Echoing Green Fellows are the innovators, instigators, pioneers, and rebels that reject the status quo and drive positive social change all over the world. While their work, their geographies, and even their approaches may be as varied as the problems they are working to solve, their common passion and commitment form the base of this robust, active community of leaders. Our social entrepreneurship Fellows work on six continents, on issues such as:

Our signature Global Fellowship is open to any social entrepreneur, from anywhere in the world, with an innovative solution for any issue. Our Black Male Achievement Fellowship supports leaders dedicated to improving the life outcomes of black men and boys in the United States. Our Climate Fellowship, built in partnership with the ZOOM Foundation, was launched for leaders committed to mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

Applicant Criteria

Great leaders are more than just a business plan. Successful applicants not only present an innovative way of addressing social issues, but also explain why they as individuals have what it takes to succeed. Echoing Green is not a grant-making organization. We are a fellowship program because we believe in the importance of the individual social entrepreneur as well as his/her project.  As such, we look at both the applicant and the applicant’s idea.

• Purpose / Passion
  Show us that you care deeply about this issue or community and help us understand why. What experiences have compelled you to apply?  Show us how your work excites you and keeps you motivated every day.
• Resilience
  Social entrepreneurship is tough; you will inevitably face obstacles along the way.  Demonstrate that you have bounced back or have the capacity to do so, as well as the ability to foresee any challenges.
• Leadership
  You are the CEO of something big and important. Show us that you can lead this organization toward its goals. What unique skills and experiences do you have that will help you succeed?  Show us how you are constantly learning, reinventing, and exploring new things.  Highlight your achievements in the field, as well as your experience in the geographic region.
• Ability to Attract Resources
  Show us that you can attract money, people, and other resources to your cause. What resources have you attracted to your cause in the past? Demonstrate to us that others are confident in your ability to make lasting change. This does not mean that you need to be the person on stage at a 10,000 person rally.  Some leaders are more unassuming and still able to get others to care about their cause and take action.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for an Echoing Green Fellowship, the applicant must be:

• Over 18 years old
• Fluent in English
• Able to commit a full 40 hour work week to their organization.

In order to be eligible for an Echoing Green Fellowship, the organization must be:

• The original idea of the applicant(s)
• In its start-up phase, usually within the first two years of operation
• Independent and autonomous

There are often some misconceptions about what types of organizations are eligible for the Echoing Green Fellowship. Here is some clarification about organizations that are eligible:

• An organization can be either a non-profit, a for-profit, or hybrid.
• An organization does not only have to be run by one individual. Partnerships can apply for a Fellowship
• Organizations still in the idea phase are eligible