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.

Great Lakes Field Development Manager

Location: Cincinnati, OH, United States

The Great Lakes Field Development Manager is accountable for the revenue, volunteer management, and planned activities for 3- or 4-chapter communities in Ohio and Michigan. 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

Develop and implement innovative fundraising strategies to surpass the previous year’s financial achievements.
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 event committee meetings, ensuring successful coordination implementation of events.
Proactively seek and connect with potential contributors for various organizational initiatives and campaigns.
Partner with internal VisionWalk and Special Event teams to plan and execute significant events that meet or surpass fundraising goals and exemplify best practices.
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.
Recruit, guide, and activate a dedicated team of volunteer leaders for chapter activities and special events; Maintain dynamic membership and offering continuous volunteer opportunities.
Host engaging chapter events both in-person and virtually to disseminate valuable information and foster community ties.
Engage and steward volunteers and donors, prioritizing retention, recognition, and growth through effective moves management strategies.
Build strong internal connections: Support peer initiatives and enhance donor involvement to achieve fundraising goals.

Administrative/Operational

Proactively utilize the donor database for recording donor details, pinpointing engagement prospects, assessing philanthropic potential, and generating various reports.
Recognize the distinct characteristics of the chapter community and offer tailored advice to leverage strengths and navigate obstacles, ensuring optimal outcomes.
Manage the storage and distribution of community materials and collateral.
Gain a solid understanding of relevant scientific concepts to effectively disseminate knowledge, share insights, and highlight the organization’s impact.

Essential Qualifications Include:

Must have 3+ years of successful event fundraising, including collaboration with volunteers.
Proven ability to recruit, lead, and motivate volunteer groups or non-profit organization chapters.
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Proven ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying 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 with the flexibility to address and resolve issues efficiently.
Enthusiastic, takes initiative, and demonstrates strong follow-up skills.
Applied experience with budget preparation, budget management, and reporting.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office products and databases (e.g., Salesforce, Virtuous, Raiser’s Edge).
Deep commitment to the mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Position Specifics:

Location: Cincinnati or Cleveland, OH: relocation not provided.
Internal title: Great Lakes Community Manager.
Alternate title: Great Lakes Territory 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–$75k. This range is what we reasonably expect to offer for this role and considers factors considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: geographic market, skill sets, depth of experience, and salary equity to 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 Great Lakes within the email subject line.

Chicagoland Field Development Manager

Location: Chicago, IL, United States

The Chicagoland Field Development Manager is accountable for the revenue, volunteer management, and planned activities for this chapter community. The Foundation chapter network brings people together across the country to join in finding treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases. Our chapters focus on three key areas: revenue, resources, and education. The Field Development Manager will drive, promote, and achieve revenue goals, volunteer engagement, and community relations.

This position is the “face” of our organization, the first point-of-contact for our chapter members within their community. Our Development Managers 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

Develop and implement innovative fundraising strategies to surpass the previous year’s financial achievements.
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 event committee meetings, ensuring successful coordination implementation of events.
Proactively seek and connect with potential contributors for various organizational initiatives and campaigns.
Partner with internal VisionWalk and Special Event teams to plan and execute significant events that meet or surpass fundraising goals and exemplify best practices.
Establish and nurture a network of community relationships, representing the Foundation and uncovering new support opportunities.

Volunteer Leadership Engagement

Enhance Volunteer Chapters: Develop and broaden the chapters' influence, emphasizing fundraising, partnerships, and community education. Work together with the Regional Director to create a strategic plan that includes key milestones and success metrics.
Recruit, guide, and activate a dedicated team of volunteer leaders for chapter activities and special events; Maintain dynamic membership and offering continuous volunteer opportunities.
Host engaging chapter events both in-person and virtually to disseminate valuable information and foster community ties.
Engage and steward volunteers and donors, prioritizing retention, recognition, and growth through effective moves management strategies.
Build strong internal connections: Support peer initiatives and enhance donor involvement to achieve fundraising goals.

Administrative/Operational

Proactively utilize the donor database for recording donor details, pinpointing engagement prospects, assessing philanthropic potential, and generating various reports.
Recognize the distinct characteristics of the chapter community and offer tailored advice to leverage strengths and navigate obstacles, ensuring optimal outcomes.
Manage the storage and distribution of community materials and collateral.
Gain a solid understanding of relevant scientific concepts to effectively disseminate knowledge, share insights, and highlight the organization’s impact.

