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 2027 at the MacArthur Foundation’s headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. The Office of the General Counsel of the MacArthur Foundation currently consists of an eleven-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”) have hosted legal fellows, and MacArthur, Ford and Moore have worked 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 2027 and law school (including tax related LLM) 2024, 2025, and 2026 graduates, all of whom must take the bar exam prior to the commencement of the residency. We encourage applicants who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in tax exempt law and have had life experiences that have exposed them to not-for profit organizations and the benefits such organizations bring to society. 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 MacArthur Foundation strives toward transformative change on some of the world’s most pressing social issues including the existential threats of climate change, criminal justice reform, revitalizing local news in the U.S., expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, strengthening the well-being of Native communities, and empowering young people in Nigeria.
In addition to our award programs, MacArthur Fellows and 100&Change, the Macarthur Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsible and responsive democracy and to the strength and vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. The Foundation is also significantly increasing financial capital for the social sector and strengthening research and advocacy about the social impacts of technology.
The MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest independent foundations and, in 2025, paid out $561.6 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.