February 2026 Newsletter
Next-Gen Governance: Emerging Leaders and Innovations
Wed, Mar. 11 @ 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Ross School of Business, Tauber Colloquium
How are next-gen leaders and emerging technologies transforming nonprofit governance? What new approaches will help nonprofits thrive? We invite all local nonprofit professionals, board members, students, alumni, and community members to join us for the 2026 Annual Nonprofit Forum. Join us for real-life insights from our speakers and the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with dozens of like-minded community members.
Meet this Semester’s Founders and Fellows in the Impact Studio
The Impact Studio continues to incubate wonderful student-led businesses this semester, with many ventures returning from last semester as well as a few new ones. First of all, the Impact Studio kicks off the new semester by welcoming its newest cohort of Founders and Applebaum Impact Design Fellows! Hailing from at least six schools across campus, this dynamic group of social innovators comprises a highly diverse mix of undergraduate and graduate students!
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Stop the Scroll: Clicks That Connect Offline
In this interactive session, proudly co-sponsored by B+I, you’ll learn tools for what makes people pause, engage, and take action offline. You’ll learn content strategies that spark engagement and drive results, and platform-specific tactics that work for social change and business growth. Drawing on 5 years of experience creating campaigns that move people, Kiara Williams is the Founder of Digital Movement Media, Treuse Cinema, and co-founder of Warriors in the Garden. Now based in Detroit, she’s building businesses, studying environmental science, and proving you don’t need a traditional path to capture attention and create real-world impact.
Business+Impact Co-Hosts 2nd Annual ESG Dilemma Design Challenge
The Alliance for Responsible Capitalism hosted its second annual ESG Dilemma Design Challenge, focused on the challenges and opportunities surrounding ESG in the banking sector and co-sponsored by Business+Impact and the Erb Institute. During the finals on Sat, Feb. 7, after blind judging, Team Evergreen of UC Berkeley won the competition and the first prize of $10,000. Team Catalyst Capital Crew, from U-M, won the $5,000 second prize, while Team Carbon Caps, Captures, and Capital of U-M won the $2,500 third prize.
Map Your U-M Journey with the Impact Roadmap and Sustainability Navigator
The Business+Impact Impact Roadmap (UMImpactRoadmap.com) provides you with a single location for all social impact on the U-M campus. Here you’ll find all of the events, courses, people, and key partners working to use their learning to make a real impact in the world.
The Sustainability Navigator (UMSustainabilityNavigator.com) helps you identify sustainability resources across the University of Michigan so you can chart your personalized roadmap to a more sustainable future.
At the University:
CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Scale Your Impact — Channel Your Inner Entrepreneur
Tues, Feb. 17 @ 5-7 pm
North Quad, #2435
The Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan is proud to partner with Agents of Change founders and Michigan alumni Meagan and Alex Mitchell to offer a unique and highly interactive workshop designed for students who may not consider themselves entrepreneurs yet. This event is for students, social workers, mental health professionals, entrepreneurs, and aspiring change-makers.
ZERO WASTE CLUB
Zero Waste Challenge
Waste isn’t just about trash. From extraction to disposal, our materials economy sits at the root of climate change and environmental breakdown. Join your fellow Wolverines in reducing waste, earning points, and winning incredible prizes. Small actions, big impact.
ERB INSTITUTE
Join the Erb Fellows Program
Apply by Mon, Feb. 23 @ 11:59 pm
Are you a sophomore student who is interested in learning more about the intersection of business and sustainability? Apply to the Erb Fellows program! The Erb Fellows program is a two year experience for sophomores majoring or minoring in Ross or PitE who want to drive positive change through business, policy, and/or sustainability. Erb Fellows take 12 credits of coursework, participate in hands-on workshops, attend fun community events, and have opportunities to network with Erb alumni and other business and sustainability leaders. Deepen your expertise, build your network, and join a powerful and passionate community of over 800 Erb alumni!
GINSBERG CENTER
Learning in Community Sessions
Thurs, Feb. 19 @ 4:30-6 pm
Fri, Mar. 13 @ Noon-1:30 pm
Fri, Mar. 20 @Noon-1:30 pm
The Ginsberg Center offers multiple workshops to support students and staff who are working with communities through courses, student organizations or independently. Learning in Community (LinC) is an educational workshop and training series focused on supporting those interested in community engagement, social justice, democratic engagement, advocacy, activism and philanthropy.
STUDENT LIFE
Sustainability Jobs
Check out jobs with the UM Sustainable Food Program, Planet Blue, the Student Sustainability Coalition, Sustainability Cultural Organizers, the UM Farm Stand, and Project-based Internships at this unique resource.
BBSA
50th Annual Alfred L. Edwards Conference
As the longest-running student-led conference at Michigan, ALE is a dedicated weekend to celebrating excellence, fostering connection, and sparking meaningful conversations about leadership and innovation. This milestone year’s theme — Enterprise Innovation — honors half a century of impact and the strong foundation built by students and alumni while looking ahead to the future of business leadership.
CENTER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Disclosureland: How Corporate Words Constrain Racial Progress
Mon, Feb 23 @ Noon-1 pm
Trotter Multicultural Center
428 S. State St, Ann Arbor
Former Center for Racial Justice visiting fellow, legal scholar, and sociologist Atinuke O. Adediran discusses her new book Disclosureland: How Corporate Words Constrain Racial Progress. Drawing from social science research and legal analysis, Disclosureland uncovers the power structures and institutional practices that determine how companies respond to calls for change.
