Associate General Counsel

MacArthur Foundation • Chicago, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur invests in solving some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., revitalizing local news, expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, and strengthening the well-being of Native communities. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. The Foundation also maintains offices in Nigeria and India. The Office of the General Counsel provides insight, advice and counsel to the Foundation’s President, Staff and Board on a wide variety of policy, governance, programmatic, corporate, investment, and general legal matters. It is led by the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, to whom Associate General Counsels report, and works closely providing input and consulting on numerous issues. Working with the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, an Associate General Counsel (AGC) provides legal counsel to Foundation Staff colleagues across an integrated portfolio of grantmaking, impact investments, investments, corporate, and operational matters. AGCs serve as embedded strategic partners to their assigned grant program teams, helping to shape legal frameworks from the earliest stages of program design, advising on and documenting risk management across their portfolios, and working with the General Counsel to build the legal infrastructure that the broader organization relies on. The AGC works with program teams and investment and impact investment teams, exercising judgment on complex matters with significant financial, reputational, and mission implications.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor from an accredited institution with a record of strong academic and professional achievement
• Current admission to the Illinois State Bar, an ability and willingness to sit for the bar exam for admission to Illinois Bar, or eligibility for immediate admission as registered in-house counsel
• At least five years of experience as a practicing lawyer in a firm, organization, or government

Nice To Haves

• Prior in-house experience, ideally with a not-for-profit organization
• Knowledge of private foundation tax law, nonprofit governance, and/or philanthropic sector regulation
• Experience with investment and/or impact investment deals, including equity and debt structures
• Familiarity with international grantmaking compliance, cross-border contracting, and/or OFAC/ATF requirements
• Experience advising on data privacy, technology agreements, and/or AI governance matters
• Experience negotiating and drafting contracts, legal memoranda, investment documents and other agreements
• Experience designing legal systems, templates, and/or cross-functional processes

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary legal counsel to multiple grantmaking teams, advising on grant structures, legal due diligence, and compliance with private foundation tax rules, and related domestic and international legal requirements.
• Review and draft grant agreements and related documents.
• Counsel program staff on legal and reputational risk.
• Review, draft, and negotiate documentation for the Foundation's traditional investment portfolio, including partnership agreements, subscription documents, and side letters.
• Advise on PRI and MRI impact investment transactions from term sheet through closing and ongoing compliance.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements, including consulting, technology, data privacy, licensing, real property, and vendor agreements.
• Contribute to the development of templates, policies, and playbooks that support consistency and risk management across the Foundation's legal work.
• Participate in cross-functional working groups and support knowledge management infrastructure across the department.
• Assist with Board and Committee materials, minutes, resolutions, and consents for the Foundation and its affiliates.
• As assigned, serve as counsel, director, and/or officer to affiliated entities.
• Support regulatory filings.
• Help design and deliver legal training for Foundation staff.
• Translate complex legal analysis into clear, actionable guidance for non-lawyer audiences.
• Represent the Foundation through conference speaking, professional committees, and peer networks.
• Bring emerging legal developments and best practices back to the team.
• Contribute to the development of consistent legal frameworks and department-wide practices in a quickly evolving operating environment.
• Advise on novel and complex legal and risk questions where established precedent may be limited.

Benefits

• Generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and a comprehensive benefits package to support your life, health, and well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree