With deep sadness, we share that Jo Luck, former President and CEO of Heifer International, passed away peacefully on Wednesday November 26, 2025.
Jo Luck joined Heifer International in 1989 as director of International Programs and led from 1992 to 2009 as president and CEO. She also served as president of the Heifer International Foundation from 1992 to 2001. Her impact on our organization and mission to end hunger and poverty is immeasurable and enduring.
An innovative and deeply empathetic leader, Jo Luck helped transform Heifer into a global force for sustainable development. Under her guidance, our work expanded to reach millions of families worldwide.
Jo Luck’s vision for Heifer was rooted in dignity, community and peace. As she once said, “When I am asked, ‘What about the other global problems besides hunger?’ I say that without sustenance, people are not able to address other issues. For me, ending hunger is a prerequisite for peace.”
She believed in surrounding herself with experts and amplifying their strengths to create something larger than any one person could achieve. Through collaboration with colleagues, she introduced Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development. Together, they formed the acronym PASSING GIFTS, a reflection of Jo Luck’s belief that true change happens when we give of ourselves to others.
As Oscar Castaneda, Senior Vice President for the Americas, shared, “Jo Luck’s legacy began with those Cornerstones — and from them, she sparked so much growth. … She enabled the world to understand Heifer’s deeper message, she championed women in livestock development long before it was widely recognized, and she inspired countless people through her energy and words.”
“Jo Luck’s voice and vision turned purpose into movement,” he continued, “and her encouragement continues to motivate us to keep building with care and conviction.”
Before joining Heifer International, Jo Luck served as executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. She also founded and led the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and worked in the Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services.
A graduate of David Lipscomb College with a master’s from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Jo Luck later served on President Obama’s USAID Board for International Food and Agricultural Development and other global advisory councils.
In addition to being named co-recipient of The World Food Prize in 2010 for her work through Heifer, her humanitarian leadership earned her the Forbes’ Trailblazer Award, and several honorary doctorates. In 1992, she also represented the U.S. at the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development and the Earth Summit in Brazil.
In honor of Jo Luck’s journey, we offer these words that capture her enduring legacy: To plant a seed is to believe in tomorrow. They remind us of her vision, her faith in humanity and her unwavering belief that when we pass on the gift, we build a better world.