Leadership role
General Counsel
The organization's chief lawyer, responsible for its legal affairs, risk and governance advice.
Reporting and scope
Reports to the Executive Director / CEO and advises the board, often serving as corporate secretary. Authority covers all legal matters across the organization.
Core responsibilities
- Advises the board and executives on governance, conflicts of interest and fiduciary duties
- Protects tax-exempt status and oversees legal review of the Form 990
- Negotiates and reviews contracts, grant agreements and leases
- Manages litigation, employment matters and outside counsel spending
- Guides lobbying and political activity limits for public charities
- Oversees compliance, privacy and records programs where no separate office exists
How it differs
Associate / Senior Counsel are staff lawyers who report to the General Counsel. The Chief Compliance Officer runs compliance monitoring but does not usually give legal advice. The Chief Risk Officer manages enterprise risk and insurance.
By organization size
Smaller organizations rely on outside counsel or a pro bono board member and seldom have this role. Large health systems and universities have a General Counsel leading a legal department of many attorneys.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: General Counsel; Chief Legal Officer; Legal Director; Managing Attorney; VP & General Counsel; Chief Legal Counsel