[Hiring] Senior Counsel, Philanthropy @Tides Network

Role Description

The Senior Counsel, Philanthropy, is a senior individual contributor on the Legal, Risk and Compliance (LRC) team, exercising principal-level authority over charitable and exempt-organization sector law as applied across Tides' entities and activities. Operating with general executive direction, the Senior Counsel serves as an authoritative internal legal resource within an assigned practice portfolio spanning charitable philanthropic services including donor advised funds (DAFs), mission- and program-related investments, and the laws and regulations governing charitable exempt organizations.

The individual portfolio assigned is based on organizational need and will emphasize Tides Foundation's philanthropic, grantmaking and investment-related activities, with shared coverage of Tides Network and other separate entities as needed.

The Senior Counsel translates nonprofit legal and regulatory frameworks into robust, well-calibrated compliance and risk mitigation advice, practices and policies; leads legal projects and initiatives with cross-departmental scope; and provides technical direction to LRC staff and cross-functional partners through subject-matter leadership rather than supervision.

As a Senior Leader, the Senior Counsel, Philanthropy is responsible for modeling and demonstrating Tides’ core competencies of Leading Self, Leading People and Leading Results.

What you will Do

• Senior Legal Counsel
  • Serves as an authoritative internal resource on the laws and regulations governing charitable exempt organizations within the assigned portfolio.
  • Advises executive leadership and Tides staff on complex legal grantmaking and investment questions.
  • Leads legal vetting of new and existing service offerings and programs for Tides Foundation.
  • Reviews and negotiates day-to-day contracts, complex contracts, grant agreements, and investment terms.
  • Responds to subpoenas, legal inquiries and investigations, directing work with outside counsel as needed.
• Philanthropic Activity and Fiscal Sponsor Advising
  • Provides authoritative counsel on the appropriateness of political activities for 501(c)(3) entities.
  • Forms organizational guidance on relevant state and federal regulation, donor disclosure, and advisory committee roles.
  • Advises on the permissible scope of joint 501(c)(3) / 501(c)(4) activity.
  • Supports and provides guidance on Model A and Model C fiscal sponsorship requirements.
  • Supports compliant messaging of election and advocacy activity in partnership with marketing and communications.
• Risk Management and Compliance
  • Translates legal and regulatory frameworks into practical compliance tools, policies, and procedures.
  • Issue spots, investigates, and evaluates the legal implications of compliance matters.
  • Advises on legal due diligence and policy compliance for mission-related and program-related investments.
  • Advises on legal matters relating to Tides entities that own, lease, and sub-lease property.
• Functional Leadership and Enablement
  • Leads legal projects and initiatives with cross-departmental scope.
  • Monitors legislative, regulatory, and enforcement developments affecting the charitable sector.
  • Mentors and shares advanced technical knowledge with LRC team members.
  • Maintains individual continuing education to ensure compliance with evolving laws.

What you will Bring

• Leads by example and stewards commitment to Tides’ mission, impact goals, and JEDI principles.
• Principal-level expertise in charitable and exempt-organization sector law.
• Experience advising charitable organizations including public foundations.
• Holds self and others accountable for high-quality, timely, and effective results.
• Adapts easily to working with a variety of stakeholders.
• Sound, well-calibrated risk judgment.
• Exercises excellent judgment in handling confidential information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ideal Experience

• Juris Doctor and California law license or registered in-house counsel required.
• 8 years of direct experience in charitable sector law.
• Experience and knowledge of mission-related and program-related investment programs.
• Experience advising nonprofit organizations on compliance program structure and policy.
• Experience with fiscal sponsorship, intermediary, or multi-entity nonprofit structures strongly preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We look forward to reviewing applications from all qualified job seekers. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ communities. No applicant will be discriminated against because of their race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions.

Applicants with Disabilities

Reasonable accommodation will be made so that all who are interested may participate in our interview process. If you are in need of an accommodation, please advise in writing at the time you apply.