March 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 practices 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.
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Impact Venture Demo Day
Thurs, Apr. 16 @ 5-7 pm
Michigan Ross Winter Garden
Are you a founder looking to network with others, or looking to support the meaningful work of student founders? The Impact Studio, along with five other units on campus and three community organizations, is proud to host its annual Impact Venture Demo Day. Featuring student ventures tackling global issues through tech for good, health and wellbeing, education, climate, and fintech — this event allows visitors to interact with live demonstrations of prototypes, connect with visionary student founders, and provide feedback to early-stage solutions to global issues. Light refreshments will be served, and it will include special guests from Ann Arbor Spark, BCG, Ingeborg Investments, and more!
Open the Door to Life-Changing Opportunities on Giving BlueDay!
We invite you to give to our Impact Studio and DNEP’s initiatives on Giving BlueDay March 18! You’ll enable Michigan Ross talent to make an impact by developing solutions to the world’s most wicked problems. Or you can pair up Ross student consultants with vital Detroit businesses looking to make a footprint in their neighborhoods.
Give to the Impact Studio Fund Here
Give to the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project Here
Impact Studio’s Krik Krak and Puffin Air Among Winners in the Michigan Business Challenge
Congratulations to Puffin Air Purifiers (Rachel Silcox and Rebecca Lentz) for their second prize ($15,000) in the Invention Track of MBC. Krik Krak (Jaenelle Lauture and Anino Tseyi Oritsejafor) was an MBC Finalist ($5,000). The big winners of the competition were Biliroo ($37,500) and FastFlo ($37,000).
 SOCENT SPOTLIGHT
SunbundleThis month we are shining the light on The SunBundle, which is empowering youth through up-cycled athletic gear, driven by collegiate athletes. SunBundle’s founder Yasmine Mansi (BBA ’25) witnessed inequity in sports firsthand while competing internationally in Egypt. Recognizing the surplus resources available to athletes at this level, Yasmine created The SunBundle to not only donate excess athletic gear but also transform these donations into care packages that empower and educate athletes to reach their full potential. |
Ross Events:
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| Ross: Marc Rosen (BBA ’90) Mon, Mar. 23 @ 4:30 pm Tauber Colloquium |
Sanger: Story Lab Winter Showcase Wed, Apr. 1 @ 5 pm Robertson Auditorium |
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:
CEW+
CEW+ Fellowships
The CEW+ Fellowship application is now open. Fellowships awarded in this funding cycle may be used at the end of the Winter 2026 term, during the Spring/Summer 2026 terms, or in Fall 2026. Awards will vary in amount based on proposal merit, budget, and need.
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.
MESA
AA&PI Heritage Month Opening Ceremony & Art Fair
Thurs, Mar. 12
Michigan Union, Rogel Ballroom
Join us for our two-part AA&PI Heritage Month Opening hosted by TMC/MESA! We will start with the opening which includes a Keynote Speaker and dinner. This year’s keynote is rapper and content creator Jason Chu, a prominent voice in the national Asian American scene. Registration is required for this portion of the event. The second part will be an Art Fair highlighting Student Art/Artists that center their work around AA&PI communities.
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.
GINSBERG CENTER
Learning in Community Sessions
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.
BOWMAN CENTER
Anti-Racism Research Grants
Phillip J. Bowman Center for Scholarship to Practice (the Bowman Center) offers research grants aimed at supporting all graduate students who are engaged in research projects focused on racism, racial equity, and racial justice while advancing graduate and professional student progress toward a degree. Projects should focus on topics and processes related to racism at structural, systemic, institutional, interpersonal, and/or intrapersonal levels.
LSA
TEDxUofM 2026: “Radiance”
Sat, Mar. 14 @ 3-6 pm
UM Power Center
Join us on March 14th for an inspiring evening at TEDxUofM 2026: Radiance, hosted at the Power Center for the Performing Arts, featuring TED Talks, performances, and more immersive experiences! All nine speakers are University of Michigan alumni, faculty, or students who will share powerful ideas and personal stories centered on the ways people shine, endure, and illuminate the world around them.
FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
Policy Talks
Readiness: Preparing State Early Childhood Systems for a Brighter Future – Mar 16
The New Look of the Gun Violence Prevention Movement – Mar 24
Double Tax on Women of Color – Apr 7
The Ford School of Public Policy hosts a diverse array of timely, meaningful events that engage students, community, and public policy leaders.
WILLIAM DAVIDSON INSTITUTE
Entrepreneurship Exchange
Apply by Tues, Mar. 17
Program Runs May 4 – June 26
The Entrepreneurship Exchange brings together students from the U.S., Morocco, Libya and Egypt in small teams to identify market opportunities and develop business concepts that address real-world needs. Through this virtual certificate program, you’ll gain practical experience in civic-minded entrepreneurship. The program culminates in a video pitch competition. Once all three cohorts are complete, the winning teams will also participate in four live group mentoring sessions with a University of Michigan entrepreneurship professor.
UM DETROIT CENTER
Workshop on Democracy: Police Reform and Community Violence Interventions
Thurs, Mar. 19 @ 10 am – Noon
UM Detroit Center
3663 Woodward, Ste 150, Detroit
This panel explores police reform and community violence strategies used in Detroit, with experts and residents discussing ways to improve safety and trust. The event is offered as part of a dynamic series of panels and workshops showcasing how Detroiters have responded to 21st century challenges, developed innovative strategies and driven policy change—offering inspiring examples of grassroots power in action.
PACLSHR
Graduate Student Summer Fellowship Travel Award
Applications Due:
Sat, Mar. 21 @ 11:59 pm
The University of Michigan President’s Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights (PACLSHR) is now soliciting applications from graduate students interested in financial and logistical support of $6,000 to projects focused broadly on addressing, evaluating or improving global labor standards and monitoring.
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MICHIGAN ROSS OFFICE OF COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND BELONGING
Ross Awards Seeking Nominations
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
PUBLIC POLICY LAB
Public Policy Lab Lecture and Workshop
This day-long workshop will provide U-M students, faculty, and staff, with a comprehensive introduction to applying human-centered innovation approaches in the public sector. Over the past decade, governments have placed increasing emphasis on design to transform how services and information are delivered to the public. Furthering these efforts is an inherently interdisciplinary pursuit – requiring an appreciation of the design process from those across a variety of careers.
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Impact Awards 2026
Mon, Apr. 6 @ Noon – 2 pm
SSW Flourish Office, and Online
Join us for the School of Social Work’s IMPACT Awards Celebration, honoring individuals and groups who have made meaningful, positive contributions to our community. Seven awards will be presented, including Student, Staff, Faculty, Group, Field Instructor, Flourish Award (promoting wellbeing), and Lifetime Achievement. We’ll gather for lunch and recognition from 12:00–1:00 pm, and at 1:00 pm, the Self-Healing and Social Justice Art Collective will lead an interactive art-making experience, “The Healing Well.”
UM SUSTAINABILITY
Excellence in Sustainability Honors Cords
The Excellence in Sustainability Honors Cord Program is designed to honor students who went the extra mile to further their knowledge and application of sustainability principles while studying at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. To fulfill our goal of encouraging both depth and breadth, students must accumulate 10 points or more to earn a cord.
In the Impact Community:
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.
Visioning for Change: Imagining a Just and Thriving Future
Fri, Mar. 27 @ 1-4 pm
NEW Center, 1100 N. Main, Ann Arbor
Visioning is a powerful practice of imagining what could be; a hopeful act grounded in your organization’s deepest values. This workshop invites nonprofit leaders to pause, reflect, and dream beyond today’s challenges toward a future defined by equity and justice. Through guided reflection and dialogue, you’ll craft a clear, inspiring vision of success and gain tools to strengthen your leadership while connecting with peers committed to creating meaningful, lasting change.