The Life and Legacy of Chad Hayward

Chad Hayward served as CEO of Accord Network for 17+ years, leaving a legacy of Christ-centered collaboration among Accord’s 120 member organizations. He was a faithful witness for Kingdom collaboration among Christian relief and development organizations caring for the world’s most vulnerable.  With masterful efficiency and innovation, Chad built Accord as an enduring relational coalition of partners whose trust and collaboration in transforming the lives of the global poor are unprecedented. In characteristic humility, Chad drew no attention to himself as he quietly created a model for trade associations of all kinds, emphasizing the need to care for workers on the frontlines, relieve the burdens on executives, and cultivating a space for technical excellence.

Among his many noteworthy contributions, Chad was the press secretary for US House Representative Jim Ryun (KS), campaigned for US Senator John Thune (SD), and then served in the Bush Administration in the office of USAID. Under the George W. Bush Administration, Chad helped establish the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and the Faith-Based and Community Initiative.

“All three were among the great foreign aid accomplishments of a generation,” said Randy Tift, former USAID chief acquisition and assistance policy officer. “The most important might have been mobilizing the faith community to partner with the US Government in ways that improved the aid delivery of both. That is because the Faith-Based Initiative was critical to the success of PEPFAR, and caused the US Government to reckon seriously with the indispensable role of faith communities everywhere and in all successful relief and development endeavors.”

This thriving community owes its vibrance to Chad's dedication and his elevation of other leaders across the Accord Network.