Deputy General Counsel

About the Organization

Lotus Endowment Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) supporting foundation for The Sundari Foundation, Inc. and its initiatives, including the Lotus House Women’s Shelter, the largest women and children's homeless shelter in the country; the Children’s Village, an innovative collective impact education and resource center for children and families of Lotus House and the Overtown community; and other Lotus House initiatives, such as the establishment and growth of the National Women’s Shelter Network. Lotus Endowment Fund was established to secure the financial stability and long-term viability of the Sundari Foundation, to ensure Lotus House and its wide-ranging initiatives will serve as resources for women, children, and youth in need for generations to come.

Position Overview

Lotus Endowment Fund, Inc. seeks an experienced and mission-driven Deputy General Counsel to serve as a key member of the organization’s leadership team. This role will lead all legal, governance, compliance, and risk management functions, while also guiding strategic initiatives including real estate development, fundraising, and organizational growth.

This is a unique opportunity for an attorney who is interested in practicing law in a dynamic, purpose-driven environment, with meaningful exposure to executive decision-making and organizational strategy, as well as public and social policy initiatives at a national level.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance & Risk Management Leadership

• Serve as legal advisor to the Endowment and its affiliated entities
• Oversee legal compliance across all operations, including nonprofit governance, contracts, development and construction, regulatory requirements, and risk management
• Oversee insurance, policies, and internal controls related to legal exposure
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements, including vendor contracts, grants, and real estate-related documents
• Manage external counsel as needed

Governance & Board Support

• Advise leadership and Board of Directors on governance best practices and fiduciary responsibilities
• Oversee preparation of Board materials, resolutions, and corporate records
• Ensure compliance with applicable nonprofit, tax-exempt, and corporate regulations

Real Estate & Strategic Initiatives

• Provide legal support for real estate development projects, including acquisitions, financing, leasing, land use, zoning, and regulatory approvals
• Partner with leadership on long-term strategic planning and implementation of development initiatives

Grants/Development

• Oversee compliance and reporting requirements tied to grants and funding
• Support fundraising initiatives, capital campaigns, grants, and donor relations

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active license to practice law in the State of Florida
• Minimum of 5–8 years of legal experience with fluency in one or more of the following areas:
  • Nonprofit/corporate governance and compliance
  • Zoning/land use, real estate, affordable housing development, and financing
• Strong writing and analytical skills
• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on in a small, collaborative environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to mission-driven work

Why This Role

• Opportunity to serve as a key legal leader in a growing and impactful organization
• Broad, engaging practice spanning governance, real estate, compliance, strategy and policy at the national level
• Meaningful mission focused on ending homelessness and empowering women, youth and children

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $90,000–$135,000+ (commensurate with experience)
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, vision, and dental
• Opportunity to make a lasting social impact through your legal career

Comprehensive benefits package, including health, vision, and dental

Vacation, sick/personal days, parental leave

Opportunity to make a lasting social impact through your legal career

English required; Spanish appreciated.