Young Professionals for Olmsted Parks

  • YPOP Class of 2021
  • Individuals posing for a photo, a woman in an egg suit, a man in a hotdog suit and another man in a bacon suit
  • Group of individuals standing in a line, holding gardening tools such as shovels and rakes
  • YPOP Class of 2021

The application window for the Young Professionals for Olmsted Parks Class of 2027 will run from January to July 2027.

For any questions, please email ypop@bfloparks.org. Thank you for your support.

I particularly enjoyed the Career Development Panel event and the Nonprofit Work in Buffalo Panel discussion. The conversations and connections I made at YPOP events led to my recruitment and acceptance of a new position as Operations and Development Manager at GObike Buffalo, where I get to do work that I am excited and passionate about. I highly recommend this program to any young professional who is interested in networking and becoming more involved with the organizations that make WNY a great place to live and work!
Teddy Lauzau, Deputy Director, GObike | YPOP Class of 2023
Volunteer tree planting event

From learning about your public parks to networking, there’s a lot to offer in the YPOP program!

Program Goals

  • To raise awareness for the mission, vision and daily work of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
  • To inspire the next generation of community members and leaders to value and appreciate public parks and green spaces
  • To encourage the next generation of community members and leaders to engage in and support Buffalo’s nonprofit sector

Expectations of being a YPOP participant

  • Attend YPOP events
  • Be willing to learn, network, have fun!
  • Actively participate and engage with your fellow YPOP participants
  • Be willing to have cultural humility and support the Conservancy’s commitment to inclusion

Are you looking to network and learn more about nonprofit work?

Program Specifications

  • Program duration: August 2027 – April 2028
  • Who should apply: Professionals at any stage in their career looking for networking opportunities and to get involved in the community, learn about the parks and engage in fundraising opportunities
  • $300 program fee: To help cover the cost of the program, we encourage participants to request your employer to cover the fee. As a form of appreciation, BOPC will thank your company on social media and on the YPOP website
  • Accommodations can be made upon request to enhance accessibility (e.g. interpretation, translation, mobility assistance)
  • Maximum of 30 participants: To ensure the best possible experience for every participant, the Class of 2027 will be limited to 30 people

Five Scholarship Opportunities Available!

  • For any individual who identifies as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Color (BIPOC) -and-
  • Works at a nonprofit with a budget under $1.5M -or- is an employee or owner of a small local business
  • Please complete the Application and email ypop@bfloparks.org for next steps

Application Timeline

  • Application window: January – July 2027
YPOP History 201

2027 Program Schedule

Exact dates to be updated soon

  • Aug: Kick Off Party
  • Aug 23: YPOP Volunteer – Olmsted Open
  • Sep: Full System Bus Tour
  • Oct: Olmsted 201
  • Oct: YPOP Volunteer – Party for the Parks
  • Nov: Cultural Nonprofit Takeover
  • Dec: YPOP Holiday Party Happy Hour
  • Jan: Olmsted Parks Activators Coffee Hour
  • Feb: YPOP Meat Raffle
  • Mar: Meet and Greet with BOPC Board + Pens and Pints
  • April: Graduation

All dates and times are subject to changes

Frequently Asked Questions

We will be accepting up to 30 participants for the Class of 2027.

No! We encourage all to apply who are passionate about their historic parks, nonprofit management, fundraising, networking and making a difference in their community.

The $300 program fee will only be due once accepted into the program. There is no fee to apply for the program. The program entry fee helps cover costs to run the nine (9) month YPOP program such as; venue costs, food and beverage, volunteer event supplies, guest speakers and more!

Yes! Your current company/organization can cover your program fee. To acknowledge their commitment to you and our parks, they will be listed on the website and mentioned on social media. Reach out to ypop@bfloparks.org to request for an Ask Letter to present to your employer!

Of course! We won’t leave you hanging, we promise. As part of the YPOP program, there will workshops to provide you with opportunities to learn about Fundraising in the nonprofit world, Board Participation, Conservancy staff, etc.

We completely understand that life happens and everyone is busy. You will be provided with the complete schedule of events during the application process. We hope that all YPOP participants will be dedicated throughout the entire program. 

Yes! We will discuss opportunities for you to stay involved — whether that’s joining a committee, volunteering in the parks, volunteering during a fundraising event or joining the YPOP Alumni Group.