UM DETROIT CENTER
100 Years of Black History in Detroit
Thurs, Feb. 26 @ 4-6 pm
UM Detroit Center
3663 Woodward Ave, Suite 150, Detroit
Join us along with Detroit Historian and University of Michigan lecturer for the Semester in Detroit and LEAPs Program, Jamon Jordan in not only celebration Black History Month but also 100 years of black history in Detroit!
MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS AND NICHOLS ARBORETUM
Campus Farm Internships
The Campus Farm is a student-driven multi-stakeholder living learning lab for sustainable food systems work. It is farmed by students for students, and promotes on-farm carbon-neutrality. Applications are open now through March 1, 2026, and most positions begin May 4, 2026.
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MICHIGAN ROSS OFFICE OF COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND BELONGING
Ross Awards Seeking Nominations
Nominate for Awards by Fri, Mar. 6
Nominate for BBA Senior Thesis by Sun, Mar. 22
The Ross Office of Community, Culture, and Belonging, in collaboration with the Dean’s Office and the Ross Faculty and Staff Community and Culture committees, is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 Ross Access and Opportunity Awards. The awards include Up to two research awards for faculty, one PhD student research award, one undergraduate senior thesis award, The J. Frank Yates Inclusive Teaching Excellence award, and the Ross Staff Community and Culture Impact award. Nomination letters should be submitted to Katelynn Lockhart ([email protected]) by March 6. BBA Senior Thesis entries may be submitted by March 22.
Email Thomn Bell with Questions
WOMEN OF COLOR TASK FORCE
WCTF 44th Annual Career Conference
Fri, Mar. 6 @ 8:30 am – 4 pm
Michigan League Building
The 2026 Conference theme, Taking Care of Your Business in Turbulent Times: Wellness and Resilience for Ourselves and Those We Serve, centers on the understanding that caring for our communities begins with caring for ourselves. Through dynamic keynote presentations and engaging workshops attendees will explore wellness as both a personal practice and a collective responsibility.
GINSBERG CENTER
2026 Ginsberg Community Leadership Fellows
Through a generous gift from Bill and Inger Ginsberg, the Ginsberg Center offers a leadership development opportunity for University of Michigan Rising Juniors and Seniors called the Community Leaders program. All students should apply by March 8th. Questions about the program can be directed to Jesse Carr at [email protected].
MARSAL FAMILY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
James A. Kelly Learning Lever Prize
The James A. Kelly Learning Lever Prize is a competition designed to challenge University of Michigan students to invent digital tools with the potential to significantly improve student learning. This prize encourages a culture of innovation in education, and rewards the creative, interdisciplinary work of University of Michigan students.
ECONOMIC GROWTH INITIATIVE
Allovance Summit 2026
Thurs, Mar. 12 @ 9 am – 5 pm
UM Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor
Allovance Summit 2026 invites all executives and senior leaders, strategic planners, consultants, community development professions, and graduate students to bring decision-making into the 21st century. Create a structured decision-making system, leverage technology, align your teams around organizational goals, and operationalize your strategic plan.
DETROIT INITIATIVE AT ROSS
Detroit Impact Conference
Fri, Mar. 13 @ 9 am – 6 pm
Urban Tech Xchange, Detroit
Hosted in Downtown Detroit at the Urban Tech Xchange, this all-day conference aligns with Detroit’s iconic 313 Day and brings participants directly into the city’s energy, history, and ongoing transformation. Our 2026 theme, Grit & Growth: Impact and Leadership Through Adversity, examines what it truly takes to build, lead, and create meaningful impact, especially in complex and challenging environments.
In the Impact Community:
Volunteer to Prepare Taxes
Apply Now
Work Now — April
United Way of Southeast Michigan sponsors volunteer tax preparers from December 7 through April 16. As a volunteer tax preparer, you can ensure that our clients get the best return on their taxes. No need to be an accountant: we arm you with tax law training and on-site expert support so that you can confidently complete accurate returns. With a minimum commitment of 30 hours, you can help us return millions of dollars to members of our community this season.
Elevate 2026
Join a vibrant community of nonprofit professionals as we grow our skills, share insights, and prepare to lead. The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance hosts this conference experience for social sector leaders. Elevate 2026 will offer opportunities to learn, connect with your peers from across the country, and explore what it means to be a leader in the nonprofit sector.
2026 Nonprofit Technology Conference
March 10-13
Huntington Place, Detroit or Virtual
The Nonprofit Technology Conference – often referred to as the NTC – is NTEN’s annual event for nonprofit professionals, funders, consultants, and technology partners who aim to leverage technology more effectively for social good. Join the NTC in Detroit or participate virtually — each experience offers its own sessions, activities, and opportunities to connect.
Responsible Investment Forum
This is North America’s #1 event for sustainability in private markets. Join over 450 sustainable finance practitioners and thought leaders, including institutional investors, fund managers, and industry experts at the 9th annual Responsible Investment Forum: New York. Don’t miss this opportunity to secure your spot at the leading forum for sustainable investing while maximizing your savings!
Protecting Your Nonprofit’s Mission in a Digital World
Nonprofits have become prime targets for cybercriminals, with 31% of nation-state attacks aimed at our sector. In this workshop, you will understand how strong IT policies shield your organization, learn effective methods to secure work devices and data, and gain awareness of the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape.
SummerWorks
Application Deadline:
Sun, Mar. 22
SummerWorks is an employment and mentorship program that pairs local employers with young adults aged 16-24. We encourage all young adults in this age group living and/or attending school in Washtenaw County to apply. To be considered for SummerWorks, all required questions must be completed in order to ensure your eligibility.