General Counsel & Assistant Board Secretary

Position Summary

General Counsel & Assistant Board Secretary

About California Community Foundation The California Community Foundation (CCF) is one of the largest and most influential philanthropic institutions in the Greater Los Angeles region. We connect donor generosity with community wisdom to create lasting, equitable change — mobilizing resources, building civic infrastructure, and amplifying the voices of the communities most impacted by systemic inequity. CCF’s 2025–2035 Strategic Framework centers transformational philanthropy, and every function of the organization — including marketing, communications, and storytelling — plays a direct role in advancing that mission.

Learn more about CCF at http://www.calfund.org/.

The Leadership Opportunity

California Community Foundation is entering a consequential new chapter, bringing greater focus and ambition to its work across Los Angeles County. The General Counsel (GC) serves as the Foundation’s chief legal officer, with the corporation as their primary client. The GC provides legal guidance, strategic advice, and oversight on all legal matters to advance CCF’s charitable mission and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. As a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and Executive Leadership Team, the GC will help shape strategy, enterprise risk management, and crisis response – bringing the judgment to pursue bold ideas responsibly and the courage to speak candidly when a legal boundary must be upheld.

The General Counsel is responsible for the legal and contractual infrastructure required of one of the nation’s largest community foundations. This broad portfolio includes charitable gift and fund agreements; corporate governance; regulatory and tax-exempt compliance; contracts and leases; affiliate agreements; real estate and impact-investment transactions; risk management and insurance; data privacy and records governance; and litigation oversight. The GC will strengthen legal practices and systems, supervise the Corporate Paralegal, and engage specialized outside counsel when needed. Success calls for a versatile legal leader who can make complex issues clear, assess risk in context, and identify practical paths forward.

The General Counsel’s primary client is CCF, and acts as the chief legal advisor to the President/CEO and Executive Leadership. The position also supports the Board and its committees in fulfilling their governance responsibilities and serves as Assistant Board Secretary, appointed by the President & CEO. The GC works collaboratively with the Board’s independent General Counsel as appropriate; that counsel advises the Board on Executive Committee matters relating to the President & CEO. Across these relationships, the General Counsel will be a trusted, collaborative partner whose advice enables CCF to serve communities with both ambition and integrity.

This is an opportunity for a legal leader who sees the law as a way to help ambitious ideas take shape. By pairing principled counsel with practical solutions, the General Counsel will help CCF meet this moment with confidence and deepen its impact across Los Angeles County for years to come.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The annual gross salary range for this role is $300,000 – $350,000 with a generous above-market benefits package.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Board Governance and Corporate Secretary Support (Assistant Board Secretary):

– Serve as Assistant Board Secretary, appointed by the President & CEO, supporting the Board of Directors and its committees in fulfilling their fiduciary and governance responsibilities.

– Prepare and maintain accurate corporate records, including board and committee minutes, resolutions, bylaws, articles of incorporation, committee charters, and organizational policies.

– Ensure timely completion of corporate filings and registrations, including filings with the California Secretary of State and the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers.

– Administer the annual conflict-of-interest disclosure process and advise directors and officers on fiduciary duties and governance best practices.

– Oversee administrative support for board and committee operations.

Legal Guidance and Strategic Advice:

– Serve as the Foundation’s chief legal officer and a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and Executive Leadership Team, helping to shape strategy, enterprise risk management, and crisis response rather than providing legal advice only after decisions are made, and providing counsel to the President & CEO, CFO, and executive management team on the full range of legal matters affecting CCF, including governance, charitable assets, gifts, grants, contracts, compliance, and risk.

– Translate legal requirements into practical, mission-aligned guidance that enables sound and timely decision-making.

– Monitor, interpret, and advise on federal, California, and local laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting community foundations and public charities.

– Promote ethical behavior and legal awareness throughout the organization by developing and delivering training programs for staff and leadership.

Employment and Labor Law (Partnership with People & Culture):

– Partner with the Chief People Officer and specialized outside employment counsel on significant employment matters, including investigations, separations, and wage and hour questions.

– Support People & Culture in monitoring changes in California and federal labor and employment law and in developing compliant policies and training.

Charitable Gift, Fund, and Donor Law:

– Partner with Office of Philanthropy to provide legal counsel on planned giving, complex charitable gift structures, donor negotiations, and gift acceptance, structuring, and administration, including complex and non-cash gifts such as real property, closely held business interests, securities, and tangible personal property.

– Draft and review fund agreements across all fund types (donor-advised, designated, field-of-interest, scholarship, agency, and endowed funds) and advise on variance power, donor intent, and fund modifications.

– Advise on planned and testamentary giving, including bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder and lead trusts, and manage estate and trust administration matters in which CCF is a beneficiary or fiduciary.

– Ensure compliance with UPMIFA, charitable trust principles, and rules governing donor-advised funds, including prohibited benefits and pledge-related rules.

Regulatory and Tax-Exempt Compliance:

– Develop, implement, and maintain compliance systems and processes for tracking legal and regulatory obligations, filings, registrations, and business agreements.

– Safeguard CCF’s public charity status, including advising on the public support test, excess benefit transactions, and related-party rules, and supporting review of the Form 990 and related filings.

– Advise on expenditure responsibility, equivalency determinations, fiscal sponsorship, scholarship program administration, and other grantmaking compliance requirements, including grants to non-charities and international grantees.

