Zachary Klonoski

Attorney

Zach is a proud and distinguished alumnus of the University of Oregon, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science and his Law Degree (colloquially known as being a “Double Duck”). Zach's professional career began as co-Executive Director of The Community Voter's Project, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, where he oversaw the Portland, OR office and helped register more than 8,000 new minority voters during the 2008 election cycle. Seeking to expand his skillset and better serve the progressive movement in Oregon, Zach pursued a law degree, graduating as a Wayne Morse scholar in Law and Politics from the University of Oregon School of Law. During his time in law school, he interned for former Congressman Peter DeFazio in Washington D.C. as well as for E-LAW, an environmental law nonprofit in Eugene. Zach further honed his legal skills by serving in the Prosecution and Advanced Prosecution Clinics with the Lane County District Attorney's Office in his final year of law school.

After graduation, Zach served as a Judicial Clerk for Lane County Circuit Court Judge Charles Carlson before transitioning to electoral politics as a staffer for the Oregon House Democrats campaign arm, FuturePAC. Zach's extensive policy background led him to a role as Special Assistant to Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and later as Policy Advisor on Climate and Sustainability. During his tenure, Zach contributed to crafting several critical policies for the City, including the Home Deconstruction Ordinance, Home Energy Score Ordinance, Prohibition on Bulk Fossil Fuel Facilities Ordinance, and reinstating a Public Financing of Elections Program.

Zach's passion for combating climate change led him to serve as Finance Director for Renew Oregon, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating Oregon's transition to a clean energy economy. His relentless efforts – along with the efforts of countless others –  culminated in Governor Kate Brown's signing of Executive Order 20-04, making Oregon a national leader in the fight against the climate crisis.

Following the early months of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Zach moved home to Eugene and joined Lane County's District Attorney's Office as a Deputy District Attorney, but he ultimately decided to return to the nonprofit sector to pursue his passion for social justice. In January 2023, Zach joined the Center for Nonprofit Law as an Associate Attorney.

Zach's diverse background and unwavering commitment to fighting for progressive causes make him an excellent fit for the Center for Nonprofit Law's mission of "Helping the people who help change the world." Outside of work, Zach enjoys spending time with his family on the running trails of Eugene, where he resides with his wife Lyndy and their 4-year-old son, who loves dinosaurs, the color pink, and his two kitties: Bambi and Butterfly.