About Guiding Eyes for the Blind
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (“Guiding Eyes” or “GEB”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss. We are passionate about connecting exceptional dogs with individuals for greater independence.
Since 1954, Guiding Eyes has grown its reputation as a leading guide dog school both nationally and internationally, with the support of its passionate staff, dedicated volunteers, and generous supporters.
We believe in the powerful, meaningful change that our beautiful dogs bring to the lives of people facing the daily challenges that blindness and vision loss present.
Over the years, Guiding Eyes has continually met the growing needs of our diverse community and through this unwavering support and dedication, Guiding Eyes has graduated more than 10,000 guide dog teams with all services provided completely free of charge. At Guiding Eyes, we rely upon the contributions of our generous donors to fulfill our mission.
Opportunity
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for leading Guiding Eyes for the Blind in deep collaboration with its many stakeholders. Guiding Eyes seeks an inspirational leader to provide strategic direction and oversight for this well-respected and vital organization. The role demands a people-first leader who can balance strategic thinking with operational excellence. This is a tremendous opportunity for a dynamic leader with a passion for serving individuals with visual impairments to join a beloved organization and collaborate with the board, 150+ employees, partners, and volunteers to build upon decades of positive momentum and chart a course for Guiding Eyes’ future growth and impact.
Key responsibilities for the President & CEO include:
- Define short- and long-term goals and implement a cohesive, targeted strategic plan, working with a wide variety of stakeholders to execute, adapt, and modify it as needed.
- Oversee the development and management of a $35 - $40 million operating budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility, financial health, operational efficiency, and sustainability of the organization.
- Work with the Board and executive team to develop, enhance, and implement policies, procedures, and systems that will improve the overall capacity of the organization’s structures, processes, compliance, and operations, ensuring effectiveness in delivery of programs.
- Lead and continue to build a diverse, passionate, and cohesive staff and culture, fostering an environment of transparency, integrity, inclusivity, collaboration, and empowerment across the organization’s functions.
- Model a culture of a high-performance that values quality, accountability, professional development, and teamwork, ensuring strong internal communication and retention.
- Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of the organization’s programs and services, promoting high quality and continuous program growth and improvement.
- Continue to foster a culture of philanthropy across GEB’s teams, board, and communities, actively cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with donors, corporate partners, foundations, and community stakeholders to support the organization's fundraising and impact objectives.
- Establish strong working relationships and collaborative arrangements to elevate GEB’s brand recognition and exposure locally and nationally, serving as the face and chief advocate to partners, donors, media, and other key stakeholders.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with partner organizations, advocacy groups, expanding Guiding Eyes’ influence and impact in North America.
- Cultivate a vibrant board culture where dedicated leaders drive ethical excellence and fuel fundraising success; work with an engaged Board of Directors and support its members in meeting their governance responsibilities in a productive, efficient, and collaborative manner.
Strong preference for candidates who can offer:
- 10+ years’ experience successfully leading within a nonprofit organization of significant size, scale, and complexity.
- Strong relationship builder with a demonstrated ability to connect, build trust, and inspire across a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaborative and engaging approach to building organizational vision and high-performing teams.
- Success in/aptitude to lead a robust fundraising program and partnership strategy.
- Brings a personal and/or professional connection to the work and mission of Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $400,000 - $450,000 with a generous benefits package including healthcare (Medical/Dental/Vision) and 403(b) plan.