A Final Look Back
As we step into a new year, we want to reflect on what 2025 held for the Miller Center for Global Impact community.
Across the world and within the impact sector, many of us felt the weight of uncertainty, complexity, and change. And yet, in the midst of it all, we witnessed something powerful: the clarity that comes from choosing purpose, gratitude, and connection as guiding forces.
Together, these moments tell a story of resilience, learning, collaboration, and bold steps forward.
Top 10 Defining Moments of 2025
We began our countdown with a reflection by Executive Director Brigit Helms on choosing gratitude and purpose amid uncertainty. The piece offered a timely reminder of how reconnecting with purpose can ground our work and ourselves, even when the world feels heavy.
Mentorship is never a one-way street. In her article forImpact Entrepreneur, Brigit explored how mentors and social entrepreneurs learn, grow, and transform together. At Miller Center, we see firsthand how thoughtful guidance strengthens ventures and builds confidence while also renewing mentors’ own sense of purpose.
In 2025, Miller Center convened voices from across Santa Clara University to examine the implications of withdrawing U.S. foreign aid. The conversation explored the ethical and long-term impacts of aid cuts, while highlighting the role of locally led social enterprises and cross-disciplinary dialogue in shaping sustainable solutions.
A major milestone of 2025 was our partnership with Applied Wisdom for Nonprofits to expand leadership development for social entrepreneurs, mentors, students, and professionals. Over the next three years, this collaboration will equip hundreds of changemakers with practical tools and personalized learning experiences.
Santa Clara University announced a new Interdisciplinary Master’s in Social Impact Leadership launching in Fall 2026. Developed in collaboration with Miller Center for Global Impact, the School of Education and Counseling Psychology, and the Leavey School of Business, the program will prepare future leaders with cross-disciplinary learning.
In collaboration with seven other impact-first funders, Miller Center helped release a new study on the real cost of impact-first investing. Revealed at SOCAP 2025, the research highlights why philanthropic support is essential to scale inclusive, catalytic capital and documents how early investments can multiply impact many times over.
Miller Center was honored to be featured by Harvard Business School’s Inspiring Minds for the real-world impact of our student programs. The article highlights immersive experiences like the Miller Center Lewis Family Fellowship, where students work alongside social entrepreneurs on challenges ranging from poverty to climate resilience.
We hosted our inaugural Entrepreneur Summit in Nairobi, bringing together 40 social entrepreneurs from around the world. Designed by and for entrepreneurs, the gathering prioritized community, reflection, and honest exchange over pitches and presentations, marking a meaningful evolution in how we support founders.
The release of our 2025 Annual Report, Cultivating Impact, captured a year defined by resilience and bold action. The report also marked the launch of our 2030 strategy, outlining ambitious goals to reach 400 million lives, catalyze $1 billion in investment, and deepen student engagement.
The top defining moment of 2025 was the launch of our new identity as Miller Center for Global Impact alongside our 2030 strategy. This evolution reflects a shift toward cultivating a global community of changemakers with sustained access to resources, networks, and catalytic capital. It sets the foundation for deeper partnerships, systemic change, and global impact.
Thank You for Being Part of This Journey
These ten moments reflect what is possible when purpose, collaboration, and community come together. Thank you for being part of the Miller Center for Global Impact community and for walking alongside us in this work. We look forward to continuing this journey together in 2026 and beyond.
