Careers

The Foundation Fighting Blindness has one clear objective: accelerating research finding treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases. These diseases, which affect more than 10 million Americans and millions more throughout the world, often lead to severe vision loss or complete blindness.

Working with preeminent scientists, the Foundation has funded breakthroughs in gene therapy, stem cells and bionic retinas. Over the past five decades, the Foundation has raised more than $891 million to fund research studies in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

We are looking for talented and passionate individuals to join us in our mission. Learn more about the job opportunities that are currently available at the Foundation.

Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer

Position Overview: The Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer will be responsible for driving new ideas and developing and executing strategies to elevate organizational performance. This individual will be accountable for developing and realizing the revenue plans the organization.

Primary Responsibilities: The following are representative of the duties and responsibilities associated with this position and are not meant to be an all-inclusive list.

• Take a leadership role in developing the organizational agenda – identifying and prioritizing opportunity, balancing the strategic with the tactical.
• Unite the organization behind the agenda – working across departments to align goals.
• Fuel innovation and drive revenue to grow support for all programs, including the RD Fund.
• Assess trends and where the Foundation fits in the marketplace and recommend action that elevates the Foundation to external Stakeholders.
• Recognize promising ideas and find ways to introduce them to future plans.
• Facilitate an open exchange of ideas and foster an atmosphere of open communication.
• Create cross functional teams – breakdown silos and keep things moving forward.
• Identify opportunities for external partnership development to drive new pathways and markets for revenue.
• Develop and execute a long-term strategic revenue plan that will result in a strong financial foundation and resiliency that enables The Foundation to continue providing existing and new programs to the communities it serves; ensure short-term goals are achieved, and the organization has an ambitious but realistic strategic plan.
• Develop and oversee an annual implementation plan and work with the COO to ensure that the budget process aligns with and supports organization-wide priorities.
• Identify industry trends, assess and explore new ventures, and monitor the execution of existing fundraising initiatives.
• Develop business policies and practices to ensure that annual implementation plan is operationalized by all members of the team.
• Foster an environment where all staff members feel valued and recognized for their individual impact to the success of the team.

Specific Qualifications:

• Significant experience developing strategy, realizing revenue, and leading teams; MBA or relevant advanced degree a plus.
• Possesses a strong relational and strategic orientation and extensive experience leading major national initiatives or organizations, preferably in a health research organization.
• Experience in organizational planning and leveraging data to inform decision-making.
• Proven and successful experience developing and leading a team, seeding and launching new projects, scaling operations, and building accountability tools.
• Demonstrated success in building strong organizational partnerships with national leaders, organizations, and corporations.
• History of building the capacity, effectiveness, and leadership of a national non-profit.
• Track record of working at the chief level, directly translating a CEO’s vision, collaborating around change with a senior team and working with the COO to ensure strategies are in compliance with all laws.
• Track record of identifying diverse revenue streams.
• Strategic, creative, and innovative thinker.
• Demonstrated experience building a positive work culture and embraces the Foundation’s values and vision with the capability to inspire staff to do the same.
• Possessing deep relational and emotional intelligence, the candidate will be a thought and action partner with excellent communication and active listening skills. They will be an effective and trusted collaborator with the CEO and staff.
• Has worked collaboratively across an organization with staff of all levels.
• Must be fully vaccinated for COVID; requires documentation of vaccinations

Position specifics:

• Home-based position
• Reporting to: CEO
• Business travel required as needed

TO APPLY:
Please submit all application materials to DRiWaterstoneHC.

• DRiWaterstoneHC is managing the search for this position on behalf of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. DRiWaterstone is women founded and led executive search firm recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the leading executive recruiting firms in the U.S.
• All first-round interviews for this position will be via video conference with DRiWaterstoneHC.

Major Gifts Officer (2 positions)

About the position: We currently have two Major Gifts Officer positions available (West Region and East Region). The Major Gift Officer serves as the prospect manager for a portfolio of identified and prospective major gift donors within their applicable region. This individual is responsible for the cultivation, solicitation, and closure of gifts supporting organizational priorities in the range of $10,000 - $100,000. They help develop and implement solicitation strategies with the Foundation Fighting Blindness team and collaborates with leadership and staff to maximize fundraising strategy and revenue. The Major Gifts Officer is work-from-home opportunity with up to 25% travel. These roles report to our Sr. Director of Philanthropy.

This person will have experience and expertise in all areas of the major gift work continuum/moves management including identification, cultivation, solicitation, gift closure and a basic knowledge of Planned Giving.

Essential Responsibilities Include:

• Forging positive effective relationships internally and externally with a wide-ranging assortment of individuals, boards, volunteers, donors, external partners, and the communities at large.
• Managing a portfolio of major gift prospects with a focus on sustaining and growing current funder relationships and building new donor relationships.
• Commitment to proactive personalized fundraising, including regular donor meetings, and building outstanding one-on-one relationships, Assuring the team maintains a donor retention rate of at least 80% and has at least 120 visits per year.
• Drive for Results – steadfastly pushing self and others for results with a focus on bottom-line results.
• Using key metrics to achieve higher retention rates and donor satisfaction. Monitoring and managing opportunities and new trends with technology and data analysis to determine which efforts have the greatest business impact; Using wealth screening and other research information to develop strategies and build the portfolio.
• Responsible for budgets, forecasts and projects, as well as accurate and timely plans, consistent with the strategic plan.
• Collaborating with peers across the organization to acquire and coordinate resources,
• Learning the science to present proposals to donors, and following research updates

The successful candidate will have:

• 5+ years of professional development experience preferred
• A demonstrated track record of accomplishment in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing major gifts, and providing stewardship to donors
• Demonstrated abilities to partner successfully with staff, board, volunteers, high level donors and regional staff in creating new giving opportunities; Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently
• Ability to initiate and build long-term relationships with prospective individual donor partners;
• Strong fundraising ethics; with discernible respect for confidentiality of donor information
• History of 5- and 6-figure personally solicited individual gifts; experience working on gift strategies
• Interest in making a significant contribution to a recognized world class health and science leadership organization.
• Excellent people skills with effective verbal and written communication abilities.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of database systems
• Initiative-taking, enthusiastic and have strong follow-up skills
• Fully proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• Ability to work flexible week
• Valid driver’s license with driving record acceptable to Foundation Fighting Blindness insurance carrier
• Must be fully vaccinated for COVID; requires documentation of vaccinations

Position specifics:

• Home-based position
• Reporting to: Sr. Director of Philanthropy
• 25% travel

To apply:  Please send resume with cover letter and salary requirements to HR@fightblindness.org. Please provide examples of personally solicited individual gift achievements.  

We are one team collectively committed to driving research until the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases is eradicated. We offer a competitive salary and benefits, as well as an incredibly dynamic team to work with!  The Foundation Fighting Blindness is an equal opportunity employer.