Michigan Ross Secures Major Investment In Nonprofit Leadership

The University of Michigan’s Ross School has just secured a major boost for its Board Fellows Program (BFP), thanks to a generous new sponsorship from Golub Capital. As part of its commitment to strengthening nonprofit board leadership, Golub Capital has selected Ross among 11 distinguished business schools to receive funding in 2025.

This marks the first major sponsorship from Golub Capital for Ross’s program, unlocking new opportunities for students eager to gain hands-on experience in nonprofit governance.

For more than 25 years, Michigan Ross’s Board Fellows Program has placed 800 students on regional nonprofit boards, allowing them to contribute meaningfully while developing leadership skills. Now, with Golub Capital’s support, the program is set to expand even further, bringing in more students, launching innovative alumni programming, and refining assessment methods to demonstrate large-scale impact. Haley Billey, associate director of student and community engagement for Business+Impact, sees this as a transformational moment, noting that the funding will help accelerate the program’s tremendous success.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP

Golub Capital’s investment aligns with its broader vision of cultivating future nonprofit leaders. According to David Golub, president of Golub Capital, the company’s Nonprofit Board Fellows Network aims to deepen the pool of impactful board members across the business school ecosystem. With this latest expansion, hundreds and potentially thousands of MBA students will be equipped with the expertise to drive meaningful change in nonprofit organizations.

Michigan Ross joins top-tier institutions such as UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business, UCLA Anderson, and UVA Darden in receiving Golub Capital’s funding this year. As the program scales, Ross’s BFP will continue its legacy of impact, growing beyond its current 60 students and 39 nonprofit partners to reach even more aspiring leaders.

With this game-changing sponsorship, Michigan Ross is reinforcing its reputation as a hub for socially responsible leadership. As more students step into real-world boardrooms, they’re not just learning—they’re making a difference. And thanks to Golub Capital’s support, that difference is about to get a whole lot bigger.

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