Essential Qualifications Include:

Must have 3+ years of successful event fundraising, including collaboration with volunteers.
Proven ability to recruit, lead, and motivate volunteer groups or non-profit organization chapters.
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Proven ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying 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 with the flexibility to address and resolve issues efficiently.
Enthusiastic, takes initiative, and demonstrates strong follow-up skills.
Applied experience with budget preparation, budget management, and reporting.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office products and databases (e.g., Salesforce, Virtuous, Raiser’s Edge).
Deep commitment to the mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Position Specifics:

Location: Chicago, IL: relocation not provided.
Internal title: Chicago Community Manager.
Work from home with travel to meetings, community partnerships, and trainings.
HP or MAC laptop, monitor, printer, $120.00 monthly technology stipend provided.
The budgeted starting salary Range: $70k–$85k. This range is what we reasonably expect to offer for this role and considers factors considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: geographic market, skill sets, depth of experience, and salary equity to 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 with a cover letter to: HR@FightingBlindness.org.
Please include Chicagoland within the email subject line.

Vice President, Development

Location: United States; #LI-REMOTE

Position Overview: The Vice President of Development oversees a team of development professionals and engages a select portfolio of key donors to support the organization’s long-term sustainability and growth. The Vice President is responsible for leading the cultivation and solicitation of major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations, while accelerating our pipeline of prospective donors. This involves ensuring the effective implementation of policies, operational processes, and procedures to execute strategic growth plans, build capacity, and achieve annual fundraising goals.

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:

Team Leadership and Culture:

Foster an innovative, engaging, and accountable team culture to drive fundraising engagement and giving, supporting a meaningful employee experience in alignment with the Foundation’s mission and values.
Manage a national team composed of multiple departments, including planned giving, foundations, major gifts, mid-level giving, and prospect research.
Provide direction and feedback, allocate responsibilities, tasks, and projects, ensure projects stay on track and goals are met, and maintain sensible workloads.
Recruit, create training plans, and proactively manage staff performance and productivity; manage conflict between staff members, provide feedback, and conduct annual performance reviews.
Ensure role descriptions are up-to-date and reflective of the work and outcomes being managed and evaluated.
Support staff development through training and providing development experiences.
Facilitate strategic planning and team retreats.

Fundraising Strategy and Execution:

Partner with the Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer to design and implement a comprehensive strategy for successful and sustainable development programs.
Lead the fundraising process, ensuring efficient and effective use of resources. Analyze fundraising data trends, identify opportunities for improvement and growth, and implement the mechanics, measurements, key performance indicators, and associated business intelligence to manage a high-performing team of development professionals.
Drive fundraising performance in major gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and minor gifts feeder programs, leveraging IT, processes, data, and prospect research.
Implement data-driven thought leadership to elevate team execution and accountability. Use data science and analytics to make decisions, leverage data, business intelligence, constituent relationship management, and other software tools for decision-making and communications.
Meet quarterly and annual development fundraising goals consistently in planned giving, foundations, major gifts, mid-level gifts, and prospect research.

Budget and Resource Management:

Manage budget processes and performance cycles. Analyze data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement and growth within short, mid-term, and strategic budget cycles.
Accountable for budgets, forecasts, and projects, as well as accurate and timely plans consistent with the strategic plan.
Provide budget data, business analytics, and decision-making support to the development team, executive leadership, and board of directors.
Relationship Building and Stewardship:
Forge positive, effective relationships internally and externally with a wide-ranging assortment of individuals, boards, volunteers, donors, external partners, and the communities at large.
Foster the practice of Moves Management through stewardship, proactive personalized fundraising, including regular face-to-face donor meetings, and building outstanding one-on-one relationships. Incorporate wealth screening and other research information to develop strategies and build the portfolio.
Continually explore new and creative marketing strategies that broaden the Foundation’s base of support.
Achieve increased retention rates and donor satisfaction year over year. Assess current engagement and activities to determine which efforts have the greatest business impact.
Collaborate with marketing and communications to integrate fundraising messages into all development communications.
Collaborate with peers across the organization to coordinate resources and align goals.
Demonstrate learned retinal and eye health care science through presentations, proposals, and other development fundraising engagements.

