COLUMBIA, Md.—The Foundation Fighting Blindness has added Jeff Klaas, a seasoned health care and technology nonprofit leader, to its team as chief strategy and innovation officer. Klaas joins the Foundation Fighting Blindness with a distinguished career that spans over 25 years in senior executive global management roles. He brings a wealth of experience and a track record in driving strategies and fostering innovation across a spectrum of industries. Throughout his career, Klaas has held pivotal roles in prominent organizations such as the American Cancer Society, where he served as the executive vice president and chief digital officer.




Jeff Klaas


While at the American Cancer Society, he led multiple teams contributing to $700 million in annual revenue, emphasizing results-driven initiatives connecting technology to patient outcomes.

His entrepreneurial journey is exemplified by having co-founded and served as the chief executive officer of International Audio Visual, Inc., where he successfully navigated the company through capitalization strategies and a strategic transition to a private equity group buyout. A distinguished academic, Klaas serves as a professor in innovation, entrepreneurship and social good at the University of California San Diego.

"We are thrilled to have Jeff Klaas join our executive leadership team at the Foundation Fighting Blindness," said chief executive officer, Jason Menzo. "His extensive experience, entrepreneurship mindset, and passion for technology and philanthropy perfectly complement our team. His proven ability to deliver revenue growth will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission toward treatments and cures for blinding diseases."

In this newly created role, Klaas will steer the Foundation Fighting Blindness toward strategies, innovation and partnerships that drive revenue, programs and solutions aimed at driving the research for treatments and cures for blinding diseases. He will oversee the departments of development, community engagement, chapters, events and marketing and communications.

"I am deeply honored to be a part of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, an organization at the forefront of research for blinding diseases," said Klaas. "This opportunity not only reflects my professional journey but also allows me the opportunity to address the challenges my family and others face by blinding retinal diseases."