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Summer 2025 Newsletter


Board Fellows Forum: group of students and nonprofit partners in a classroom setting, collaborating and discussing impact projects.

Golub Capital Announces Gift to Our Board Fellows Program as B+I Recruits Nonprofits

Nonprofit Applications due
Sun, July 13

Business+Impact (B+I) is pleased to announce a substantial expansion of its Board Fellows Program (BFP), supported by Golub Capital. Our Board Fellows Program was founded in the late 1990s and currently serves 60 students and 39 nonprofit organizations per year. During its entire 25-year history, it has placed roughly 800 UM students with 300 nonprofits. With this generous gift, Business+Impact can increase the size of the student cohort, establish innovative alumni programming, and enhance research on the program.

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In the meantime, B+I is recruiting regional nonprofits in SE Lower Michigan for this program. Apply to become a nonprofit partner before July 13th. Two Board Fellows will serve as non-voting members on your board for an academic year while completing a curated project. Common projects include benchmarking, fund development strategy, board recruitment, etc. If your organization is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3)/501(c)(4), in or near SE Michigan, and holds at least two meetings between October and April, you may be eligible.

Learn more



Summer Impact Interns group photo: U-M students outdoors smiling, some holding signs for their organizations, representing diverse internships.

2025 Summer Impact Interns

This year, Business+Impact is supporting 27 students through its Summer Fund in a variety of summer internship experiences. Each summer, Business+Impact awards competitive grants for summer internships to MBAs and BBAs in the Ross School of Business as well as MPP students in the Ford School of Public Policy.  MBA funding comes from Business+Impact’s Summer Fund, and from the Gordon Impact Entrepreneurship Fund, which provides support for BBA or MBA student internships with ventures or funders seeking to create societal impact.

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Ross Events


Sophia Mullins event banner showing a professional headshot and graphic for Ross Women in Business: Women in Wellness.

Ross Women in Business: Women in Wellness Hosted by Sophia Mullins
Fri, July 11 @ Noon – 1 pm
Online



Impact News and Notes:

Ann Arbor residents share how guaranteed income supports local entrepreneurs

New change agent empowerment toolkit builds leadership skills

Maize Rays initiative launches first phase of campus solar project

Redlining Shaped the Power Grid. Communities of Color Are Still Paying the Price – featuring Tony Reames

Cass Tech celebrates 80 students who are heading to the University of Michigan

IHP Research & Engagement Fund Mini Grants – rolling basis $3000

DEI isn’t about hiring quotas. It’s about opportunity – featuring Lilia Cortina

U-M, Detroit build community ties via seven new programs

UM-Flint’s Wyatt Exploration Program connects students with Cuba’s people, culture and history

UMSI student hopes to use data analysis to pursue social justice

Poverty Solutions RA leads with heritage, community to enrich researchU-M students spent spring break in Colombia building connections, exploring environmental challenges and opportunities

Storing energy to use later – featuring Ian Hiskens and Michael Craig

A Change in Power: Higher demand, aging infrastructure, and severe storms challenge Michigan’s grid – featuring Sarah Mills

SEAS alums develop resources for equitable engagement in journalism, building on their work as students

Is Detroit Still a Food Desert? A Closer Look at the City’s Grocery Landscape

Poverty Solutions report on Detroit home wealth lauded by Mayor Duggan

Michigan prison sentences are longest in nation. Bipartisan bills could fix that | Opinion

Fai Foen connects people to their natural environments



Map Your U-M Journey Impact Roadmap banner featuring campus map, icons for events and sustainability, and UM branding.

Map Your U-M Journey with the Impact Roadmap

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.

Start Here


At the University:

Juneteenth event banner: red, green, black colors, silhouette imagery, and text celebrating restoration, recognition, and reflection.
Juneteenth Celebrations

UM Detroit Center Juneteenth Celebration
Wed, June 18 @ 5-7 pm
University of Michigan Detroit Center

Ross Staff Juneteenth Celebration
Thurs, June 19 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Corner Commons, Blau Hall

Come and celebrate Juneteenth, a day of restoration, recognition, and reflection with food, fellowship, music, games, giveaways, and more!



Empowering Detroit workshop banner with city skyline, raised hands, and gold-blue colors for UM Detroit Center.

UM DETROIT CENTER

Empowering Citizens in Detroit

Fri, June 27 @ 4-6 pm &
Fri, Aug. 22 @ 4-6 pm
3663 Woodward Ave, Suite 150, Detroit, MI

Join us for a dynamic, hands-on two part workshop designed to equip residents with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to actively participate in shaping local governance.

Register here


In the Impact Community:


D-Prize logo featuring abstract blue and green shapes, globe icon, and text emphasizing global impact.

D-Prize

Extension Deadline
Sun, June 29

Can you design a new business or NGO that delivers a proven poverty intervention at scale? Submit your design for a new organization that solves one of our Distribution Challenges below. We will award the most promising teams with up to $20,000 USD to launch their new organization wherever extreme poverty exists. Challenges include Health, Water, Education Agriculture, Livelihoods, Energy, and Public Services.

More Info



Centering Justice event banner with raised fists, stylized text, and blue/yellow graphic for social justice activism.

Centering Justice

Fri, June 27 @ Noon – 1:30 pm
Online

Through engaging conversations with guests, practical resources and tools, and sharing experiences, participants will leave with skills, strategies, and courage to challenge oppressive systems.

Register here



Bamboo event banner with collaborative workspace image, diverse group of young professionals networking at event.

Bamboo Events

Black-Owned Business Market – June 18

Hustle Society Detroit – June 27, July 25

Community Coworking Day Detroit – July 8

Community Coworking Day in Ann Arbor – July 9

Join us at our next event and expand your network. You are also welcome to host a meeting space or event in Detroit, Royal Oak or Ann Arbor.

All Events



Concert of Colors header logo showing bold, colorful text, musical notes, and Detroit Institute of Arts branding.

Concert of Colors

July 16-20
Detroit Institute of Arts

Concert of Colors is a free family-friendly event located indoors and outdoors at the Detroit Institute of Arts with musical performances at Metro Detroit’s cultural institutions. “Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights!”

More info



Certified Nonprofit Professional banner: gold/blue badge logo, stylized text, and professional development branding.

Certified Nonprofit Professional Track

Register Now

A 6-month facilitator-led cohort designed to move social sector leaders to their next level of leadership. The cost of $1,800 includes tuition, all course materials, a complimentary ticket to Elevate – a virtual conference for social sector leaders, access to the learner profile portal, networking opportunities with a 12k-strong community, and a digital badge.

Learn more and Register