Essential Qualifications Include:

10+ years of fundraising experience in a non-profit organization, with a demonstrated history of soliciting 5 and 6-figure gifts; experience working on 7-figure gift strategies is desired.
Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in major gifts, mid-level, or planned giving; experience assessing the philanthropic community and identifying and cultivating new sources of support is required.
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; proven ability to work and communicate effectively with individuals from different backgrounds and of varying physical abilities.
Proficient in fundraising practices and policies; strong fundraising ethics with discernible respect for the confidentiality of donor information.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Demonstrated track record of setting, achieving, and exceeding aggressive goals on a sustainable basis.
Proven ability to establish and execute strategic plans in a highly dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Enthusiastic, takes initiative, and has strong follow-up skills.
Fully proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook) with expert experience with donor databases.

Position Specifics:

Home-office based position with up to 20% estimated travel
Annual Incentive Bonus Eligibility up to 10%
Full-time, exempt, with occasional evenings and weekends
Budgeted Salary Range: $175k–$200k 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 roles
Reports to Chief of Strategy and Innovation
Direct Reports: Yes

How to Apply:

Provide resume with cover letter to HR@FightingBlindness.org.
Please include VP Development within the email subject line.

Southern Cal Field Development Manager

Location: Remote; Los Angeles, CA; San Diego, CA; United States

About this position: The Southern Cal Field Development Manager is responsible for all chapter activities in our Southern California territory. This includes:

Revenue Management: Achieving revenue goals through fundraising and other activities
Volunteer Management: Engaging and managing volunteers
Community Relations: Providing information and promoting community engagement.

About our chapters: The Foundation Fighting Blindness volunteer chapters are local groups that bring people together to support our mission of finding treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases. These chapters focus on three main areas:

Education: Providing the latest information on retinal disease research.
Resources: Connecting members with local community resources and specialists.
Revenue: Raising funds through events like VisionWalks, dinners, and DIY fundraisers.

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

Develop and implement innovative fundraising strategies to surpass the previous year’s financial achievements
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 event committee meetings, ensuring successful coordination implementation of events
Proactively seek and connect with potential contributors for various organizational initiatives and campaigns
Partner with internal VisionWalk and Special Event teams to plan and execute significant events that meet or surpass fundraising goals and exemplify best practices
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
Recruit, guide, and activate a dedicated team of volunteer leaders for chapter activities and special events; Maintain dynamic membership and offering continuous volunteer opportunities
Host engaging chapter events both in-person and virtually to disseminate valuable information and foster community ties
Engage and steward volunteers and donors, prioritizing retention, recognition, and growth through effective moves management strategies
Build strong internal connections: Support peer initiatives and enhance donor involvement to achieve fundraising goals.

Administrative/Operational

Proactively utilize the donor database for recording donor details, pinpointing engagement prospects, assessing philanthropic potential, and generating various reports
Recognize the distinct characteristics of the chapter community and offer tailored advice to leverage strengths and navigate obstacles, ensuring optimal outcomes
Manage the storage and distribution of community materials and collateral
Gain a solid understanding of relevant scientific concepts to effectively disseminate knowledge, share insights, and highlight the organization’s impact

Essential Qualifications Include:

Must have 3+ years of successful event fundraising, including collaboration with volunteers
Proven ability to recruit, lead, and motivate volunteer groups or non-profit organization chapters
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
Proven ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying abilities
Willingness and ability 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 with the flexibility to address and resolve issues efficiently
Enthusiastic, takes initiative, and demonstrates strong follow-up skills
Applied experience with budget preparation, budget management, and reporting
Experience with Microsoft Office products and databases (e.g., Salesforce, Virtuous, Raiser’s Edge).
Deep commitment to the mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness
Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Position Specifics:

Alternate title: Cal Community Manager
Location: Los Angeles or San Diego, CA: relocation not provided
Work from home with travel to communities, trainings, and meetings
Home Office Supplies Provided: HP or MAC laptop, monitor, printer, $120.00 monthly technology stipend
The budgeted starting salary Range: $78,000–$85,000. This range is what we reasonably expect to offer for this role and considers factors considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: geographic market, skill sets, depth of experience, and salary equity to 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 with cover letter to hr@fightingblindness.org. Please include SoCal within the email subject line.

