The Board Observer Program (BOP) is a partnership among the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, the Delivery of Legal Services Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association (DLSC), and the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association (YLD).
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 learning more about nonprofit governance, leadership, and the work of organizations serving the Philadelphia community. The program also provides at least four trainings for Observers throughout the program year.
Applicant Eligibility
An applicant for the Board Observer Program must be:
- A member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association; and
- Licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and be in good standing.
If you are not yet a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, you must join by the time your application is submitted.
Please Note: If you are a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association who has not reached your 40th birthday or are within the first three years of admission, you are automatically a member of the YLD. Information about Philadelphia Bar Association membership is available through the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Applications for the upcoming Board Observer Program year will be accepted from August 31, 2026 through October 16, 2026.
Program Timeline
The Board Observer Program operates on a January through December program cycle. Following the application period, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation facilitates the matching process between eligible Observer applicants and participating host organizations.
September: Host Organization applications open for the upcoming program year.
October: Observer applications open for the upcoming program year.
December: The Philadelphia Bar Foundation begins facilitating matches between prospective Observers and participating host organizations. The Foundation will share applicant information with potential host organizations based on available placements and alignment between the interests of applicants and participating organizations. Host organizations will then contact prospective Observers to meet and discuss the potential placement.
By the End of December: Both the prospective Observer and host organization must agree to and confirm the proposed match. A proposed placement is not final until both parties have agreed to the match.
January: Confirmed Observers begin the new Board Observer Program year with their host organizations.
Matching Considerations
The Philadelphia Bar Foundation seeks to facilitate appropriate matches by considering the interests and preferences identified by Observer applicants alongside the missions, areas of work, needs, and available opportunities of participating host organizations. While the Foundation will make every reasonable effort to identify a suitable placement, a particular organization or type of placement cannot be guaranteed.