August 20, 2025
Falls Church, Virginia – NetHope, a global consortium of nonprofit organizations and technology sector partners driving digital transformation for impact, today announced that Chief Executive Officer, Lance Pierce will be stepping down after five years of leadership. The transition comes at a moment of significant organizational growth and sector-wide transformation, as NetHope continues advancing its 2030 Strategic Plan to harness technology for social good at scale.
Since launching the 2030 Strategic Plan in 2024, NetHope programs have directly reached over 5,000 people from 2,300 organizations around the world. The organization has awarded more than $450,000 in sub-grants, produced 25 thought leadership white papers, responded to 19 humanitarian emergencies, and hosted a record-breaking Global Summit. NetHope has also led 80 collaborative Working Group sessions, delivered over 470 hours of virtual cybersecurity (vCISO) support, and expanded critical services or nonprofits amidst a rapidly evolving global landscape.
In early 2025, amid widespread cuts to international aid, NetHope responded decisively, launching digital impact assessments, resilience resources, and mental health tools. The organization partnered with over 30 technology providers to deliver licensing relief and emergency support for its nonprofit Members, while activating the Emergency Digital 4 Good Bridge Fund. Participation in the Global Humanitarian ISAC continues to rise, the AI Lighthouse initiative is operational, and over 2,000 nonprofit professionals have enrolled in NetHope’s “Unlocking AI for Nonprofits” courses. The 2025 NetHope Global Summit will bring together 120+ expert speakers supported by nearly 30 sponsors, delivering the best in class resources to nonprofits. All of this is grounded in NetHope’s success being that of a community working together to meet the moment, and boldly moving forward to bridge the digital divides for the good of people.
A Leadership Transition
Lance Pierce joined NetHope as CEO in November 2020, guiding the organization through a period marked by global crisis, digital acceleration, and profound sectoral change. Under his leadership, NetHope has expanded its Membership and partnerships, and rebuilt and modernized its programmatic offerings.
“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”, said Lance. “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.”
Looking Forward
This period in the nonprofit sector is a time of great upheaval and yet it is also filled with great opportunity. NetHope is part of that Hope for the collective future, emerging from this time with renewed strength, creativity, and collective action that brings digital for good to life at scale.
An interim CEO will be announced shortly to ensure seamless continuity, and the search for a permanent CEO has begun. The organization is committed to identifying a leader who embodies NetHope’s mission, honors its legacy, and can take NetHope ambitiously into this next chapter.
Media Contact:
Communications@nethope.org
About NetHope
NetHope is a catalyst for collective impact that advances humanitarian, conservation, and international development efforts worldwide. For more than 20 years, we’ve enabled international nongovernmental organizations and leading technology partners to address the world’s most pressing challenges and advance global good through collaboration, collective action, and smarter use of digital technology. Over 60 nonprofit Members and 50 technology partners collaborate to leverage digital solutions for exponential impact. Collectively, NetHope Members deliver more than 60% of all annual international, non-governmental aid, serving over 1.67 billion people in 190 countries.
