About Us

Nancy Koch is the general counsel and secretary for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. In addition to providing traditional legal support,  Nancy focuses on refining the Foundation's approach to advocacy, helping program staff design external networks for greatest impact, and forging partnerships with other multi-stakeholder foundations, advocacy groups, and representatives at every level of government. 

Prior to coming to the Foundation, Nancy worked in legal and advocacy consulting for a variety of entities concerning strategy, collaboration management, licensing, litigation and intellectual property issues.  Most recently, she represented the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine designing and implementing an international network of government stem cell research funders.  Previously, her career included legal positions with Chiron Corporation and Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc., and a partnership at the Farella, Braun & Martel law firm in San Francisco.   

Nancy has served on the boards of the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Presidio Hill School, and the Bay Area Non-Partisan Alliance. She also played drums in a rock and roll band. Nancy received a bachelor of science degree with honors from Cornell University with a focus on industrial and labor relations, and a law degree from the University of Chicago School of Law.