What is the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (the “MacArthur Foundation”) Residency in Nonprofit Law?
The MacArthur Foundation offers a one-year residency in nonprofit law to a recent law school graduate to work in its Office of the General Counsel. The purpose of the residency is to provide exposure to the legal work of the MacArthur Foundation as well as experience in and exposure to the field of nonprofit law.
The residency will commence on a mutually agreeable date in the fall of 2026 at the MacArthur Foundation’s headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. The Office of the General Counsel of the MacArthur Foundation currently consists of a twelve -person team that includes its Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, a Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, and two Associate General Counsels. The Office of the General Counsel works closely with all MacArthur Foundation departments and programs on matters involving state and federal tax-exempt law, general corporate law, intellectual property law, international law, investment matters, impact investments, corporate governance, employment and regulatory issues.
The Ford Foundation (“Ford”) and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (“Moore”) also host legal fellows. MacArthur, Ford and Moore work together to provide some shared programming and learning for the fellows and Resident. There may also be potential opportunities for exposure to the legal departments at other private foundations.
Who can be a MacArthur Foundation Resident in Nonprofit Law?
Eligible applicants are students at an accredited law school or a tax related LLM program graduating in the spring of 2026 and law school (including tax related LLM) 2023, 2024 or 2025 graduates, all of whom must take the bar exam prior to the commencement of the residency. Applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and s who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in tax exempt law are encouraged to apply. Consideration will be given to applicants’ experiences, commitment to working in the not-for-profit field, academic record and other factors deemed relevant by the Foundation. The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.
About the MacArthur Foundation:
The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. The Foundation works on a few big bets that strive toward transformative change in areas of profound concern. These change over time. Past big bets included the existential threats of climate change, the challenges of criminal justice reform, revitalizing local news in the U.S., and corruption in Nigeria. In addition, the Foundation makes enduring commitments in its hometown Chicago, where we invest in people, places, and partnerships to build a more inclusive Chicago and in journalism and media, where we invest in more just and inclusive news and narratives. We also make awards to extraordinarily creative individuals through the MacArthur Fellows program and for solutions to critical problems of our time through 100&Change.
The MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest independent foundations and, in 2024, paid out $352.9 million in grants and impact investments to organizations and individuals in the United States and around the world.
Additional information and the application form can be found at this link.