LightHouse, Historic Bay Area Nonprofit, Announces Anil Lewis as CEO

LightHouse, Historic Bay Area Nonprofit, Announces Anil Lewis as CEO

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired announces the appointment of Anil Lewis as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2026. Headquartered in San Francisco, LightHouse is one of the largest and most established comprehensive blindness organizations in North America.

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Pictured: Anil Lewis, incoming LightHouse CEO, smiling outdoors in a navy blazer and holding a white cane.

Lewis joins LightHouse with decades of leadership experience, informed by his own journey with blindness, and his dedication to advancing independence and opportunity for people who are blind or low vision. Lewis was most recently the executive director for blindness initiatives for the National Federation of the Blind. There, he led national efforts focused on education, employment, policy, quality of life, and advancing innovative technology for blind individuals.

“Anil’s passion for empowering people who are blind or low vision to achieve their goals, combined with his collaborative leadership style, makes him an exceptional fit to lead LightHouse into its next chapter,” said Marc J. Shinn-Krantz, Board Chair of LightHouse. “His strong, mission-driven approach will help ensure that the organization’s 125-year legacy continues as a beacon of independence, community, and equity.”

Honoring the mission, strengthening the community, and building connections with other blindness organizations and external partners are at the heart of the CEO’s role – areas that align naturally with Lewis’ skills and priorities.

“I am excited to join LightHouse at a time of tremendous opportunity and transformation, and look forward to calling the San Francisco Bay Area home,” said Anil Lewis, incoming CEO. “With its rich history of diversity, disability advocacy, and accessible technology leaders, there is so much potential for LightHouse to draw upon these strengths as a guiding light for how services can be delivered in collaboration with the community.”

Lewis brings broad expertise, including leadership roles with state and national organizations. He also has extensive experience in disability employment initiatives and educational programs including braille literacy for children. Informed by his work with technology leaders, and as a user of assistive technology, Lewis is committed to advancing technology innovation that benefits the disability community.

Lewis holds a master of public administration (MPA) in public policy, and bachelor of business administration (BBA) in computer information systems from Georgia State University.

About LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, headquartered in San Francisco, is one of the largest and most established comprehensive blindness organizations in North America. Founded in 1902, our mission is to promote independence, community, and equity, created by and with blind and low vision people. LightHouse is comprised of its San Francisco headquarters, Enchanted Hills Napa Camp and Retreat Center, Earle Baum Campus in Santa Rosa, and the Sirkin Center in Alameda. LightHouse provides comprehensive services including orientation and mobility, braille and digital literacy, employment and workforce development, early childhood education, and community programming.

Through its social enterprises and innovation initiatives, including the Media and Accessible Design Lab (MAD Lab), Accessible User Experience (AUX), and LightHouse Eco, LightHouse advances accessibility and partners with businesses and organizations nationwide.

Visit: https://lighthouse-sf.org/about/who-we-are/

Heather Sorensen
heather@pluggedinpr.com
503-841-0625

Summer Dittmer
sdittmer@lighthouse-sf.org
415-694-7661

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