Senior Attorney

Organizational Overview

Resources Legacy Fund builds the architecture behind lasting environmental progress. We deliver transformative outcomes for our planet and its people through trusted partnerships and creative campaigns. From climate resilience to land and water conservation to community well-being, we offer steady support and strategic know-how to turn complex challenges into collective victories.

For 25 years RLF has been a full-service organization that turns visionary ideas into action, from fiscally sponsoring projects to designing and implementing programs and advocacy campaigns to managing major strategic grantmaking efforts.

Rooted in California with initiatives across Western North America and beyond, we have a track record of building and supporting programs at every scale. Through our 501(c)4 affiliate organization, Fund for a Better Future, we provide additional tools to shape public policy that delivers impact including lobbying, ballot measures, and political expenditures.

Addressing three interconnected crises — climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental injustice — requires creativity, collaboration, and fast reflexes. With deep operational expertise and the confidence of donors and other partners, we deliver lasting results.

To learn more about our work or to partner with us, visit: https://resourceslegacyfund.org

Position Summary

The Attorney supports the Deputy General Counsel, staff, and fiscally sponsored project leaders on legal issues arising in connection with philanthropic program work, effective advocacy, and business matters.

This position is fully remote, within the U.S., with occasional travel to Sacramento, CA. This full-time position is exempt and reports to the Deputy General Counsel.

Duties include:

• Join the legal team and provide regular advice and support to leadership and staff on legal and associated risk management matters related to 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(3) organizations.
• Spend about 50% time serving as a resource on nonprofit legal and compliance issues for leaders of fiscally sponsored projects including advising on grants and contracts, lobbying, media law and publications, and general risk management.
• Advise on matters involving compliance with laws, regulations, and guidelines governing political activity, lobbying, and campaign finance.
• Advise on legal questions regarding media law and publications.
• Work with staff and fiscal sponsorships teams to identify legal and related business risks and advise on advancing business objectives while ensuring compliance with applicable laws.
• Support development and implementation of organizational policies, procedures, document templates, and training materials to promote staff education and compliance with pertinent laws, policies, and best practices. Organize and provide compliance trainings for staff as requested.
• Oversee registrations and reporting to maintain the organizations’ good standing with federal and state corporate and charity regulators across the full range of jurisdictions in which RLF, FBF, and SAF do business; ensure up-to-date intellectual property registrations; and support the CFO and Deputy General Counsel in ensuring compliance with applicable tax laws.
• Provide general support to the Deputy General Counsel to diagnose and resolve routine legal or regulatory-related issues or questions.
• As requested, and as relevant to other duties, draft research materials, board materials, memoranda of understanding, and other legal and corporate documents.
• Stay up to date on developments in relevant areas of the law.
• Liaise with and manage outside counsel as necessary on specific matters and to develop additional in-house expertise.
• Undertake special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Note: These qualifications are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, so if you have 75% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to apply. Experience can include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work and lived experiences that helped you to build the competencies, knowledge, and skills needed for this position. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

• California Bar License or licensed in another state.
• J.D. and a minimum of ten years’ legal experience.
• Experience in the following areas is strongly preferred:
  • Tax exempt organizations law and policy, with a focus on 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Compliance with federal, state and local lobbying laws
  • Performing “libel review” of reports, press releases and other materials before publication.
  • Compliance related to political activity and campaign finance
  • Advising leadership on legal matters, including risk management
  • Managing grantmaking and contracting disputes
  • Managing engagement of external legal counsel
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience working in-house at a nonprofit.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and a strong client service orientation.
• Ability to work independently and proactively identify and prioritize needs.
• Ability to research and develop solutions to resolve problems.
• Ability to establish and manage effective relationships with colleagues across teams.
• Ability to explain legal concepts to various audiences, including to staff who don’t have a legal background.
• A commitment to being part of and building a positive and collaborative work environment.

Commitment to Nondiscrimination

We are committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination, where all team members feel valued, respected, and included. We know that our work is enriched by the varied voices and perspectives of every staff and board member, so we are committed to making an earnest effort to recruit, welcome, train, develop, and retain talented individuals from all backgrounds. We believe that a welcoming culture expands our creative capacity to do our work and achieve greater outcomes for people and the natural world.

Compensation and Benefits

RLF is committed to providing competitive compensation and a total rewards package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits. The starting salary range for this role is $170,000 to $200,000, actual compensation offered will depend on qualifications and the geographic market where the position is located.

We have an alternate Fridays off work schedule (employees work 40 hours one week, 32 hours the next week) and offer a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k plan with a 5% match, and generous paid time off including approximately 16 paid holidays per year. RLF also offers a technology allowance, student loan repayment assistance, the Calm app, mental health benefits, and fertility and adoption/surrogacy benefits.

To Apply

Please provide a resume and cover letter explaining how your skills fit this position.

Recruitment Schedule:

November 5 – Recruitment launches

November 19 – Priority application deadline (applications received after this date may still be considered)

RLF participates in E-Verify, you can review the information here and here.