ECOsystems Conference
The 2026 ECOsystems Conference will convene leaders from across Michigan’s diverse environmental movement at a pivotal moment—just following the state’s critical elections. As we prepare to welcome a new administration and elected officials, ECOsystems ‘26 will serve as a crucial starting point for our short and long-term policy strategy, aligning our membership around the wins we want to immediately secure as a foundation for bigger outcomes in the next four years.
Join us in Downtown Lansing!
Date: Monday, November 9, 2026
Location: Heritage Hall | DoubleTree Hotel (Lansing, MI)
Who’s invited: The ECOsystems Conference is designed for professionals, board members and volunteers working in Michigan’s environmental nonprofit movement. Our programming connects professionals from across many specialties, from advocacy, to communications, community engagement, development operations and more. We encourage you to send team members who are seeking best practices, unbeatable connections and fresh ideas.
Agenda
8:30am | Registration (Heritage Hall)
9:30am | Opening Plenary (Heritage Hall)
11am | Programming Block #1 (Heritage Hall + DoubleTree Hotel)
12:30pm | Lunch (Served at both Heritage Hall + DoubleTree Hotel)
1:30pm | Programming Block #2 (Heritage Hall + DoubleTree Hotel)
3pm | Break + Transition to Heritage Hall
3:30pm | Closing Plenary
4:30pm | Conference End
Conference Pass Rates
Early Bird Pass (Registration before October 1, 2026) | $112.50
Environmental Council Member Pass | $150
Group Pass (2 or more tickets) | $112.50 per pass
Non-Member Pass | $200
Program Details
ECOsystems ’26 will take place at two prime locations in Downtown Lansing. Heritage Hall is a recently renovated section of the Michigan State Capitol, and the DoubleTree Hotel is just a short walk away. After kicking off the day as a full group at Heritage Hall, programming will split between two tracks that deliver unique, quality sessions for leaders across our movement, and which will host sessions at one of our two locations.
War Room Roadmap (Heritage Hall)
A policy-oriented, small workshop style program that focuses on our short-term and long-range policy priorities as a movement. Expect the room to be filled with policy wonks and those interested in our shared environmental policy agenda. (Note – participation in the War Room track is limited to 1-2 reps from your organization to ensure equitable representation by all members.)
Sessions include:
- (Workshop) The 100 Day Gameplan – A strategy session for the movement’s policy players and members seeking to plug into our immediate 100-day priorities.
- (Workshop) Our Four-Year Roadmap – A small-group deep dive into our long-range policy roadmap, organized by our key buckets of advocacy.
Momentum Machine (DoubleTree Hotel)
A program designed for those keeping the lights on, money flowing, and emails sending. Programming will focus on operations, communications, fundraising and community engagement.
Sessions include:
- Mapping our Movement – A presentation of the recently completed ‘ECO Census’ and how we as a movement should be using the data to activate creative collaborations, funding partnerships, etc.
- Creating a Capacity Pipeline – Examining key strategies for capitalizing on volunteers, interns and other zero/low cost capacity solutions amidst funding concerns. Led by one of our members who catalyze volunteers.
- Activating Local Campaigns – A case study of one of our most successful locally-driven campaigns of the previous administration. Diving into the role of local press, volunteer management, branding, etc.
- Grassroots Influence in the Digital Age – A facilitated panel discussion with three Michigan-based “influencers” who participated in political and social campaigning in the digital space, and what insights we’ve learned about how the public is responding to issues like climate change, environmental progress, etc.
Register for ECOsystems '26!
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