The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Santa Clara U. Gets $25 Million to Boost Start-Up Companies With Social Goals - Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship

Originally posted on Philanthropy.com

Silicon Valley couple Jeff and Karen Miller have donated $25 million to a Santa Clara University program supporting start-up businesses pursuing social goals such as clean water, energy efficiency, and landmine clearance, reports the San Jose Mercury News. The Global Social Benefit Incubator at the university’s newly renamed Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship has mentored hundreds of social entrepreneurs aiming to expand their companies and their impact.

Mr. Miller, a Santa Clara graduate, has worked in venture capital and held senior position at several high-tech firms. The couple has been involved with the center for several years, volunteering to work with new businesses and traveling to Africa and Southeast Asia to see the results of their work.

Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship

For over 25 years, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship has been a leader in the global social enterprise movement. With an emphasis on climate resilience and women’s economic power, we accelerate social entrepreneurship to end poverty and protect the planet, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Located at Santa Clara University, we fuse the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley with the university’s heritage of social justice, community engagement, and global impact. Miller Center has served close to 1,500 social entrepreneurs based in over 100 countries that are impacting hundreds of millions of lives. Our 2024 Annual Report contains more information and stories about Miller Center’s outsized impact.