Kelli Rhee
Kelli Rhee is reshaping how philanthropy drives policy change by applying business rigor and data-driven strategies to America's most pressing challenges. As president and CEO of Arnold Ventures, she has led the organization’s deployment of nearly $2 billion across multiple issue areas including health care, education, infrastructure, public finance, and criminal justice.
Kelli joined Arnold Ventures, then called the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, as director of venture development in 2013. She became chief strategy officer in 2016. Since stepping into the CEO role in 2017, Kelli has scaled Arnold Ventures’ contributions by 40%, expanded its team, and grown its presence to offices in Houston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. She also led the organization’s strategic restructuring from a traditional foundation to a limited liability company, unlocking new opportunities for mission-aligned investments.
Under Kelli’s leadership, Arnold Ventures has made significant policy impact across multiple sectors. The organization helped enact major health care reforms, including the No Surprises Act and provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, projected to save over $100 billion. In higher education, Kelli led reforms included in the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, expected to generate $250 billion in savings while improving student outcomes. Kelli’s leadership also resulted in the advance of bipartisan energy permitting reforms and support of pro-housing legislation across many states. In public finance, Arnold Ventures launched the Program Integrity Alliance and partnered with the Paragon Health Institute to reduce billions in government waste. In criminal justice, the organization backed initiatives such as the Real-Time Crime Index, the Federal Prison Oversight Act, and Pennsylvania’s VICTIM Act, all aimed at enhancing public safety and accountability.
Kelli’s career spans management consulting, health care, and venture capital, with deep expertise in strategy, governance, and change management. She was recently named among Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” and serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership.
Kelli earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, a master’s degree from Stanford Graduate School of Education, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University. Kelli lives in Houston with her husband and three children.
