20 Nonprofit and Charity CEOs Worth Knowing Today.

Last updated: August 2026.

Nonprofit and charity CEOs carry an unusual kind of leadership brief. They must protect a clear mission, keep people aligned, steward money carefully and make decisions that hold up in public. This list brings together 20 current leaders across English-speaking markets and global organisations.

It is a list to learn from, not a ranking. The profiles show how the leadership brief changes across humanitarian, health, environmental, education and community organisations.

Why this topic matters.

Large charities often work across places, cultures and urgent needs. Their leaders have to create enough consistency for the organisation to act well, while leaving enough room for local knowledge and judgement.

The people below are useful to study because their roles make different parts of that tension visible. Some lead humanitarian organisations. Others lead health, environmental, education, community or knowledge charities. Together they show how mission-led leadership changes with the work.

1. Cliff Holtz.

President and Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross.

Cliff Holtz is President and Chief Executive Officer at American Red Cross. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. His official profile makes the transition from operating leader to organisation-wide chief executive easy to see. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Cliff Holtz assumed the American Red Cross president and CEO role on 1 July 2024 after serving as chief operating officer and overseeing Biomedical Services, Disaster Services, International Services, Training Services and Service to the Armed Forces. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. His official profile makes the transition from operating leader to organisation-wide chief executive easy to see.

2. Steven C. Preston.

President and CEO, Goodwill Industries International.

Steven C. Preston is President and CEO at Goodwill Industries International. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. His national role is a useful example of leadership that supports a large network of locally rooted Goodwill organisations. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Steven C. Preston is listed by Goodwill Industries International as its president and CEO. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. His national role is a useful example of leadership that supports a large network of locally rooted Goodwill organisations.

3. Jim Clark.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Jim Clark is President and Chief Executive Officer at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. His profile also describes a restructuring and a strategy centred on academic success, character and leadership, and health and wellbeing. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Jim Clark directs Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a network of more than 5,500 sites serving more than four million young people, and has led the organisation since 2012. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. His profile also describes a restructuring and a strategy centred on academic success, character and leadership, and health and wellbeing.

4. Jonathan Reckford.

Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity International.

Jonathan Reckford is Chief Executive Officer at Habitat for Humanity International. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. His long tenure shows how a global charity leader can hold a consistent mission while the operating context keeps changing. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Jonathan Reckford has served as Habitat for Humanity International CEO since 2005, working with affiliates in all 50 United States and more than 60 countries. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. His long tenure shows how a global charity leader can hold a consistent mission while the operating context keeps changing.

5. Jennifer Morris.

Chief Executive Officer, The Nature Conservancy.

Jennifer Morris is Chief Executive Officer at The Nature Conservancy. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. The report connects local conservation work with initiatives that can be scaled across regions, a useful lens for mission-led growth. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Jennifer Morris is identified as CEO in The Nature Conservancy’s 2025 annual report, ahead of the organisation’s 75th anniversary in 2026. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. The report connects local conservation work with initiatives that can be scaled across regions, a useful lens for mission-led growth.

6. Tjada D’Oyen McKenna.

Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps.

Tjada D’Oyen McKenna is Chief Executive Officer at Mercy Corps. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. Her path shows how humanitarian leadership can combine field understanding, operating discipline and cross-sector experience. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Tjada D’Oyen McKenna leads Mercy Corps as CEO and brings previous experience as chief operating officer at CARE and in senior roles with the Gates Foundation and the US government. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. Her path shows how humanitarian leadership can combine field understanding, operating discipline and cross-sector experience.

7. David Miliband.

President and Chief Executive Officer, International Rescue Committee.

David Miliband is President and Chief Executive Officer at International Rescue Committee. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. His current brief sits across emergency response, displacement and long-term recovery, rather than one single service line. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

David Miliband is president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, overseeing work in crisis-affected countries and resettlement programmes in Europe and the Americas. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. His current brief sits across emergency response, displacement and long-term recovery, rather than one single service line.

8. Michelle Nunn.

President and CEO, CARE.

Michelle Nunn is President and CEO at CARE. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. Her profile highlights the challenge of pairing humanitarian reach with a strong focus on women and girls. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Michelle Nunn has led CARE as president and CEO since 2015, with the organisation describing a global team working across more than 100 countries. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. Her profile highlights the challenge of pairing humanitarian reach with a strong focus on women and girls.

9. Mads Christensen.

International Executive Director, Greenpeace International.

Mads Christensen is International Executive Director at Greenpeace International. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. The official governance page describes a role built around strategic cohesion, collaboration with national and regional organisations, and movement-wide empowerment. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Mads Christensen is Greenpeace International’s International Executive Director and chief steward of the global organisation. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. The official governance page describes a role built around strategic cohesion, collaboration with national and regional organisations, and movement-wide empowerment.

10. Reena Ghelani.

Chief Executive Officer, Plan International.

Reena Ghelani is Chief Executive Officer at Plan International. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. Her background, including former service as a UN Assistant Secretary-General, brings frontline and multilateral experience into a charity CEO role. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Reena Ghelani is Chief Executive Officer of Plan International, with more than 25 years of experience across humanitarian response, displacement, human rights and peacekeeping. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. Her background, including former service as a UN Assistant Secretary-General, brings frontline and multilateral experience into a charity CEO role.

11. Gary White.

CEO and Co-founder, Water.org.

Gary White is CEO and Co-founder at Water.org. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. His leadership model links philanthropy, investment and practical infrastructure so that water access can be treated as a long-term systems issue. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Gary White is CEO and co-founder of Water.org and WaterEquity, and the organisation describes his work across more than 30 years. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. His leadership model links philanthropy, investment and practical infrastructure so that water access can be treated as a long-term systems issue.

12. Asif Saleh.

Executive Director, BRAC.

Asif Saleh is Executive Director at BRAC. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. His role shows how a large southern-led nonprofit can keep leadership close to the people and communities its strategy is meant to serve. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Asif Saleh is BRAC’s executive director, and the 2025 annual report places women and young people at the centre of the organisation’s strategic principles. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. His role shows how a large southern-led nonprofit can keep leadership close to the people and communities its strategy is meant to serve.

13. Bernadette Meehan.

Chief Executive Officer, Wikimedia Foundation.

Bernadette Meehan is Chief Executive Officer at Wikimedia Foundation. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. Her appointment brings public service, international relationships and digital public knowledge into the same leadership brief. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Bernadette Meehan became Wikimedia Foundation CEO in 2026 after serving as US Ambassador to Chile and leading global initiatives at the Obama Foundation. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. Her appointment brings public service, international relationships and digital public knowledge into the same leadership brief.

14. Conrad Sauvé.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Red Cross.

Conrad Sauvé is President and Chief Executive Officer at Canadian Red Cross. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. His long tenure is a reminder that charity leadership includes both immediate response and the slower work of building resilient systems and partnerships. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Conrad Sauvé has served as Canadian Red Cross president and CEO since 2008 and has led organisational transformation, global emergency health and mobile field hospital work. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. His long tenure is a reminder that charity leadership includes both immediate response and the slower work of building resilient systems and partnerships.

15. Andrea Seale.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Cancer Society.

Andrea Seale is Chief Executive Officer at Canadian Cancer Society. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. Her career shows how leaders can move between advocacy, public education, environmental work and health-focused service without losing a clear mission thread. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Andrea Seale is CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society and brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership, including senior roles with the David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. Her career shows how leaders can move between advocacy, public education, environmental work and health-focused service without losing a clear mission thread.

16. Michelle Mitchell OBE.

Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Research UK.

Michelle Mitchell OBE is Chief Executive Officer at Cancer Research UK. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. Her role combines research funding, public confidence, income generation and a long view of health outcomes. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Michelle Mitchell OBE has served as Cancer Research UK’s CEO since November 2018 and has led the long-term strategy launched in 2022. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. Her role combines research funding, public confidence, income generation and a long view of health outcomes.

17. Gemma Peters.

Chief Executive Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support.

