Echoing Green

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Program Purpose: 

To accelerate social change, Echoing Green identifies, invests in, and supports outstanding emerging social entrepreneurs to launch new organizations that deliver bold, high-impact solutions. Through a two-year fellowship program, its network of visionaries develop new solutions to society's most difficult problems. These social entrepreneurs and their organizations work to solve deeply-rooted social, environmental, economic, and political inequities to ensure equal access and to help all individuals reach their potential. To date, Echoing Green has invested over $28 million in seed funding to over 471 social entrepreneurs and their innovative organizations.

Program Description: 

Each year Echoing Green awards 12 - 20 two-year fellowships to individuals or partnerships (organizations led by two people) with innovative solutions to significant social problems, strategies to create high-impact, sustainable change in people's lives, and the ability to grow and lead a new organization.

Program Benefits: 

Fellows receive seed funding and technical support to turn their innovative ideas into sustainable social change organizations. A stipend of $60,000 for individuals or $90,000 for 2-person partnerships is paid in four equal installments over two years. The Foundation provides guidance and a range of support during the fellowship tenure. Attendance at Echoing Green's annual training conference is required.

Application Process: 

The application process is a three-phase process, culminating in interviews in New York.

Applicant Profile: 

Assessment criteria include: (1) Applicant must be an emerging social entrepreneur with demonstrated leadership potential; demonstrated ability to overcome obstacles; strong passion and commitment for the program area in which they plan to work; practical skills, including problem-solving, strategic and organizational abilities; a capable "Resource Magnet," able to attract money and people to cause; and have personal integrity. (2) Applicant's plan will result in a sustainable organization. Applican't plan must present a clear and compelling mission and objectives; sound strategy and plan for program development and delivery; a plan for evaluating success and performance; a plan for financial sustainability and growth; and an existing support network. (3) Applicant must be able to clearly articulate his or her vision for social change, including the seriousness of the social problem he or she will address; an innovative idea and approach; the potential for tangible impact to the beneficiary population; the potential for replication and growth; and the potential for effecting systemic change (e.g., policy change, societal change, influence in the field).

Eligibility: 

Graduating seniors, graduating graduate students, or alumni of any nationality may apply so long as they will not be in a degree program during the two-year funded project.

Selection Criteria: 

The Project proposal – from up to two applicants – must be a feasible proposal for creating a sustainable organization geared to social change. The following proposals are ineligible: plans to expand an existing organization past its start-up phase, plans for research or lobbying activities or faith-based initiatives.

Citizenship: 

This program is open to citizens of all nationalities, working in any country so long as language skills permit interviews in English.

Program Deadline: 

Usually December 1.

How To Apply: 

Students or alumni, as applicable, may apply directly to this program. Applicants are encouraged, however, to work with SF State's fellowship advisor well in advance of the program deadline to perfect their application essays and other materials.