2026 Board Observer Program Expression of Interest

Thank you for your interest in the Philadelphia Bar Foundation’s Board Observer Program for 2026.

The Board Observer Program pairs young lawyers and legal professionals with nonprofit boards for a one-year term. Observers gain hands-on experience in board service, while host organizations benefit from fresh perspectives and connections to the legal community. The program also provides at least four trainings each year for Observers, which are open to staff and Board members from hosting agencies as well.

This Expression of Interest (EOI) Form collects basic information about your organization and key contacts so we can learn more about your interest in participating.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Mance at mmance@philabarfoundation.org or Jessica Hilburn-Holmes at jhilburnholmes@philabarfoundation.org.

Expressions of Interest are are now being accepted on a rolling basis. Please complete this form by November 2025 for a January 2026 start.

Board Information

Please tell us how many Board members you have and upload a list of current board members.

Size of Board

List of Current Board members.

Frequency of Board Meetings (e.g., monthly, quarterly)

When Board Meetings Are Held? (day of week & time of day)

Location of Meetings (e.g., Center City Philadelphia, suburban Philadelphia — be specific, virtual, or hybrid). For statewide organizations, please indicate if any meetings are held outside the Philadelphia region, and if so, whether they can be attended virtually.

If your organization has a written “job description” or expectations document for Board members, please upload it here.
This could include responsibilities, duties, or guidelines you share with current or prospective Board members.

Board Mentor (Bio & Contact Information)

If your organization joins the 2026 cohort, you will be required to assign a mentor to your Observer. Preferably this will be a Board member, but it could also be a staff member who attends Board meetings.
Please indicate below the person we should contact about assigning a mentor if your organization is selected.

First Name

Last Name

Phone Number

Sometimes we have more Observers than host organizations in which case we may be able to assign more than one Observer. Would you be interested in hosting more than one Observer if space allows?

YesNo