Careers

Job Opportunities

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.

Legacy Giving Officer

Location: United States; #LI-REMOTE

Position Overview: The Legacy Giving Officer, part of the Development team, is dedicated to identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding legacy donors and prospects. This role involves creating and executing strategies to secure deferred gifts from donors through estate planning and various other gift types.

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:

Identifies, cultivates, and solicits prospective donors; uses analytical skills to evaluate donor histories to determine best legacy prospects and develops strategic outreach to engage; ensures all donors are recognized and stewarded for their gifts.
- Manage a prospect portfolio of approximately 125-150 prospects and manage the qualification and cultivation of those assigned.
- Develop solicitation strategies for new and current legacy gift prospects within assigned portfolio.
- Develop relationships with prospects through various cultivation calls, meetings, letters, and handwritten notes.
- Collaborate with Sr. Director, Legacy Giving to set personal annual solicitation and legacy gift closing goals.
- Complete a specified number of significant contacts/moves annually with prospects from portfolio in accordance with identified annual goals.
Engage board members, volunteers, and key staff in the planning, relationship building and solicitation of legacy gifts.
Collaborate with the Sr. Director, Legacy Giving and Major Gift Officers to develop and coordinate strategies for blended major and legacy gifts.
Collaborate with the regional Community Managers to identify and cultivate legacy giving prospects.
- Offer educational opportunities and materials regarding legacy giving for prospects/donors.
- In cooperation with the Regional Team, make joint visits to regional prospects or participate in remote calls with volunteer chapter leadership to inform and update about legacy giving.
In coordination with Sr. Director, Legacy giving, provide continued education for Foundation staff members to ensure understanding of basic legacy giving concepts and promote collaboration.
In collaboration with the Assoc. Director, Donor Data & Analytics, create and generate program reports for activity and results towards goals and objectives.
Maintains accurate and thorough records, contact reports and background data to preserve institutional memory and facilitate programmatic performance evaluation.
Remain current on relevant laws, regulations, and techniques through self-study, professional memberships, conferences, and webinars.
In cooperation with the Finance Team, review estate documents, providing guidance and input, as applicable, for executing gift requests.
Other duties may be assigned to meet the organization’s needs.

Required Skills and Experience Include:

5+ years of experience in securing legacy and major gifts through relationship-based fundraising
Mastery of estate planning, wills, and other legal aspects related to legacy gifts with proven ability to educate and persuade potential donors about the benefits of legacy giving
Experience identifying and cultivating new sources of support. Track record of successful fundraising in an environment of similar complexity
Proven ability to build new relationships with prospects, donors, and volunteers.
Proficient interpersonal skills, both in-person, by phone or via videoconference; proven ability to communicate effectively with individuals from different backgrounds and of varying abilities
Ability to effectively communicate program and Foundation information.

Position specifics:

Home-based position, Full-time, Exempt from Overtime
Budgeted Salary Range: $115k-$130k This range is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role. The range considers a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: geographic markets, skill sets, length of experience, specific designations or credentials, and internal equity to comparable roles
Reporting to: Sr. Director, Legacy Giving
20% anticipated travel; occasional weekend and evenings required
Annual Incentive Bonus Eligible up to 8% of salary
$120/mo. pre-tax technology allowance

To apply: Send resume with cover letter, please include examples of personally solicited individual gift achievements, to HR@FightingBlindness.org

New England Field Development Manager

Location: Boston, MA, United States

The New England Field Development Manager is accountable for the revenue, volunteer management, and planned activities for 3 or 4 chapters communities. The Foundation chapter network brings people together across the country to join in fighting blinding retinal diseases. Our chapters focus on three key areas: revenue, resources, and education. The Field Development Manager will encourage, promote, and achieve successful volunteer engagement, community relations, and ambitious revenue goals.

This position is the “face” of our organization, the first point-of-contact for our chapter members within their communities. They forge strong relationships with individuals and organizations, provide information about local resources, and share scientific advancements that assist individuals through their personal journey.

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:

Fundraising

Strategic Fundraising: Develop and implement innovative fundraising strategies to surpass the previous year’s financial achievements.
Relationship Cultivation: Strengthen ties with corporate sponsors, volunteer committee members, event attendees, and honorees to secure sponsorships and sustained support
Active Committee Involvement: Lead, engage in and contribute to committee meetings and events, ensuring their successful implementation
Donor Engagement: Proactively seek and connect with potential contributors for various organizational initiatives and campaigns
Collaborative Planning: Partner with internal VisionWalk and Special Event teams to plan and execute significant events that meet or surpass fundraising goals and exemplify best practices
Community Partnership Development: Establish and nurture a network of community relationships, representing the Foundation and uncovering new support opportunities

Volunteer Leadership Engagement

Elevate Volunteer Chapters: Cultivate and expand 3–4 volunteer chapters focused on fundraising, partnerships, and community education. Collaboratively craft a strategic plan with the Regional Director, outlining key milestones and success metrics
Leadership Recruitment: Attract, mentor, and mobilize a cadre of volunteer leaders for chapter activities and special events
Host Activities: Host engaging chapter events both in-person and virtually to disseminate valuable information and foster community ties
Chapter Effectiveness: Boost chapter performance by maintaining a dynamic membership and offering continuous volunteer opportunities
Relationship Management: Oversee the stewardship of volunteers and donors, emphasizing retention, appreciation, and leadership development
Collaborative Partnerships: Forge strong connections within the organization, support peer initiatives, and enhance donor involvement to meet fundraising objectives

