For more than 30 years, Echoing Green has been on the front lines of solving the world’s biggest problems by raising up transformational leaders who challenge the status quo. It is a congregation of social entrepreneurs, nonprofit advisors, business strategists, data scientists, facilitators, and digital connectors. With 30+ years of experience, it is one of the leading incubators for social impact startups. Furthering its objective to nurture the next generation of leaders who can make a countable impact to transform social challenges to their advantage, Echoing Green is offering fully funded fellowship for 2020 cohort.

Through the two-year, full-time Fellowship, the fellows will work on a plan to make the world better in a big way. Also, Echoing Green will nurture the fellows to become impactful leaders by connecting them with the tools, resources, and communities they need to bring their ideas to life.

Fully Funded Echoing Green Fellowship

Echoing Green runs three Fellowship tracks: Black Male Achievement, Climate, and Global. During the application process, candidates may choose the one which is most applicable to them.

Black Male Achievement Fellowship – This Fellowship is for social entrepreneurs working on innovative ideas for new organizations that focus on improving the life outcomes of black men and boys in the United States. Moreover, your organization must be focused on addressing issues facing black men and boys in the United States.

Climate Fellowship – This Fellowship is for social entrepreneurs who are starting new organizations that innovatively approach climate change through mitigation, adaptation, or policy. Your organization may be located anywhere across the globe. Your organization must be focused on innovations in climate adaptation, mitigation, or policy initiatives.

Global Fellowship – This Fellowship is awarded to social entrepreneurs who are deeply connected to the needs and potential solutions that may work best for their communities. Your organization may be located anywhere across the globe. Your organization or idea may be focused on innovations across any program area.

Eligibility for the Echoing Green Fellowship

Individuals and organizations have separate sets of criteria, that they must meet in order to be eligible. Moreover, candidates not selected for the current year are welcome to reapply another year.

Echoing Green considers an individual eligible for 2020 Fellowship if they are

• over 18 years old, fluent in English, and able to commit a full 40-hour workweek to their organization. The organization must be the original idea of the applicant(s), in its start-up phase as well as independent and autonomous.
• If you are currently a full-time student or employee, you must agree to make your organization your full-time engagement if awarded a Fellowship.
• The Fellows do not need to be based in the US or be an American citizen. The only limitation on work location is that if your project is based in the United States, then you must have American work authorization (i.e., citizenship, permanent residence status, or a work visa). Echoing Green does not sponsor American work permits for any foreign nationals.

For an organization, they must meet the following criteria:

• An organization can be nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid.
• An organization does not only have to be run by one individual. Partners can apply for a Fellowship.
• Organizations still in the idea phase are eligible. You do not need to establish 501(c)(3) status or register your organization before you apply.
• The program must be independent and autonomous. It cannot be under the management of another organization. If you have a fiscal sponsor that provides support but does not control organization decisions, you are eligible.
• Tuition or scholarship funding, or research projects; lobbying or faith-based organizations; and existing organizations which have grown past their start-up phase are not eligible to apply

How to apply for the 2020 Echoing Green Fellowship?

Candidates eligible to apply for the Echoing Green 2020 Fellowship can apply in one of the following tracks:

Arts & Culture, Civil & Human Rights, Education, Environment, Food & Agriculture, Health & Healthcare, Poverty Alleviation & Economic Development, Public Service & Civic Engagement

The candidates must access the application online and complete it with the relevant information.  Along with the application, candidates must also provide a statement declaring his/her intent, and the social challenge s/he wishes to address.

If selected, Echoing Green will ask the candidates to further provide the following documentation.

• A resume that reflects your leadership and achievements.
• Letters of references from referees who can vouch for your professional abilities
• A compelling video pitch

Deadline

Echoing Green will accept 2020 fully funded Fellowship application until October 16, 2019. Applications arriving after the deadline are invalid. However, the candidates are welcome to reapply next year.