Echoing Green Fellowship 2026 — Empowering Social Innovators to Transform the World

Echoing Green is a long-standing program that supports early-stage social entrepreneurs who have bold, community-driven ideas. The Fellowship gives emerging leaders the tools, capital, and community connection they need to grow their impact. The work spans many issue areas—justice, equity, climate, education, health, and others.

Fellowship Benefits

If selected, an Echoing Green Fellow receives:

• An 18-month stipend of $100,000 USD, intended to allow full-time work on your venture.
• Capacity building, leadership development, and organizational support.
• Entry into a global community of social entrepreneurs. Mentorship, expert support, peer networks, and convenings.

Who Can Apply? (Eligibility)

To apply, applicants must meet several criteria:

• Be 18 years or older by June 1, 2026.
• Be able to communicate proficiently in English. Support is offered in English. (Accommodations are made for disabilities)
• Be an original founder (or co-founder) of the organization or idea you’re applying with. You must play a central role in founding it, not just be a later leader.
• Be the primary decision maker for your organization. You must have strategic vision and authority.
• Be ready to work full-time (≈ 40 hours/week) on your proposed idea during the fellowship.

On the organizational side:

• The enterprise should be in the early stage—ideas or operations that need funding and organizational development. Typically less than 5 years of operation and in need of financial + technical support.
• If the organization has a fiscal sponsor (legal umbrella), it must operate autonomously—i.e. decision-making power must be held by the founder(s) or team applying.

Application Details & Timeline

• Deadline: October 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
• After applications close, Echoing Green will review submissions, score them by expert reviewers, then invite finalists to interviews.
• Fellows are notified around June/July 2026.

Application Tips

• Start early: Use the offline worksheet and sample Q&A to plan your responses before the due date.
• Be specific & clear: Show why your idea matters, how you’re connected to the community you serve, what you plan to do, how success will be measured. Vague generalizations don’t help.
• Show leadership & authenticity: They want leaders who are deeply involved, not just in title. Your connection to the issue and community counts.
• Proofread, review, revise: Multiple drafts are helpful; avoid jargon; use plain English so reviewers from different backgrounds can understand.

Who Should Consider Applying?

If you are:

• An early-stage social entrepreneur or nonprofit founder
• Deeply connected to and working in your community
• Looking for seed funding + mentorship + leadership development
• Ready to commit full time to your enterprise during the fellowship

Then this may be one of the best opportunities to scale your impact.