Senior Counsel, Philanthropy

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Posted Jul 29, 2026

Remote · US · California Full Time

Est. $140K – $190K/yr

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Overview

A nonprofit philanthropic organization focused on advancing social justice is seeking a Senior Counsel, Philanthropy to join their Legal, Risk and Compliance (LRC) team. This senior individual contributor role holds principal-level authority over charitable and exempt-organization sector law as applied across the organization's entities and activities. The position operates with general executive direction and serves as an authoritative internal legal resource within an assigned portfolio covering charitable philanthropic services such as donor advised funds (DAFs), mission- and program-related investments, and laws governing charitable exempt organizations.

Responsibilities

Senior Legal Counsel

Serve as an authoritative resource on laws and regulations governing charitable exempt organizations within the assigned portfolio, including grantmaking practices, partner due diligence, tax-exempt compliance, and compliant investment portfolios.
Advise executive leadership and staff on complex legal grantmaking and investment questions, recommending solutions and risk mitigations.
Lead legal vetting of new and existing service offerings and programs, identifying and resolving legal issues.
Review and negotiate contracts, grant agreements, investment and fund offerings, and lead development of legal documents, templates, and policies.
Respond to subpoenas, legal inquiries, and investigations, coordinating with outside counsel as needed.

Philanthropic Activity and Fiscal Sponsor Advising

Provide counsel on political activities for 501(c)(3) entities related to grantmaking, investments, election-related work, and partisan activity.
Develop organizational guidance on state and federal regulations, donor disclosure, and advisory committee roles.
Advise on permissible joint 501(c)(3)/501(c)(4) activities and related agreements.
Support and provide guidance on fiscal sponsorship requirements.
Collaborate with marketing and communications to ensure compliant messaging of election and advocacy activities.

Risk Management and Compliance

Translate legal frameworks into practical compliance tools, policies, and procedures.
Provide technical direction to compliance staff and evaluate legal implications of compliance matters.
Advise on legal due diligence and policy compliance for mission-related and program-related investments.
Advise on legal matters related to property ownership, leasing, tax exemptions, and tenant leases as needed.

Functional Leadership and Enablement

Lead cross-departmental legal projects and initiatives, including staff training on legal topics.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the charitable sector and provide strategic advice.
Mentor LRC team members and support legal team education and resource management.
Maintain continuing education to ensure compliance with evolving laws.

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Requirements

Juris Doctor degree and California law license or registered in-house counsel status.
Minimum of 8 years of direct experience in charitable sector law, including nonprofit tax, fiscal sponsorship, exempt organization compliance, and election and advocacy law.
Principal-level expertise in charitable and exempt-organization sector law, including 501(c)(3) charitability, expenditure responsibility rules, fiscal sponsorship structures, and election and advocacy regulation.
Experience advising charitable organizations, including public foundations, in-house or in private practice.
Strong risk judgment with ability to distinguish material from theoretical risk.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of counseling executives and explaining legal concepts to non-lawyers.
Ability to adapt to diverse stakeholders and organizational needs while maintaining legal compliance.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience and knowledge of mission-related and program-related investment programs and applicable regulations.
Experience with registered investment advisor services is a plus.
Experience advising nonprofit organizations on compliance program structure and policy.
Experience with fiscal sponsorship, intermediary, or multi-entity nonprofit structures is strongly preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

Details regarding compensation and benefits are not provided in the original description.

Location

The position requires a California law license or registration, indicating a California-based role. Specific location details are not provided.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The organization encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, people of color, bilingual and bicultural individuals, and members of LGBTQIA+ communities. No discrimination will occur based on race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition. Applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable laws. Employment authorization verification may be conducted where required.