Church World Service

MANAGEMENT

CEO/Executive Director

Richard L. Santos

CEO/Executive Director Experience

Richard L. Santos is the President and CEO of Church World Service. Prior to assuming this role in 2021, Rick was most recently the President and CEO of IMA World Health. He led IMA World Health through several strategic pivots that positioned the agency well for the future. Rick was not new to CWS when he became President and CEO. Earlier in his career, Rick spent more than a decade with CWS. He began as a Program Officer with our team in Vietnam before rising through the ranks to eventually become Coordinator of Strategic Planning and Evaluation. He went on to serve as the Director of Communication and Advocacy at International Relief and Development before joining IMA World Health. In total, Rick has more than two decades of experience working for and with faith-based organizations, including more than a decade of living and working in Asia. Rick is an expert in engaging and partnering with civil society in the development process, and his developmental approach includes building and prioritizing robust local and regional partnerships—communities, organizations and networks—which he believes are the key ingredients to successful and sustainable development work. Immediately before becoming the President and CEO of CWS, Rick spent about two years assisting nonprofit CEOs and boards of directors to develop comprehensive approaches to building organizational resilience and relevance. He provided strategic advice and consulting services to U.S.-based, senior non-profit leadership as they consider adaptive and technical strategies and supports efforts of civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, networks and facilities to achieve organizational change and build capacity, focusing on leadership and governance, both in developed and developing country contexts. Rick continues to supportive innovative non-profits through governance. He is the Treasurer and a board member of Christian Connections for International Health and recently ended his work as a Fellow at InterAction and as Principal at NXPivot LLC. Rick holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, a Masters of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from George Washington University.

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