Application Tips

Review the instructions. Many otherwise strong applicants have disqualified themselves by failing to read our support materials prior to applying. Thus, please be sure to read review this document and our online Fellowship section, as well as skim our past fellows' profiles. This information will prove immensely helpful in ensuring that your application receives maximum consideration.

Research your project’s context. Talk to potential constituents and to other organizations in your sector to get a sense of whether your idea is innovative, realistic, and desirable. Ask for their input and find out whether they’ve considered or tried your idea before. If they have, find out why they rejected it or why it didn’t work previously. If they disagree with your approach, try to gain a better understanding of their objections. To assist in this process, we encourage you to complete our Innovation Matrix and review a sample sector analysis.

Don’t wait until the last second to start an application. The best applications are the products of much critical thought and consideration. Furthermore, if you experience any technical issues while completing your application online, this will give you time to resolve them without the pressure of the deadline.

Be specific in your application. The number one reason that applications are rejected is their lack of clarity. Don't just tell us that you're going to save the world - show us how you're going to do it. Your answers have character limits, so don't waste your time with vague generalities. Instead, provide concrete examples and a clear connection between your work and your goals.

Make sure that you explain the “why” in your application. While Echoing Green seeks to know the “what” and “how” about your idea, we also want to know why you are the right person for the job. Thus, be sure to detail your connection to the community you will serve. Also, provide a resume that makes clear your qualifications to be the executive director of the organization – not just the innovator.

Have three people proof-read your application! Have a good editor read for mechanics, have a content area expert read for feasibility, and have someone who knows nothing about your idea read for coherence. Ask each to pitch your idea back to you to see if your application is conveying your idea accurately.