– Oversee the Foundation’s document retention and destruction policy and charitable solicitation compliance.

Outside Counsel and Litigation Management:

– Manage the Foundation’s full portfolio of outside legal counsel across the organization, including the strategic selection, retention, oversight, coordination, performance, and cost-effective use of specialized legal expertise and consultants, including scope and budgets.

– Manage disputes, litigation, subpoenas, and government inquiries, including implementation of litigation holds.

– Provide guidance on dispute resolution strategies and potential legal actions.

Expected duties and responsibilities

Advocacy, Lobbying, and Election-Law Compliance:

– Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and staff engaged in advocacy, helping to design approaches that maximize policy impact while ensuring compliance with the legal requirements applicable to 501(c)(3) public charities, including lobbying limits, ballot measure activity, and the prohibition on political campaign intervention.

– Support compliance for CCF’s civic engagement and policy work, including funding of advocacy, voter engagement, and census- and election-related initiatives.

– Manage applicable federal, state, and local lobbying registration and reporting obligations.

Enterprise Risk Management and Insurance:

– Lead enterprise risk management and promote organizational ethics to help protect the Foundation’s mission, reputation, and long-term success; identify potential legal, regulatory, and reputational risks and develop strategies to mitigate them; and provide recommendations to minimize legal exposure and liability for the organization.

– Oversee the Foundation’s enterprise insurance portfolio, including directors and officers, general liability, and cyber coverage.

– Advise on indemnification questions and support crisis response and business continuity planning.

Contracts and Agreements:

– Review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of contracts and legal documents concerning the Foundation’s work, including grant agreements, consulting and vendor contracts, leases, affiliate and supporting organization agreements, memoranda of understanding, and sponsorships.

– Maintain contract templates, the contract review workflow, and signature authority protocols to ensure agreements reflect the organization’s best interests and comply with legal requirements.

Impact Investing, Real Estate, and Transactions:

– Provide legal support for program-related and mission-related investments, loans, guarantees, and recoverable grants, in partnership with Finance and outside counsel.

– Advise on real estate matters, including acquisition, ownership, leasing, and disposition of real property held or received by the Foundation.

– Support financial transactions, banking, and investment-related agreements.

Data Privacy, Records, and Information Governance:

– Advise on privacy and data protection laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act, as they apply to donor, grantee, and employee information.

– Counsel on technology, vendor, and artificial intelligence use policies and support incident response for data security matters.

– Partner with Technology and Operations on records management and information governance practices.

Qualifications and Prior Experience

Candidate Profile

The successful General Counsel will have at least 10 years of experience practicing law, including service as legal counsel to a U.S.-based nonprofit or tax-exempt organization or business entity. They will combine deep legal expertise and sound judgment with a collaborative leadership style, helping CCF navigate complex challenges and pursue opportunities that advance its mission across Los Angeles County. Responsive and proactive, they will provide clear guidance that helps colleagues make thoughtful decisions and move important work forward. Their understanding of nonprofit, civic, and community leadership will help them build trust with the diverse communities and partners central to CCF’s work.

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Strategic Legal Judgment and Enterprise Risk Leadership

Brings the breadth and judgment of a seasoned legal generalist, with a strong understanding how a business/organization operates and the ability to turn legal insight into practical business decisions.

Knowledge of nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations law, charitable giving vehicles, estate planning, corporate governance, and the California and federal regulations governing community foundations would be extremely valuable.

Provides strategic advice on complex and sometimes novel issues, identifying legal, regulatory, and reputational risks.

Can assess complex gifts and grantmaking arrangements, protect public charity status, and advise on the legal boundaries of advocacy and civic engagement.

Broad Business and Operational Acumen

Understands the legal implications of contracts, transactions, employment matters, real estate, insurance, privacy, disputes, and day-to-day operations. Negotiates effectively and collaborates with colleagues, including People & Culture, on matters requiring legal counsel. Recognizes when specialized expertise is needed and exercises sound judgment in selecting, overseeing, and managing outside counsel, including during disputes and crises.

Executive Partnership, Collaborative Leadership, and Governance

Builds trusted relationships with the President and CEO, Executive Leadership team, and Board members, offering candid counsel and constructive challenge with sound judgment and respect. Explains complex legal matters in plain language, listens closely, and helps leaders work through difficult issues and reach well-reasoned decisions. Works effectively across departments and with individuals of diverse backgrounds, contributes to a positive team culture, and supervises and develops the Corporate Paralegal. Supports the Board’s fiduciary practices and maintains corporate records as Assistant Board Secretary.

Solutions-Oriented Leadership and Execution

Balances legal rigor with practical problem-solving, especially when questions have no clear precedent. Turns legal requirements into timely guidance and workable next steps that protect CCF’s long-term interests. Develops effective compliance systems, contract workflows, and processes for legal requests. In a lean environment, takes initiative, manages competing priorities and realistic budgets and timelines, and follows matters through to completion with care and attention to detail.

Education and Licensure

– Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.

– Licensed to practice law in California or eligible for admission upon hiring.

– Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California preferred.

How to Apply

Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Express interest in this role by https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/23482 or emailing the search team directly at mailto:CCF_GC@dsgco.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NPSIpractice@dsgco.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

California Community Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

About DSG | Koya

DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about DSG | Koya via the https://www.dsgco.com/industry/nonprofit-and-social-impact/.

Please apply via this link.