest times. His decision reflects the same commitment and thoughtfulness he has modelled throughout his career.
A Message from Lance
“As I have reflected these past months on how much we have accomplished at NetHope, and where we need to go in the future, I am deeply grateful for what we have achieved together in a time marked by global crises, shrinking funding, and urgent humanitarian need.
The past five years have been highly challenging and also a very rewarding period of my life. I’m proud to have done good work here for the NetHope Member nonprofit community and beyond, and proud of this amazing, high-performing team of talented, kind, and brilliant colleagues I have had the honor to work with over these years – with my truly excellent Senior Leadership Team at the top of the list. Since I joined in 2020, we have rebuilt and grown NetHope, expanded the ranks of our Members and partners, and supported NGOs in delivering life-saving work around the world. These achievements have been made possible by the dedication of our Members, supporters, partners, and an extraordinary staff.
Today we are in a new era. After five years of growth and impact, this organization and the entire sector are on the cusp of a new set of challenges. As a result, I believe it is time for a change, both for me and for NetHope. In stepping down now, I can give the team the space to build momentum for new leadership going into this season and the 2025 NetHope Global Summit, and I am committed to supporting that successful transition.
I am a firm believer in the strength and resiliency of this community and in NetHope’s ability to deliver on its mission. As the sector continues to evolve in a turbulent landscape, digital is a vehicle for having greater impact, and NetHope is absolutely the place where these technologies can realize their potential to better help people and planet.”
Looking Ahead
As we look to this next chapter for NetHope, you, our NetHope community, are at the heart of what we do. This period in the nonprofit sector is a time of great upheaval. Yet it is also filled with great opportunity: our sector’s previously seemingly intractable problems and entrenched ways of working are now increasingly open to re-examination and thoughtful positive evolution. And NetHope is part of that Hope for our collective future, emerging from this time with renewed strength, creativity, and collective action that reaches more people, protects more of the planet, and brings digital for good to life, at scale.
An interim CEO will be announced shortly to ensure seamless continuity, and our search for a permanent CEO is already underway. We are committed to identifying a leader who embodies NetHope’s mission, honors its legacy, and can take NetHope ambitiously into this next chapter to support our existing and expanding community of impact. This is an exciting and important time for NetHope and our community as a whole. We are grateful to be building on the foundation Lance has shepherded and expanding our programs with the support of our donors and partners at a moment when the sector is shifting and the needs are increasing. We thank you for your continued trust and partnership and look forward to continuing this journey together.
As always, your questions and feedback are welcome. Please do not hesitate to contact executiveoffice@nethope.org.
With gratitude,
Team NetHope
