Democracy Fund (the “Foundation”) has engaged Major, Lindsey & Africa on an exclusive basis to conduct a national search for a General Counsel.

Foundation:

Democracy Fund is a foundation working to build an inclusive, multiracial democracy that is open, just, resilient, and trustworthy. Funded by eBay founder and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar, Democracy Fund, together with its partner organization Democracy Fund Voice, have committed over $500 million in grants since 2014 to support those working to strengthen our democracy. Democracy Fund collaborates with grantees, donors, and other partners to change America’s flawed system by strengthening and expanding the pro-democracy movement, defending against anti-democratic attacks, and advancing structural change.

Position Overview:

Democracy Fund is seeking a General Counsel to lead legal affairs and strategy for the Foundation and its partner 501(c)(4), Democracy Fund Voice. The General Counsel serves as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Leadership Team and program teams, and is a member of the Executive Team, applying pragmatic risk tolerance to enable bold, compliant impact in a complex external environment. The role also serves as Secretary to the Boards of both Democracy Fund and Democracy Fund Voice and plays a critical part in enterprise risk management, crisis response, and cross?functional decision?making across Legal, People/HR, Operations, Programs, and External Affairs.

Experience:

The ideal candidate will bring 10+ years of legal experience in philanthropic organizations and/or tax?exempt experience across 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities and multi?entity structures, coupled with seasoned in?house judgment and practical exposure to government inquiries, congressional investigations, and litigation preparedness. Experience with private foundations, government service, or large mission?driven nonprofits is beneficial.

Location:

Washington, D.C. Democracy Fund follows a hybrid remote and in-office model. Local candidates based in the D.C. Metro area are highly preferred. 

Compensation:

Commensurate with experience with the projected minimum hiring salary is $300,000. Democracy Fund provides a comprehensive, generous benefits package that includes traditional and unique offerings: medical; dental; vision; and wellness; paid time off, which includes paid family and medical leave; and workplace flexibility.

About Major, Lindsey & Africa

Founded in 1982, Major, Lindsey & Africa is the world’s largest and most experienced legal search firm. Combining local market knowledge and a global recruiting network, MLA has earned recognition for its track record of successful General Counsel, Corporate Counsel, Partner, Associate and Law Firm Management placements. With offices throughout the U.S., Hong Kong, London, and Tokyo, MLA recruiters are dedicated to understanding and meeting clients’ and candidates’ needs while maintaining the highest degree of professionalism and confidentiality. MLA considers every search a diversity search, and has been committed to diversity in the law since its inception. For these reasons, MLA was voted “Best Legal Search Firm in the U.S.” in the most recent national survey of America’s top law firms. To learn more about MLA, please visit our website at www.mlaglobal.com.

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