Administrative/Financial

Donor Database Management: Proactively employ the donor database for recording donor details, pinpointing engagement prospects, assessing philanthropic potential, and generating various reports
Tailor Chapter Strategies: Recognize the distinct characteristics of each chapter and offer tailored advice to leverage strengths and navigate obstacles, ensuring optimal outcomes
Oversee Community Resources: Administer the storage and distribution of community materials and collateral
Scientific Literacy and Communication: Gain a solid understanding of relevant scientific concepts to effectively disseminate knowledge, share insights, and highlight the organization’s impact

Essential Qualifications Include:

3+ years of successful fundraising event and development campaign experience, including collaboration with volunteers
Prior experience in building volunteer groups or non-profit organization chapters is desirable
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Proven ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying physical and cognitive abilities
Willingness to travel (anticipated 20-25%)
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
Highly organized and detail-oriented
Capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously
Enthusiastic, takes initiative, and demonstrates strong follow-up skills
Proficient in budget preparation, planning, analysis, decision-making, and reporting
Familiarity with Microsoft Office products and databases (e.g., Salesforce, Virtuous, Raiser’s Edge).
Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Position Specifics:

Location: Boston, MA: relocation not provided
Alternate title: New England Community Manager
Work from home with travel to communities, trainings, and meetings
HP or MAC laptop, monitor, printer, $120.00 monthly technology stipend provided
The budgeted starting salary Range: $70k–$80k. This range is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role. The range considers a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: geographic markets, skill sets, depth of experience, and salary equity to comparable internal roles
Annual Incentive Bonus Eligible: up to 5%
Full-time, M-F with flexibility; some evening and weekends required.
Reporting to Regional Director; no direct reports

How to Apply:

Provide resume and cover letter to: HR@FightingBlindness.org
Please include New England Community Manager within the email subject line

Venture Analyst

Locations: Raleigh, NC, United States; United States; #LI-REMOTE

Position Overview: The RD Fund Venture Analyst will play a key role in the evaluation of new investment opportunities and reporting on current and new investment opportunities. The venture analyst will coordinate with the RD Fund and Foundation Fighting Blindness leadership and staff to evaluate and closely track the performance and risk metrics of RD Fund’s investments. The venture analyst will also keep leadership abreast of market trends, including the financing and competitive landscapes.

About the RD Fund: Established by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the RD (Retinal Degeneration) Fund was created to help accelerate life-changing outcomes for people with retinal degenerations through direct mission related investments. The RD Fund aims to deliver life-changing solutions for individuals with retinal degenerative diseases today, while also creating a pipeline of next-generation and novel therapeutic opportunities for tomorrow. All proceeds of this high-impact philanthropic vehicle are returned to the Foundation Fighting Blindness to provide resources to further its mission to find preventions, treatments and cures for a wide spectrum of retinal diseases. RD Fund assets under management exceed $120 million and additional fundraising is ongoing.

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

Participate in evaluating new investment opportunities, with a primary focus on business diligence
Conduct business diligence for new investment opportunities, including managing capitalization tables and RD Fund pro forma ownership
Collaborate with Senior Venture Associate to develop and maintain detailed reports for each diligence interaction
Track therapeutics pipeline, venture capital activity, private and public markets connected to the inherited retinal diseases and dry age-related macular degeneration landscape
Assist in maintaining the investment database and deal pipeline timelines through ongoing relationship management and business development activities
Collaborate with the Foundation’s development and marketing teams to create corporate presentations and marketing materials, supporting fundraising efforts and donor reporting
Coordinate and participate in meetings, including drafting agendas

Essential Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, or related degree and/or minimum 2 years in venture capital, investment banking, private equity or a related field.
Solid understanding of principles of business development and venture capital financing with proficiency in financial modeling and valuation
Strong ability to analyze financial statements, market trends, and industry dynamics
Familiarity of the therapeutic development process
Entrepreneurial and self-starting, able to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and public speaking skills
Exceptional judgment, integrity, understanding, and diplomacy
Impeccable attention to detail

Position Specifics:

Locations: United States; Remote, Home-based; This job requires US work authorization
Reports to: RD Fund Managing Director
Medical/Dental/Vision benefits, gerourous paid time off, 403b matching, technology allowance
Full-time, Flexible schedule, exempt from overtime
Budgeted salary: $90-110k: This range is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role. The range considers a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: geographic markets, skill sets, depth of experience, and internal equity to comparable role.
This position is eligible for our Annual Incentive Bonus up to 5% of annual salary

How to Apply: Send your resume and a cover letter HR@FightingBlindness.org. Please include “Venture Analyst” in the email subject line. Currently it reads “Development Assistant”.

Foundation Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (AIDE) Commitment

The Foundation Fighting Blindness is committed to providing and advancing accessibility, inclusion, diversity, and equity in all aspects of our work. We believe that everyone deserves equal access to resources and opportunities regardless of their disability, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, religion, socioeconomic background, or any other characteristics that makes us unique, such as diverse cognitive skills and individual talents.

We recognize that everyone deserves the opportunity to participate fully and equally in all aspects of society and that accessibility is not just about physical barriers, but also about social, economic, and cultural barriers. We offer resources, information, and community to individuals and families affected by vision loss, and we strive to do so in a way that is inclusive and respectful of their unique experiences and identity. We are dedicated to ensuring that our programs, resources, and events are accessible to all individuals.

We understand the importance of promoting diversity and equity within our organization and in the broader community. We embrace and celebrate the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities of our community, actively working to remove barriers and foster an inclusive environment. And through this commitment we will continue to educate ourselves on matters related to accessibility, inclusion, diversity, and equity, and we will collaborate with other organizations, experts, and advocates to promote these values and advance progress towards a more inclusive society.