The ICF Foundation is proud to share its 2025 Year in Review, a reflection on what becomes possible when a global community comes together to expand access to coaching and create meaningful social impact around the world.
This year’s report highlights a period of remarkable growth, demonstrating how coaching continues to serve as a catalyst for stronger leaders, more resilient organizations, and thriving communities. Through the Foundation’s flagship programs, dedicated volunteers, generous donors, and mission-aligned partners, coaching reached individuals and organizations working to address some of society’s most pressing challenges.
Expanding Coaching’s Reach
In 2025, the Foundation supported 77 Ignite projects, engaged more than 900 credentialed coaches, served more than 1,400 coaching clients, and helped 85 aspiring coaches begin their coaching education journeys through scholarships. Together, these efforts reached 28 countries and advanced all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What makes these numbers meaningful is the impact behind them. Every coaching engagement represents an individual, team, or organization better equipped to lead change in their communities.
Moving Beyond “Giving Back”
The Foundation invites coaches to think beyond the idea of “giving back” and instead embrace partnership. Coaching is not about rescuing communities. It is about supporting the wisdom, leadership, and potential that already exist within them.
Through strategic partnerships and measurable outcomes, the Foundation demonstrates how generosity can become lasting social impact. The result is work that is both heart-centered and evidence-based, strengthening leaders, organizations, and communities around the world.
Empowering Those Who Serve
The Ignite Initiative continued to demonstrate the power of coaching to strengthen nonprofit organizations and mission-driven leaders. One example featured in the report is Family Promise of Hawaiʻi, whose staff received coaching while supporting families experiencing housing instability following the Maui wildfires. Participants reported increased confidence, improved leadership skills, stronger time management practices, and a greater ability to support the families they serve.
This ripple effect remains at the heart of the Foundation’s work: when coaching strengthens the people addressing social challenges, entire communities benefit.
Investing in the Next Generation of Coaches
The ICF Foundation Scholarship Program continued its growth in 2025, expanding access to accredited coaching education for aspiring coaches from underrepresented communities. Supported by 28 coaching education providers, the program awarded scholarships to 85 individuals who will bring coaching back to their own communities and regions.
By reducing financial barriers and creating new pathways into the profession, scholarship providers are helping build a more inclusive future for coaching while extending its benefits to communities that might otherwise lack access.
Advancing Systemic Change Through Partnerships
The Foundation’s Special Projects portfolio continued to demonstrate coaching’s ability to drive meaningful organizational and societal outcomes. In 2025, the Foundation’s partnership with Special Olympics helped volunteer leaders across Africa strengthen leadership, communication, and decision-making skills while advancing inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
This work earned external recognition through a Gold ASAE Power of Associations Award, further reinforcing the growing credibility of coaching as a force for positive social change.
A Community-Powered Movement
The impact achieved in 2025 was made possible by a global network of donors, coaches, scholarship providers, volunteers, ambassadors, chapters, and partners who believe in coaching as a force for good. Supporters contributed through financial gifts, volunteer coaching, partnerships, and in-kind contributions that expanded the Foundation’s ability to serve communities worldwide.
Throughout the year, the Foundation also strengthened engagement with the global coaching community through events such as International Coaching Week and ICF Converge 2025, creating opportunities to showcase coaching’s potential to advance social impact on a larger scale.
Looking Ahead
As the Foundation looks toward 2026, its focus remains clear: expanding access to coaching, strengthening evidence of coaching’s measurable social impact, and supporting leaders and organizations working to create lasting change. Future priorities will include advancing progress in areas such as gender equality, climate action, and strong institutions while continuing to amplify stories that demonstrate coaching’s value in communities around the world.
The 2025 Year in Review is ultimately a story about people. It reflects what happens when individuals choose to invest their time, expertise, resources, and belief in the power of coaching. Together, those contributions continue to create ripple effects that strengthen organizations, empower leaders, and help communities thrive.
Explore the full 2025 Year in Review to see the stories, impact, and community behind a year of meaningful change.
