Senior Legal Counsel, Charitable Giving

Site: Mass General Brigham Incorporated

 

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

 

Job Summary

Mass General Brigham seeks a highly skilled attorney to serve as Senior Legal Counsel, Charitable Giving, providing strategic legal guidance to support complex philanthropic activities across the system. This role partners closely with MGB’s centralized development function and affiliated institutions to structure, negotiate, and oversee charitable gifts, grants, and related arrangements—ensuring compliance with applicable laws while advancing MGB’s mission. The position reports through the Research and Technology Section within the Office of General Counsel and supports a large-scale, multi-institution fundraising enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Advisory – Philanthropy & Development

• Provide legal advice to MGB’s centralized development office supporting fundraising across 13 affiliated 501(c)(3) institutions, including guidance on donor restrictions, current-use gifts, endowments, board-designated funds, fundraising structures, planned giving (e.g., charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, bequests) gift and grant terms, and multi-state charitable solicitation laws.
• Counsel stakeholders on structuring philanthropic support to align with institutional priorities while mitigating legal, tax, and reputational risks.
• Advise on interpretation and application of terms in existing gift agreements.
• Support gift-related activities of the Office for Interactions with Industry (“OII”), including advising on gift structures, gift terms and documentation, donor-facing communications, and coordination with Development, OII, institutional leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Engage and supervise outside counsel for complex matters, when appropriate.

Drafting & Structuring Agreements

• Advise, draft, review, and negotiate agreements relating to gifts, grants, sponsorships, cause-marketing initiatives, and third-party fundraising events.
• Advise, draft and review, endowed fund agreements (including chairs and scholars), and mission-related collaboration agreements.
• Draft inter-institutional operational and governance agreements supporting donor-funded multi-institution initiatives.
• Draft amendments to gift agreements to reflect evolving institutional structures, including cross-institutional use of funds and clinical integration initiatives.
• Advise and draft grant agreements supporting MGB’s Community Health and Equity Office in distributing funds to community organizations aligned with MGB’s mission.

Regulatory & Compliance Counseling

• Provide guidance on compliance with IRS tax-exempt organization rules and charitable gift substantiation requirements.
• Advise on Massachusetts Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) and multi-state charitable solicitation laws.
Governance & Committee Support
• Counsel and support the Development Management Committee and Trustee Naming and Gift Acceptance Committee.
• Provide training and legal guidance on risks, due diligence, and best practices in evaluating gifts requiring heightened scrutiny.

 

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• 10+ years of experience practicing law
• Admission to practice law in Massachusetts or eligibility to obtain promptly.
• Experience advising on nonprofit, tax-exempt, and charitable giving matters.
• Experience advising academic medical centers, healthcare systems, or universities.
• Experience supporting large-scale fundraising operations.
• Knowledge of IRS rules governing charitable organizations and gift compliance, including UPMIFA and charitable solicitation regulations.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical guidance for legal and non-legal audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively and credibly with senior leaders, including executives, institutional leadership, trustees, and development and innovation leaders.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and diplomacy, with the ability to navigate sensitive donor, leadership, and cross-institutional matters with professionalism and confidence.

 

 

Hybrid

 

335 Revolution Drive

 

40

 

Regular

 

Day (United States of America)

 

Pay Range

$150,000.00 - $212,500.00/Annual

 

Grade

90

 

At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package.

 

0100 Mass General Brigham Incorporated is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

 

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework