Our history

Originally founded in 2001 as the first student-run venture fund in the nation, and endowed by pioneering impact investor Jim Sorenson in 2013, the Sorenson Impact Center has grown to become a leading multi-disciplinary impact center housed at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. Unique to the impact space, the Center offers a wide-spectrum of services and expertise to help its partners across multiple sectors solve complex social and environmental challenges around the world. 

Timeline

2001
  • University Venture Fund:
  • First student-run Venture in the Nation.
2004
  • UVF is the largest student-run venture fund in the nation.
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  • “If this were around while I was in school, I’d still be in school!”
  • – Warren Buffet
2013
  • Endowed by Impact Investing Pioneer Jim Sorenson
2014
  • Program Expanded to Sorenson Impact Center.
  •  
  • Awarded First White House Social Innovation Fund.
F
2015
  • Hosts first Winter Innovation Summit
2016
  • Data Science Team launched
  •  
  • Field Building Team launched
2017
  • Original content series “The Impact Revolution” launched.
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  • A first-of-its-kind partnership with Forbes to showcase social impact solutions.
2018
  • Launch of $8.1MM University Venture Fund: Impact Investing.
  •  
  • Completed first White House Social Innovation Fund Grant
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  • Launch of National Collaboration for infants and toddlers, funded by JB and MK Pritzker Foundation
2019
  • Launch of MAPS Project with Funding Provided by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
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  • 900+ Winter Innovation Summit Attendees
2020
  • Continuation of MAPS with funding provided by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
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  • Awarded two federal grants from Economic Development Administration
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  • Geoff Davis joins as CEO