General Counsel

Community Foundation of Sarasota County Job Profile

Title: General Counsel

Date: 2/26/26

Reports to: President & CEO

Status: Exempt

Purpose:

The General Counsel is a member of the CFSC leadership team, responsible for providing legal guidance and opinions to leadership and staff on a variety of Foundation issues, including planning and implementing operational policies and procedures, and ensuring compliance with local, state and federal laws/regulations. The incumbent reviews all contractual agreements entered into by CFSC, assesses potential reputational and organizational risks for the Foundation, maintains relationships with Professional Advisors (particularly estate planning attorneys) and donors, and ensures donor fund agreements fully reflect donor intentions and are able to be effectively managed/implemented throughout the organization via internal controls & processes.

Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

• Foster and maintain effective working relationships with Professional Advisors (particularly estate planning attorneys), along with a portfolio of donors, ensuring personalized outreach; support Professional Advisors in creating charitable estate plans for donors and prospects.
• Work directly with estate planning attorneys and personal representatives to review and assess legal documents related to gifts and bequests to the Foundation.
• Provide legal support to affiliated Support Organizations (e.g. Wetherington Foundation, others).
• Serve as Chair of the Gift Acceptance Committee, with responsibility for guiding legal review of complex gifts and ensuring compliance with organizational policies and applicable law.
• Lead the planning and implementation of internal policies/procedures relating to donor funds, Board Governance, public policy advocacy, and any others that require approval by the Board of Directors; ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• Review and approve templates for standard fund agreements for all fund types, including donor advised, field of interest, scholarship, designated and organizational funds; review amended fund agreements and any agreements that vary from standard templates.
• Lead the strategy and implementation of annual Distinguished Speakers Series events, including identification of appropriate speakers, etc.
• Act as an internal resource to human resources leadership regarding operational/HR policy development/adherence; provide any other legal guidance or opinion to the organization on various matters, as needed.
• Manage the annual Conflict of Interest (COI) process with the Board of Directors, Board Investment Committee, Support Organizations of CFSC, and CFSC staff to ensure sufficient understanding of its scope, purpose, and impact of non-adherence. Review disclosures and work collaboratively with Board, Board committee members, Support Organizations and CFSC staff to ensure sufficient resolution to any conflicts.
• Act as lead with external legal counsel and regulators concerning legal implications, including CFSC employee relations issues, complex gift matters and regulatory compliance.
• Act as lead in reviewing contracts and contractual relationships.
• Act as lead legal liaison with CFSC's lobbying resources, including working closely with the CEO and lobbyist on matters deemed important by the Board; assisting with the preparation of testimony, talking points and correspondence in support of legislative priorities; drafting CEO letters/formal responses to proposed legislation when collective foundation input is requested; representing CFSC on hearings, conferences, and related government proceedings, as appropriate.
• Develop and oversee procedural steps and legal considerations for the use of Board variance power; educate staff, as appropriate.
• Prepare Gift Illustrations and present seminars on charitable giving vehicles for Professional Advisors, donors and prospects.
• Act as lead staff support for Board Governance Committee and Board Executive Sessions, when necessary.
• Attend community and/or Foundation-sponsored events designed for prospecting and donor relationship-building.
• Keep current on charitable giving legal matters.
• Author articles and letters on charitable vehicle strategies and gift tax benefits.
• Promote and support CFSC's Giving Partner platform utilization with Professional Advisors, donors and prospects, as needed.
• Maintain current documentation of processes/procedures for all tasks within the General Counsel's purview.
• May supervise and/or provide direction to administrative staff, as needed.
• Other duties assigned, based on business needs.