The Miller Center for Global Impact Accelerator, run by Santa Clara University, offers senior leaders at revenue-generating social enterprises and impact-driven nonprofits 180 hours of free executive mentoring over a virtual six-month program. The next cohort begins January 2027, with a regular application deadline of October 16, 2026. Applicants tackling poverty, women’s economic power, or climate resilience through the UN Sustainable Development Goals can apply through Miller Center’s online form.
At a glance
| Deadline | October 16, 2026 (regular); August 31, 2026 (early) |
| Eligibility | Senior leaders (CEO, Executive Director, Managing Director) at organizations operational 1+ year, with $50,000+ USD annual earned income, 3+ full-time staff, and 3-month minimum cash runway |
| Benefit | 180 hours of free executive mentoring from a pool of 500+ mentors, over a 6-month virtual program |
| Geography | Global, no regional restriction |
| How to apply | Online application form, linked below |
| Official link | Miller Center Global Impact Accelerator |
Who’s eligible
Per Miller Center’s official criteria, the applying leader must be a CEO, Executive Director, or Managing Director, fluent in English or Spanish, with reliable internet access and working proficiency in Excel. The role demands real time: weekly one-hour calls with mentors plus several additional hours of planning work each week for six months.
The organization itself must address poverty and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on women’s economic power and/or climate resilience. It must have been operational for at least one year with active, paying customers, generate a minimum of $50,000 USD in annual earned income, employ at least three full-time staff equivalents, and hold at least three months of cash runway. This rules out pre-revenue startups and early-stage ventures still validating a model; the program is built for organizations that already have a functioning business and need help scaling it.
What you get
The program is entirely free. Each selected organization is paired with two mentors drawn from a pool of over 500 senior executives, including leaders from companies such as Apple, Google, Intel, PayPal, and Cisco. Miller Center describes the mentoring as “focused, immersive, and customized” to the organization’s specific business needs, totaling 180 hours across the six-month engagement. The curriculum covers impact strategy, business model refinement, and funding plans, delivered virtually so there’s no relocation requirement.
How to apply
- Review the eligibility criteria above to confirm your organization qualifies before starting.
- Submit the Miller Center Accelerator application form by October 16, 2026, or by August 31, 2026 for early consideration.
- Be ready to commit the applying leader’s weekly time for the full six-month program if selected.
Key dates
- Early application deadline: August 31, 2026
- Regular application deadline: October 16, 2026
- Selection notification: November 20, 2026
- Cohort start: January 2027
- Program length: 6 months, virtual
FAQ
Does the Miller Center Accelerator cost anything?
No. The program is entirely free to accepted organizations.
Can an early-stage or pre-revenue venture apply?
No. Organizations need at least one year of operations, active paying customers, a minimum of $50,000 USD in annual earned income, at least three full-time staff equivalents, and three months of cash runway.
Is the program open to organizations outside the United States?
Yes. There’s no stated regional restriction; the program is virtual and open globally to organizations working on poverty, women’s economic power, or climate resilience through the SDGs.
What languages does the program run in?
The applying leader must be fluent in English or Spanish.
How much time does the program require each week?
Weekly one-hour calls with mentors, plus several additional hours of planning work, for the full six-month program.
More opportunities like this: Climate Resilience Awards for Business 2026 and Impact Summit America 2026.
Source: Miller Center for Global Impact, Accelerator Program.
