Founded by Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg in 2015, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) is a new kind of philanthropy that’s leveraging technology to help solve some of the world’s toughest challenges – from eradicating disease, to improving education, to reforming the criminal justice system. Our mission is to create a future for everyone.  Across our three core Initiative focus areas of Science, Education and Justice and Opportunity,  we’re pairing engineering with grantmaking, impact investing, policy work, and movement building, to help build an inclusive, just and healthy future for everyone.
 
Our Values 
 
We believe we can help build a future for everyone. 

We aim to be daring, but humble:  We look for bold ideas — regardless of structure and stage — and help them scale by pairing engineers with subject matter experts to build tools that accelerate the pace of social progress. 

We want to learn fast, but build for the long-term: We want to iterate fast and help bring new solutions to the table, but we also realize that important breakthroughs often take decades, or even centuries. 

Stay close to the real problems: We engage directly in the communities we serve because no one understands our society’s challenges like those who live them every day.  

 
Our success is dependent on building teams that include people from different backgrounds and experiences who can challenge each other's assumptions with fresh perspectives. To that end, we look for a diverse pool of applicants including those from historically marginalized groups — women, people with disabilities, people of color, formerly incarcerated people, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or gender nonconforming, first and second generation immigrants, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
 
The Opportunity
 
You will be a key member of CZI’s growing Legal and Grants team, focused on supporting CZI’s affiliated private foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation. You will collaborate with teams across CZI to help ensure CZIF’s activities and grantmaking are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and will advise internal partners accordingly. Your guidance will be critical to furthering CZIF’s strategic mission and operational goals, and you will be the point person for day-to-day management of CZIF’s legal issues. In addition, you will also drive the development of systems, policies, and processes for a fast-growing organization. If you are a solutions-oriented thinker who enjoys tackling nuanced legal issues while simultaneously creating a scalable compliance framework, you will fit right in.
 
You will

Be the primary compliance resource and counsel for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation, with a deep understanding of the regulations set forth in the Internal Revenue Code for private foundations.

Manage complex collaboration processes in furtherance of the Foundation’s charitable objectives, while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Be a key source of knowledge on philanthropy and grantmaking to clients and team members whose prior experience in this field will span the full spectrum.

Partner closely with program colleagues working to achieve the Foundation’s strategic mission in the fields of science, education, and justice and opportunity.

Understand and ensure compliance with the nuances of IRS private foundation regulations as they relate to technology products developed by the Foundation, which will be made publicly available to aid in achieving the Foundation’s mission. 

Establish and implement a client service-oriented approach to ongoing inquiries about tax exempt-specific legal processes.

Develop and deliver trainings to key stakeholders at all levels across the organization on a variety of issues associated with private foundations and tax-exempt organizations.

Draft clear and concise resources, such as policies and guidelines, needed to establish and scale private foundation compliance.

Engage in other legal and compliance projects related to the development of the Foundation.

Eagerly and cheerfully contribute to a scaling team and organization on a variety of matters that contribute to broad team and entity goals.

 
You have

JD required and an active membership in at least one U.S. state bar, preferably California.

7-12 years of legal experience with at least 5 years of experience managing legal issues associated with complex, grant making tax-exempt organizations.

An understanding of the key legal issues associated with philanthropic grantmaking by private foundations, and how to manage compliance in accordance with the sections of the Internal Revenue Code and accompanying regulations specific to private foundations.

Ability to analyze legal risk based on variable facts and communicate compliance considerations.

Motivation to contribute to social change and the advancement of the life sciences through advising on legal processes and nuanced, fact-based compliance projects.

Strong communication skills and ability to clearly convey complex legal reasoning to non-lawyers.

Demonstrated project management ability and the desire to work on projects across diverse client groups with unique professional experiences. 

Desire to be part of a large and growing team that relies on proactive and regular communications to share learnings and build team culture.

A learning and growth mindset coupled with humility and mission-oriented sensibilities.