Chat & Chowder | Prisoners of Hope with Samuel A. Worthington

Samuel A. Worthington. As an executive, diplomat, and spokesperson, Sam Worthington has shaped the impact of U.S.-based international NGOs on global development and humanitarian action. A recognized leader in global civil society, he brings decades of experience as a CEO, board member, strategic advisor, mentor, and humanitarian expert. His recent book, Prisoners of Hope: Global Action and the Evolving Role of U.S. NGOs, was published in 2025. Sam currently serves as a Senior Fellow at Forus, a Paris-based network representing 26,000 civil society organizations worldwide. From 2006 to 2022, Sam was President & CEO of InterAction, the leading convener of the U.S. international NGO sector. He brought together senior stakeholders from governments, UN and multilateral agencies, the private sector, and global civil society to shape policy and action on U.S. foreign assistance, humanitarian response, and global development. As a Principal on the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the world’s apex humanitarian body, he collaborated with UN leaders to strengthen the global humanitarian system and diplomacy. He founded NGO Futures, a program that helps CEOs navigate sector-wide transformations through retreats, seminars, and workshops. In 2015, he was a resident policy fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, focusing on the evolution of international NGOs. Previously, Sam served as President & CEO of Plan International USA (1994–2006) and held executive leadership roles within Plan International, a $1 billion global NGO dedicated to advancing girls’ rights. Beyond his role at Forus, he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, chairs the Advisory Council of the UN Association-National Capital Area, and serves on the board of Church World Service. His work on board includes the Van Leer Foundation, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Brown University’s Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, CIVICUS, the UN’s Global Executive Leadership Initiative, InterAction, Plan International USA, Religions for Peace, and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, among others. Sam holds an MA with distinction from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a BA from the University of Vermont, reflecting a lifelong commitment to advancing human well-being and rights. He is moving to Rockport, Mass. with his wife, Renée.