ONEplace Emerging Nonprofit Leader Academy 2026

ONEplace is a relied upon community resource that envisions leaders who can show up fully in the organizations where they work. Committed to ongoing learning and practice, they facilitate space for imagination and create containers for collective thinking.

These leaders are reflective, courageous, empowered, and anti-racist. They are critical lovers of institutions in need of transformation. These leaders organize people and resources to make needed change happen regardless of their positions.

We believe these leaders anchor and support organizations and a community that are committed to anti-racist, human-centered values.

This type of leadership will animate a thriving nonprofit sector in Kalamazoo.

The ONEplace Emerging Leader Academy (ELA) historically endeavors to prepare leaders for executive leadership positions. While this remains a target, the academy focuses on a range of personal and functional competencies needed to thrive in the nonprofit sector. Major topic areas include equity, personal leadership development, and collective impact. This year, we will offer access to ‘electives’ that will cover topics such as governance; fundraising; strategic direction & operation; cultural competencies, and more!

The Emerging Leader Academy has been refreshed based on feedback and will be held over a six (6) month period through curated sessions, office hours and priority enrollment in 3 specific public workshops. Our sessions will be held in a retreat-like setting with food and beverages provided, and it is expected and highly encouraged that participants will be present for the entirety of every session. We understand this may need to change and are aware of the impact that participant availability has on the full group’s experience.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the program, get questions answered and explore if the program is a good fit for you. It’s also a good opportunity to check in about the application process. We require interested participants to attend an info session or review the recording.
Please take a moment to learn more about Leader Academy here.

This session will take place on Zoom. ONEplace will email you a link the day before. Contact [email protected] to request the recording or if you have any questions.