Research Specialist

Location: Remote; United States

Purpose: The Research Specialist is a critical member of our science team who leverages data from clinical and preclinical databases to generate insightful business reports, conduct thorough program evaluations, and develop and maintain dashboards for internal stakeholders. This position is essential for ensuring data-driven decision-making and effective project coordination within our 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:

Clinical

Organize and manage recurring data workflows (e.g., downloads from the lab, record matching, data cleaning, and uploads to registry platform) in support of the My Retina Tracker^® Registry Program
Reconcile invoices from the clinical laboratory and investigative sites against existing registry profiles using spreadsheets or other data management software
Enter verified invoices for payment

Preclinical

Extract and analyze data from the grant database to generate comprehensive business reports.
Conduct program evaluations to assess the effectiveness and impact of various initiatives.
Develop and maintain dashboards to provide real-time insights for internal stakeholders.
Collaborate with internal teams to understand data needs and deliver actionable insights.
Provide training and support to team members on the use of dashboards and data tools.

Requirements:

Must have relevant degree with 3+ years research-related experience, including data analysis, project coordination and report generation, in science and/or laboratory environment
Strong proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., SQL, Excel, Tableau, Power BI).
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; Proven ability to work and communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and of varying physical and cognitive proficiencies
Must be highly organized, detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
A team player with an ability to work independently is required
Proactive, enthusiastic and have strong follow-up skills
Proficient with Microsoft Office products

Position Specifics:

Work from home with occasional travel to team meetings and trainings.
Location: eastern time zone
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 offer for this role and considers factors including but not limited to: geographic market, skill sets, depth of experience, and salary equity to internal roles
Annual Incentive Bonus Eligible: up to 5%
Full-time, M-F
Reporting to SVP, Clinical and Outcomes research

How to Apply:

Provide resume and cover letter to:HR@FightingBlindness.org.
Please include Research Specialistwithin the email subject line.

VisionWalk Specialist

Location: Philadelphia, PA; United States

Purpose: The VisionWalk Specialist is a key role on our VisionWalk team, providing excellent logistical and organizational support in collaboration with other regional team members to ensure Walks happen on time and on budget. This position is responsible for the development, management, and execution of VisionWalks and kickoff events, providing all back-end logistical support to cultivate relationships and achieve fundraising goals.

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

Work collaboratively with Community Managers, VisionWalk Assistants, and National VisionWalk Director to provide all planning and logistical support for regional VisionWalks and kickoff events with a focus on bottom-line results
Coordinate and execute contracts related to site selection, logistics, vendors, volunteers, and speakers
Attend select committee meetings and VisionWalks in coordination with Community Managers to provide day-of support
Collaborate with regional department leaders on fiscal management of events, including budgeting, contract negotiation, and invoices
Manage the before, during, and after of assigned events; responsible for ensuring assigned VisionWalk events are on budget and on time
Collaborate with assigned field team to develop an annual communication plan which accounts for market activities & events
Cultivate Team Captains, committee members, or other community members as identified by Community Manager and VisionWalk Director and facilitate internal relationship handoffs
Assist with volunteer recruitment, day-of management, and training; in-kind donation solicitation; organization of event day supplies
Assist with data entry, gift management, and event communications and collateral

Requirements:

Must have minimum 3 years of demonstrated non-profit event planning; preference for prior walk or signature event experience
Applied experience with donor databases, working knowledge of relational databases and event management platforms
Experience leading and motivating volunteers, as well as developing and maintaining positive relationships with donors and community members
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
Enthusiastic, takes initiative, and has strong follow-up skills
Strong fiscal management skills, including budget preparation, planning, analysis, decision making, and reporting.
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; Proven ability to work and communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and of varying physical and cognitive proficiencies
Fully proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
Able to lift 30 lbs.
Must be able to work a flexible week--weekends, and evenings, as necessary
Must have reliable transportation and ability to use own vehicle for transporting supplies and materials.
Possession of valid driver’s license with driving record acceptable to Foundation insurance carrier
Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
Positive and enthusiastic attitude.

Position Specifics:

Location: Must reside in one of the following locations-Washington D.C., Philadelphia, PA, NY metro, Boston, MA. relocation is not provided
Work from home with travel to events, trainings, and meetings.
Travel: up to 30% anticipated
Full-time, flexible schedule; some evenings, weekends, and overnight travel required
HP or MAC laptop, monitor, printer, $120.00 monthly technology stipend provided.
The budgeted starting salary range: $68k–$75k. This range is what we reasonably expect to offer for this role and considers factors considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: geographic market, skill sets, depth of experience, and salary equity to internal roles.
Annual Incentive Bonus Eligible: up to 5%.
Reports to: National Director, VisionWalk

How to Apply:

Provide resume and cover letter to:HR@FightingBlindness.org.
Please include VW Specialistwithin the email subject line.