Gemma Peters is Chief Executive Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. Her leadership brief shows how a national charity can keep care practical and local while working across a complex health system. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Gemma Peters is CEO of Macmillan Cancer Support, and the organisation describes her work shaping a strategy that includes community-based cancer support. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. Her leadership brief shows how a national charity can keep care practical and local while working across a complex health system.

18. Lynn Perry.

Chief Executive, Barnardo’s.

Lynn Perry is Chief Executive at Barnardo’s. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. That background brings direct experience of service delivery into a national charity role focused on children and families. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Lynn Perry is Barnardo’s chief executive and previously served as a children’s services director overseeing 760 services across the United Kingdom. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. That background brings direct experience of service delivery into a national charity role focused on children and families.

19. Dr Sarah Hughes.

Chief Executive Officer, Mind.

Dr Sarah Hughes is Chief Executive Officer at Mind. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. Her career reflects the value of combining specialist knowledge with the organisational leadership needed to turn public concern into practical support. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Dr Sarah Hughes is Mind’s chief executive officer and brings 35 years of experience across mental health and social justice, including CEO work at the Centre for Mental Health. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. Her career reflects the value of combining specialist knowledge with the organisational leadership needed to turn public concern into practical support.

20. Jacinta Reddan.

Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Council Australia.

Jacinta Reddan is Chief Executive Officer at Cancer Council Australia. The role brings mission, people, money and public trust into one leadership brief. That makes this a useful profile for leaders who want to understand how large charities turn a clear purpose into reliable work across different communities and markets. Her appointment is a current example of a charity widening the leadership lens beyond one professional sector while keeping health equity central. The strongest lesson is not a personality trick. It is the way the role connects choices made in the centre with the experience of people served in the field.

Jacinta Reddan became Cancer Council Australia’s CEO in January 2026 after leadership work across public health, infrastructure, financial services and regional advocacy. That detail gives this profile a clear reason to belong in a current list of nonprofit leaders. It also shows why title alone is not enough when we look at charity leadership: the setting, operating model and people served all change the work. Read the official profile for the source and current context. Her appointment is a current example of a charity widening the leadership lens beyond one professional sector while keeping health equity central.

What these leaders show us.

The common thread is not one leadership style. It is disciplined connection. The CEO has to connect purpose with priorities, priorities with people, and people with the communities the organisation exists to serve.

That connection also needs a long view. Current charity leaders are often working with systems shaped by history, while responding to needs that change quickly. Good leadership makes the next decision clearer without pretending the whole future is known.

How to use this list.

Choose three leaders whose organisations are different from your own. Read the official source, notice the operating context, and write down one leadership question you could bring back to your team.

Then ask what would need to be true for that lesson to work in your organisation. Borrow the principle, not the surface behaviour. Your people, mission and communities deserve a response that fits their reality.

Frequently asked questions.

How did you choose the people?

The list uses current first-party leadership pages, annual reports and appointment announcements. People were included when their current senior role and a distinctive, relevant fact could be checked without relying on a namesake match or an old profile.

Is this a ranking?

No. The order is editorial, not a judgement of who is best. The purpose is to give leaders a useful set of people and organisations to study across different charity settings.

How often should a list like this be checked?

Current leadership changes. Check the organisation’s official leadership page before using a name in a public post, invitation or research document. A good habit is to refresh the list before each new campaign or publication.

Conclusion.

The best nonprofit leaders make purpose easier to act on. They give people a clear direction, build systems that can carry the work, and keep listening to the communities whose lives the mission is meant to improve.

Related Reading.

For more practical thinking, read thought leadership for nonprofits, nonprofit leadership retreat facilitators, and how to keep a leadership team aligned. You can also read how to stop your best people leaving.

About the author.

Jonno White is a Brisbane-based leadership consultant, keynote speaker and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, and the author of Step Up or Step Out. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. To enquire about a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

A practical next step.

Pick one profile and ask your leadership team: what is this leader making simple that our organisation is making harder than it needs to be?

If you want help turning that conversation into practical leadership work, email jonno@consultclarity.org. The next step can stay simple and written.