This past summer, during an immersion trip to Kenya, our team experienced a stark reminder of the challenges facing young people around the world. Some of us were even caught in protests and felt the sting of tear gas — a visceral illustration of the frustrations born from disenfranchisement, unemployment, and a lack of hope for the future. Yet, this difficult moment also underscored the vital role of social entrepreneurship — not only to create economic opportunities for marginalized groups but to foster connection, community, and a renewed sense of purpose.
As we look ahead, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship is doubling down on our mission to cultivate a thriving community of innovators and changemakers working to end poverty. This vision is deeply rooted in our belief that sustainable solutions grow from strong, interconnected communities.
Reflecting on the Journey
Over the past year, we engaged more than 200 stakeholders and conducted extensive research to shape an inclusive 2030 strategy. This collaborative approach allowed us to integrate diverse perspectives and build support and momentum around a shared vision.
Our 25+ year journey has been marked by significant milestones. What began in a small basement at Santa Clara University with “three guys and a gal,” we’ve grown into a global leader in scaling social enterprises. To date, we’ve worked with over 1,500 enterprises that have collectively transformed the lives of hundreds of millions of people. We know how to identify, accompany, and scale high-potential enterprises across the globe.
Miller Center is also a vital contributor to Santa Clara University’s Impact 2030 strategy, which targets global reach in solving universal problems. Students and faculty are increasingly recognizing social entrepreneurship as both a method for creating a better world and a powerful tool for living a life with purpose.
Our track record in the field and our ability to leverage the strengths of Santa Clara University’s vibrant academic community uniquely position us to address global social and environmental challenges.
Why Social Entrepreneurship Matters Now More Than Ever
The world’s most vulnerable populations face mounting challenges:
- Poverty continues to be a critical problem, leaving billions of people without access to essential resources or opportunities for a better future.
- Climate change is disrupting livelihoods and forcing migration.
- Technological advancements like AI, automation, and unequal access to digital tools risk exacerbating economic inequalities.
Social enterprises that advance women’s economic power and climate resilience provide sustainable solutions to address these challenges at their roots. By scaling their impact, Miller Center contributes directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those aimed at eradicating poverty, achieving gender equality, fostering climate action, and building resilient communities.
A Revitalized Theory of Change
Our refreshed theory of change places community at the heart of everything we do. Social enterprises and students form the “trunk” of our tree, supported by mentors, partners, investors, and faculty. This structure symbolizes the strength and connections that nurture growth at every level.
We specialize in accompanying entrepreneurs across the “Valley of Death” — the gap in funding and resources for early-revenue social enterprises. By providing tailored support and directing catalytic capital through Miller Center Capital, we aim to transform this valley into a verdant forest of innovation and impact. To this end, we announced a major commitment at the 2024 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting — to mobilize $200 million for high-potential social enterprises in our network by 2030.
One way we can create systems change is by demonstrating that our tree can thrive in the Valley of Death, paving the way for other trees to grow there.
Building for the Next 25 Years
As we imagine the next quarter century, we draw inspiration from our founders’ bold vision while asking three guiding questions:
- What does the world need?
- What are we uniquely positioned to deliver?
- What do people want to fund?
Our answer is to build on our significant accomplishments and leverage our unique platform to prioritize:
- Building Community: Transitioning from a hub-and-spoke model of program execution to a dynamic, interconnected network of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and partners.
- Leveraging Our University Affiliation: Positioning Santa Clara as a destination university for global social impact, attracting aligned students, faculty, and funders.
- Advancing Thought Leadership: Bridging the gap between theory and practice with actionable research.
By putting these pieces into place, we will transition from a transactional approach to a more holistic model that generates ripple effects across the global ecosystem. This shift will help establish our leadership role, unlocking new opportunities for impact and opening new doors to funding.
Key Metrics for Greater Impact
Achieving measurable, systems-level change requires clear goals. By 2030, we plan to double our impact through these key performance metrics:
- Improve the lives of 400 million people through our partner social enterprises, up from a baseline of 186 million in 2024.
- Expand the cumulative investment raised by our network, growing from $536 million in 2024 to $1 billion.
- Increase the annual number of SCU students directly engaging with social enterprises from 170 to 400.
By scaling impact, deepening partnerships, and advancing best practices through research, we intend to create transformative change worldwide.
Closing Thoughts
Miller Center fosters a global ecosystem of innovation and growth, helping social entrepreneurs to succeed even in the most challenging contexts. By providing long-term support, practical experience, and academic resources, we’ve built a proven model that scales impact and improves lives.
Rooted in Santa Clara University’s mission and strengthened by our global network, we are uniquely positioned to address today’s critical challenges. As we look to 2030, we’re committed to amplifying our impact through bold collaboration and strategic innovation — creating a more humane, just, and sustainable future.
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Photos (courtesy of Eli Latimerlo):
- Solar Sister entrepreneurs introduced Miller Center immersion trip participants, including Karen Miller (center) and fellow Elizabeth Pierson (second-row center), to their work selling clean cookstoves in Kenya.
- Trip participants also visited Nyota, a social enterprise that partners with smallholder farmers in rural Kenya to produce highly nutritious vegetable products and improve livelihoods.
