Build. Give. Repeat. Returns in Business & Community with Steve Miller

Steve Miller has worn many hats over his career: operator, investor, student, philanthropist, and comedian. What unites them all is curiosity, passion, and creativity.

Today, Steve and his wife, Diane, apply their business success to philanthropy. Most visibly through the Misophonia Research Fund (MRF), which has awarded more than $14 million in grants to scientists at more than 30 universities across the United States and around the world.

Building Companies & Charities

When I asked Steve what has guided him in business and philanthropy, he boiled it down to three rules:

1. Be self-aware.

   “No one is great at everything,” Steve explained. Leaders who understand their strengths and admit their blind spots make sharper decisions, hire better, and waste less motion.

   
   

2. Stay open-minded.

   Visionaries need operators, just as operators need visionaries. As you understand what strengths complement yours, hire accordingly and make sure to listen!

   
   

3. Let go as you grow.

   Founders start out doing everything. But as scope expands, hanging on too tightly creates bottlenecks. Sustainable growth demands delegation.

   
   

Steve illustrated this with a cautionary tale. “I backed a founder who was the undisputed expert in his field. Yet the venture failed, not because of knowledge gaps, but because he was not comfortable with delegation. Expertise alone wasn’t enough.”

Bringing a Venture Lens to Philanthropy

While Steve knows that ROI looks different in philanthropy, his venture-capital instincts still shape his giving. With passion, he explained, “I want home runs. Big swings are what move things forward.”

Three key points I really took to heart were:

• Swing for breakthroughs. Science often rewards incremental, low-risk work. Steve pushes for bold bets. Some will miss, but the wins can redefine a field.

  
  

• Fund science, not paperwork. “I know there’s always paperwork,” he said, “but I want the scientists we support to be focused on the work, not grantsmanship.” MRF keeps friction low so researchers can stay in the lab.

  
  

• Think like a portfolio manager. Balance early exploration with promising follow-ups. Define risk, time horizons, and what “progress” means before cutting a check.

  
  

Why Misophonia—and Why Awareness Matters

Nine years ago, Steve and Diane’s daughter was diagnosed with misophonia, a condition where everyday sounds (chewing, sniffing, tapping) trigger an outsized fight-or-flight response. At the time, awareness was minimal. Treatments were essentially nonexistent. Steve and Diane built the Misophonia Research Fund to jump-start an entire field.

Here’s what people often miss:

• Triggers vary. For some, it’s only family members’ noises that cause a negative response. For others, it’s triggered by anyone, which can be very isolating.

  
  

• It’s not a hearing problem. The ears work fine; the brain misinterprets certain sounds as threats.

  
  

• Misophonia often co-occurs with anxiety, OCD, ADHD, or autism.

  
  

• It’s far more common than reported. Stigma and lack of awareness keep many silent.

  
  

Near-term goals (3–5 years) for MRF:

1. Build the basic science.

   
   

2. Learn what lights up in the brain.

   
   

3. Identify therapies that might help.

   
   

4. Share data across research teams.

   
   

Long-term goal: validated treatments, more funders, and a sustainable pipeline of studies.

Boards that Actually Move the Needle

Steve has also been a tireless helper for many other nonprofits. We first met in the halls of JUF (Jewish United Fund of Chicago), when he chaired the Volunteer Committee. His board service spans Jewish communal life, the arts, education, and civic causes.

His playbook for effective governance is blunt and practical:

• Align on what kind of board you are: working, fundraising, or hybrid. Revisit as the organization evolves.

  
  

• Take fiduciary duty seriously. Steward donor dollars like they’re your own.

  
  

• Run productive meetings: no “weather reports.” Share updates in advance; use the room for decisions, discussions, and learning. Don’t forget to invite staff other than executives to these meetings.

  
  

• Invite healthy discussions from different viewpoints to create better outcomes.

  
  

• Set term limits. Fresh perspectives matter.

  
  

Betting on Campus Entrepreneurship

At his alma mater, the University of Illinois, Steve and Diane back scholarships, a chaired professorship, and the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship.

For Steve, entrepreneurship isn’t just for startups; these are life skills: problem-solving, resilience, and adapting when reality shifts. Everyone benefits from those skills especially when you are building a company.

Habits That Multiply Impact

Semi-retired from Origin, Steve is back in school at UCLA, sharpening his skills and staying curious. When I asked Steve how he manages studies, work, philanthropy… he joked, “The old expression is true: if you want something done, give it to a busy person.”

Steve’s advice distills to habits that anyone—business leader, board member, or donor—can adopt:

• Do more of what only you can do, and delegate the rest.

  
  

• Name the strengths you’re missing and fill the gaps.

  
  

• Agree on milestones before you start.

  
  

• Protect deep-work time: put it on the calendar like a meeting with your top donor.

  
  

Don’t Forget the Fun

Semi-retired doesn’t mean slowing down. When we spoke, Steve had 11 trips in 12 weeks on the calendar. Thanks to well-honed prioritization and delegation skills, he still carves out time for family and fun.

With his sketch comedy troupe, North Shore Problems, he’s writing show number 2.  And of course he carves out time for Illini sports, optimistically penciling in future national titles.

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I help nonprofits raise more money through education, coaching, and strategic planning. I also lead high-impact professional development, coaching programs, and retreats for companies of all sizes. If you’re ready to strengthen your fundraising strategy, turn board members into advocates, or build a comprehensive legacy giving program, let’s talk.