Habitat for Humanity International announces appointment of Tim Phillips as chief legal officer

ATLANTA (Dec. 4, 2024) — Habitat for Humanity International is pleased to welcome Tim Phillips, an accomplished and recognized legal and risk management leader, as the organization’s new chief legal officer. From his 27 years of legal experience as a counsel and attorney, he is known to inspire and build consensus among teams and stakeholders at all levels within large nonprofits, law firms and the United States military.

Headshot portrait of Tim Phillips in a dark suit with white shirt and gold tie.

“We’re excited to officially welcome Tim to our ministry,” said Jonathan T.M. Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “His seasoned strategic guidance will uphold our foundational mission principles to serve families with integrity and ethics.”

Phillips joins Habitat from the American Cancer Society – considered the world’s largest voluntary health organization – where he served for six years as chief legal and risk officer following a collective 13 years as general counsel and senior counsel. In these roles, Tim led the organization’s legal, ethics and compliance functions through times of organizational transformation and served as assistant secretary to the board. Prior to his time at ACS he worked as a tax attorney at Troutman Sanders (now Troutman Pepper), and is also a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer.

“The privilege of serving the Habitat ministry in this role is indeed an extraordinary blessing,” Phillips said. “I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to glorify God through love of, and service to, His children.”

Phillips is also a certified health coach, general counsel for the Navy SEAL Foundation, and serves as a lector and eucharistic minister to the sick and homebound of St Ann’s parish in Marietta, Georgia.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.