Senior Counsel, Philanthropy

Accountabilities

• Provide expert legal guidance across charitable operations while helping strengthen compliance practices, manage risk, and enable innovative philanthropic solutions.
• Advise leadership and internal teams on complex philanthropic activities, including donor advised funds, international grants, grants to non-501(c)(3) entities, and mission-related investments.
• Review, negotiate, and develop legal agreements, grant documents, investment materials, policies, templates, and operational guidelines.
• Lead legal reviews for new programs, services, and initiatives while identifying potential risks and recommending practical mitigation strategies.
• Provide guidance on election-related activities, advocacy work, political restrictions, donor disclosure requirements, and communications compliance.
• Support compliance program development by translating legal requirements into effective tools, processes, and policies.
• Manage legal projects with cross-functional teams and provide technical leadership, training, and knowledge sharing across the organization.
• Monitor regulatory and legislative developments affecting nonprofit organizations and communicate their impact on operations and strategy.
• Support responses to legal inquiries, investigations, subpoenas, and external counsel coordination when required.
• Advise on nonprofit structures, fiscal sponsorship models, investment programs, and other specialized legal matters.

Requirements

• Broad expertise in nonprofit and charitable sector law, strong advisory capabilities, and the ability to balance legal compliance with organizational goals.
• Comfortable partnering with executives and diverse stakeholders in a purpose-driven environment.
• Juris Doctor degree and California law license or registered in-house counsel status required.
• 8+ years of experience practicing charitable sector law, including nonprofit tax, exempt organization compliance, fiscal sponsorship, and/or election and advocacy regulations.
• Principal-level knowledge of 501(c)(3) requirements, expenditure responsibility rules, grantmaking compliance, and nonprofit governance.
• Experience advising charitable organizations, public foundations, or similar nonprofit entities in-house or through private practice.
• Experience advising on mission-related and program-related investments, including applicable regulatory requirements, is preferred.
• Familiarity with fiscal sponsorship, intermediary organizations, or multi-entity nonprofit structures is strongly preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal topics clearly to non-legal audiences.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and ability to manage confidential or sensitive matters.
• Strong risk assessment skills, with the ability to distinguish significant business risks from theoretical concerns.
• Able to collaborate effectively across teams while maintaining a strong commitment to legal standards and organizational values.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary ranging from $132,600 to $199,000 USD depending on geographic tier and location.
• Fully remote work environment.
• Opportunity to contribute to meaningful philanthropic and social impact initiatives.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Supportive and collaborative workplace culture.
• Professional development and continuing education opportunities.
• Inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds.