Executive Director:  Megan Munzlinger-Herrera

Megan was born and raised in Hannibal, MO, and first discovered Rainbow Network at her home church — Arch UMC in Hannibal. After traveling to Nicaragua in 2005, she began volunteering with Rainbow Network by managing booths at events, recruiting student sponsors, and raising funds.

Megan earned her biology degree from Westminister College in Fulton, MO, and pursued a variety of unique jobs; she worked as a landscaper, a patient care tech, a tax collector, an outdoor team member at a small theme park, and in housing construction. However, she knew her place was at Rainbow Network! Megan joined Rainbow Network staff as the Development Director in 2012 and began to rebuild church partnerships, the special needs program, and community partnership programs. This experience made her the perfect candidate to take over as Executive Director after founder Keith Jaspers retired in July 2018.

Megan married Jose “Stalin” Herrera, who is Nicaraguan, in November 2019. She enjoys watching Duke basketball, volleyball, golf, and now soccer (thanks to her husband). She is also passionate about international travel, and has visited Nicaragua several times along with Ireland and many countries in Eastern Europe.

“My favorite part of Rainbow Network is listening to people share stories of where they once were (in extreme poverty) and to now see the smile on their face as they proudly boast about how they are standing on their own two feet — that is true empowerment.”

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Founder & President Emeritus:  Keith Jaspers

Keith started Rainbow Network in 1995 with his wife Karen as a way to share the success they had found in life.

Keith served on the Habitat for Humanity Board with former President Jimmy Carter, Habitat founder and Former President Millard Fuller and Author Tony Capolo and others.  When the Jaspers decided to use their own funds to start a charity, they wanted to go somewhere where there was a real need and a scarcity of charities already in place.

Two things that are very evident in the success of Rainbow Network are Keith’s business sense and his love of family.  Keith and Karen built their successful businesses through hard work.  This left them with the satisfaction of working hard and earning a better life – a value that is imparted through the programs of Rainbow Network.

Keith passed in November of 2023. The legacy that he left is evident throughout Nicaragua and through his family and friends in the US. He will be greatly missed.