Archdiocese of Chicago

Counsel

Archdiocese of Chicago$97K — $123K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school
  • Active license to practice law in the State of Illinois
  • 5-8 years of legal experience, preferably with nonprofit organizations or law firms
  • Experience advising tax-exempt organizations and nonprofit boards
  • Strong knowledge of nonprofit corporate law and governance

Responsibilities

  • Advise senior leadership on corporate legal matters
  • Draft, review, and revise bylaws and governance documents
  • Support meetings for board and committees, including materials preparation
  • Ensure compliance with nonprofit corporate laws
  • Monitor compliance with federal and state nonprofit laws
  • Advise on tax-exempt status requirements under IRS classifications
  • Review gift acceptance policies and support compliance related to grants

Benefits

  • Comprehensive total rewards package
  • Access to competitive benefit programs
  • Support for a mission-driven environment
  • Opportunities for professional development
  • Flexible working arrangements (office-based or hybrid)
Full Job Description
Legal counsel for corporate law issues, tax-exemption issues, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, charitable giving strategies. This role ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing the Archdiocese of Chicago while supporting its mission and strategic objectives

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Corporate Law & Governance
  • Advise senior leadership on corporate legal and governance matters
  • Draft, review, and revise bylaws, policies, resolutions, and governance documents
  • Support board, consultative council and committee meetings, including preparation and review of meeting materials and minutes.
  • Ensure compliance with nonprofit corporate laws and governance best practices
  • Manage client's corporate relationships with separate legal entities included on the applicable combined financial reports

Regulatory Compliance
  • Monitor compliance with federal and state nonprofit laws and regulations.
  • Advise on tax-exempt status requirements under Section 501(c)(3) or other applicable IRS classifications.
  • Prepare, review, or oversee regulatory filings, including annual reports and charitable solicitation registrations.
  • Develop compliance programs and internal policies.

Fundraising and Development
  • Advise on charitable solicitation laws and fundraising regulations.
  • Review gift acceptance policies, sponsorship arrangements, and restricted gift documentation.
  • Support compliance related to grants contributions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
  • Active license to practice law in the State of Illinois.

Experience
  • 5-8 years of legal experience, preferably with nonprofit organizations, law firms, government agencies, or in-house legal departments.
  • Experience advising tax-exempt organizations and nonprofit boards or religious organizations.
  • Familiarity with federal tax-exemption requirements and charitable solicitation regulations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Strong knowledge of nonprofit corporate law, governance, and regulatory compliance.
  • Excellent drafting and negotiation skills.
  • Ability to communicate complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk assessment abilities.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a mission-driven environment and implement associated initiatives.
  • High ethical standards and professional judgment.
  • Candidate should be fully comfortable working to support the goals and mission of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Roman Catholic Church

Working Conditions
  • Religious employer who fosters a Catholic working environment
  • Primarily office-based or hybrid work environment.
  • Attendance as needed at board meetings, fundraising events, and organizational functions.
  • May require limited travel

The Archdiocese of Chicago offers a comprehensive total rewards package to include competitive compensation and benefit programs. Information about our benefit programs is available here

This position has a salary range of $97,136 - $123,849. An employee's pay within the range will be based on many factors including but not limited to: relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and organizational needs.

About Archdiocese of Chicago

The Archdiocese of Chicago is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in Northeastern Illinois, in the United States. It was established as a diocese in 1843 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1880. It serves the more than 2.2 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in the state of Illinois, an area of 1,411 square miles. The archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries. Blase Joseph Cupich was appointed Archbishop of Chicago in 2014 by Pope Francis, and is assisted by six episcopal vicars, who are each responsible for a vicariate. The cathedral parish for the archdiocese, Holy Name Cathedral, is in the Near North Side area of the see city for the diocese, Chicago. The Archdiocese of Chicago is the metropolitan see of the Province of Chicago. Its suffragan dioceses are the other Catholic dioceses in Illinois: Belleville, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, and Springfield. Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago from 1982 to 1996, was arguably one of the most prominent figures in the Church in the United States in the post-Vatican II era, rallying progressives with his "seamless garment ethic" and his ecumenical initiatives.
Learn more about Archdiocese of Chicago

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