Dear LightHouse Community,

Following our stated goal in the New Year’s Message where we referenced the search for a new CEO, with a goal of hiring by the end of summer, the Board of Directors welcomes our new leader. Anil Lewis joined LightHouse in September. Read more in the blog post: “LightHouse Welcomes New Chief Executive Officer, Anil Lewis!”

Anil brings more than 25 years of experience in blindness advocacy, public policy, employment, education, and community leadership. As Anil begins his tenure, his approach is straightforward: to listen and learn first, then build.

Budget and Building a Sustainable Future

At the September 24 meeting, the Board unanimously approved updated operating budget deficit targets for the next three fiscal years: $7 million for FY27, $5 million for FY28, and $3 million for FY29.

These revised targets come with firm requirements to continue to increase income and stabilize the organization. Our goal is to establish a clear path toward significantly reducing LightHouse’s operating deficit while giving new leadership the latitude to pursue revenue growth and take a thoughtful, strategic approach to organizational structure and costs.

Reaching financial stability will require understanding what is working, identifying where we can grow, investing in opportunities with long-term potential and making difficult decisions when necessary. Above all, financial decisions will remain grounded in our mission and the needs of the blind and low vision community.

This work will take time, and it will take all of us.

Be Part of LightHouse’s Next 125 Years

In 2027, LightHouse will celebrate 125 years of advancing independence, opportunity, and community for people who are blind and have low vision.

Thank you for your continued support, partnership, advocacy and belief in the LightHouse community. Give to LightHouse’s Next 125.

Together, we honor our history, community, dedicated staff, and donors who continue to build an even stronger and more sustainable LightHouse for the generations ahead.

With gratitude,

The LightHouse Board of Directors