FJC – A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds (FJC), a boutique sponsor of Donor Advised Funds and other philanthropic accounts, announced today that it has named Hillary S. Zilz as Chief Legal Officer. Ms. Zilz becomes the second person to hold that role in the organization’s nearly thirty-year history, succeeding longtime Chief Legal Officer Mark Cohen, who will remain in a senior advisory role at FJC through the end of 2023 to assist with the transition.
Ms. Zilz brings over 25 years of accomplished legal experience to the role, with a particular focus advising nonprofits of all sizes on transactional, governance, and strategic matters. Most recently Ms. Zilz was a Partner at the firm Schlam Stone & Dolan, where her clients included not-for-profit enterprises focused on housing, social services, arts, and education, as well as entrepreneurs, and family offices. Prior to her tenure at Schlam, she acted as General Counsel for private companies and a litigator at the firms Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Cravath, Swaine & Moore.
“The breadth of activities that go on here is so impressive—from grantmaking, to impact investing, fiscal sponsorship of new nonprofit initiatives. I’m excited to work with the team to continue the organization’s growth and evolution.”
Hillary S. Zilz, Chief Legal Officer, FJC
Ms. Zilz earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at McGill University and her J.D. at Harvard Law School. She is a member of the Non-Profit Organizations Committee of the New York City Bar and on the Economic Justice Committee of the National Council of Jewish Women.
In her new role, Ms. Zilz will serve as a member of FJC’s senior leadership team and participate in strategic, management and policy decisions affecting the company’s operations and development. Among her responsibilities, Ms. Zilz will provide credit review and prepare loan documentation for loans originated through FJC’s Agency Loan Fund, an impact investing vehicle that invests DAF account holdings in bridge loans to nonprofits.
“FJC takes a business-minded and entrepreneurial approach to making social impact,” says Ms. Zilz. “The breadth of activities that go on here is so impressive—from grantmaking, to impact investing, fiscal sponsorship of new nonprofit initiatives. I’m excited to work with the team to continue the organization’s growth and evolution.”
“A creative organizational culture like FJC’s requires a keen legal mind, and we’ve found that in Hillary,” says Sam Marks, FJC’s Chief Executive Officer. “Her experience as outside general counsel for a wide range of nonprofits will be critical as we take on partnerships of increasing scope and complexity.”
