Rich Stearns is President Emeritus of World Vision U.S., continuing to share his leadership influence by writing and speaking on behalf of the organization. He was the longest-serving president in World Vision’s history, from 1998-2018.

Rich joined World Vision U.S. to follow what he felt as a distinct call from God on his life, leaving a corporate career that included CEO roles at Lenox and Parker Brothers Games. He holds a B.A. in neurobiology from Cornell University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Over 20 years at World Vision U.S., Rich built a strong leadership team focused on bringing corporate best practices to the nonprofit sector. Logging 3 million air miles, he traveled to more than 60 of the nearly 100 countries in which the organization works. He served as a prophetic voice for the organization, calling on the American church to respond to the AIDS pandemic in the early 2000s, and later raising awareness on the refugee crisis and global poverty. As a thought leader, Rich appeared regularly in media outlets such as Christianity Today, FOX News, CNN, NPR, Charisma News, and Relevant magazine.

Among the honors Rich received for his humanitarian service are five honorary doctoral degrees and induction into the Society of World Changers at Indiana Wesleyan University. In 2018, he received the Julia Vadala Taft Outstanding Leadership Award from InterAction, and the Christian Leadership Alliance honored him with its highest honor, the Christian Leadership Alliance Consul.

Rich is the author of several books, including the best-selling, award-winning The Hole in Our Gospel. He also wrote Unfinished, as well as two books with his wife, Reneé – a children’s Bible storybook, God’s Love For You, and a 90-day devotional, He Walks Among Us.

Rich’s latest book is Lead Like it Matters to God, from Intervarsity Press. It is the Outcomes Conference 2021 Book of the Year!

Rich and Reneé live in Bellevue, Washington. They have five grown children and six grandchildren.