Jennifer Jones.

TORONTO—Tara James, chair of the board of directors of Fighting Blindness Canada, has announced the appointment of Jennifer Jones as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer, effective May 23, 2023. Jones has devoted over 20 years to social impact, advocacy and fundraising across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently, she was president of the Toronto Public Library (TPL) Foundation where she helped transform the 20-year-old charity through the redevelopment of its strategic and operational plans.

While there, she led the team to achieve significant revenue growth through corporate, individual, legacy, endowment and major gifts, as well as key events such as founding TPL Foundation’s annual gala, Biblio Bash.

Previously at Indigo, Jones built and scaled up the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation. At CIBC, she managed CIBC’s Run for the Cure peer-to-peer fundraising and volunteers nationwide in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Jones received her MBA from The Ivey Business School at University of Western Ontario.

 
“We are thrilled Jennifer is joining Fighting Blindness Canada. She will bring fresh energy, perspective, and leadership to our mission and work,” said James. “She has a proven track record of driving sustainable growth and making a difference in the not-for-profit sector. Her timing to join the organization is perfect.

"Fighting Blindness Canada is about to celebrate its 50-year anniversary of funding critical vision research. After five decades of raising over $40 million toward sight-saving research, we see the positive impact that investment is having and how transformative it is to the lives of those in the vision loss community.”

“As president and CEO, Jones will be able to leverage her vision, strategic mindset, engaging leadership style, and passion for our mission—to advance vision research. Jennifer is well placed to bring the organization forward in this next phase of our growth and impact—toward an even brighter future,” James said.

In addition to her professional commitment to the social impact sector, Jones remains the vice chair of PACE Independent Living Board of Directors, an organization dedicated to providing people with disabilities with the support to live with dignity and independence.

“I am thrilled to join Fighting Blindness Canada,” said Jones. “It’s deeply rewarding to be part of an organization with a rich history of research, education and expertise for a cause that is near and dear to my heart and to so many Canadians. I am very excited to bring my years of leadership experience and my passion to this role.”

Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is the largest charitable funder of vision research in Canada. Over its 49-year history, FBC has contributed over $40 million in funding for the development of sight-saving treatments and cures for blinding eye diseases.