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Eligibility
Application Process
BMA Fellowship
Application Website

ELIGIBILITY
How does Echoing Green define a "startup"?
I’m not sure if my proposal meets your criteria. May I schedule a personal interview or phone call to review my proposal before I decide whether to apply?
If I applied for the fellowship in the past, may I reapply?
My project is based outside the US and I'm not an American citizen. May I apply for a fellowship?
My project is structured as a for-profit organization. May I apply for a fellowship?
I am currently a full time student. May I apply for a fellowship?
I am working towards my doctorate degree. May I apply for an Echoing Green Fellowship to fund a research project in support of my degree requirements?
I am working on a book that I believe will have significant social impact. Am I eligible?
I currently have a full time job and have been running an organization on the side. Am I eligible to apply for a fellowship?
I am creating a new project within an existing organization. The new project will be completely under my control and direction. Am I eligible?
Does Echoing Green require that it is the sole donor of my organization?
My organization has a fiscal sponsor. Am I still eligible to apply?
Do I need to have 501(c)(3) status before I can apply for a fellowship?
I have never run a social enterprise before. May I still apply for your program?
I have more than one idea for an innovative new program. May I submit both ideas?
My organization was founded by several people. Can we all apply for the fellowship?

APPLICATION PROCESS
Should I apply as an individual or as a partnership?
May I begin the application process as an individual and convert to a partnership application once I find a partner?
May I attach supplemental materials to my application or submit them to your office?
I have limited access to the Internet. Can you mail me an application or can I download a copy off your website? Instead of using your format, may I mail you my business plan?
Can you provide me with some samples of successful applications?

BLACK MALE ACHIEVEMENT (BMA) FELLOWSHIP
Why has Echoing Green begun this focus on Black Social Entrepreneurs?
How will the BMA Fellowship affect the Echoing Green Fellowship?
Are BMA Fellows considered Echoing Green Fellows?
Do I have to be a black man to be eligible?
Are there any specific program or issue areas that the BMA Fellowship is focused on addressing?
If I am applying for both the BMA and Echoing Green Fellowships, do I need to submit two separate applications to be considered for both?
How do I indicate my interest in applying for the BMA Fellowship? What if I forget to opt-in or note my interest?
What if I only want to apply for the BMA Fellowship, but not the Echoing Green Fellowship?
Can an applicant win both Fellowships in the same year? If not, how does the review committee decide? Can I communicate my preference?
Is the BMA application cycle and review process identical to that of the Echoing Green Fellowship?
If I am applying to both the BMA Fellowship and the Echoing Green Fellowship, how do I write my application so that it is competitive for both Fellowships?
Are partnerships eligible for the BMA Fellowship? Is there a difference in stipend for partnerships?
Is the BMA Fellowship limited to projects focused in urban areas? If so, what are the target cities?
Am I eligible for the BMA Fellowship if black men and boys are a key target audience, but not the only focus?
Am I eligible for the BMA Fellowship if my project focuses on black men and boys in the US but also in other countries?

APPLICATION WEBSITE
I am unable to upload my resume or attach a document to my application. What should I do?
Do character counts include spaces?

ELIGIBILITY

How does Echoing Green define a "startup"?
A general rule of thumb is that the organization cannot be up and running with full time staff longer than two years and still be considered a “startup.” There is some flexibility on the two year rule. For example, some organizations spend much more time on research and development of their program model. They may have operated for quite some time in research mode or the management team may have only been able to commit to working on their program part-time while holding down another full-time job.

However, we believe that any organization that is being built to thrive should have a well-defined program model (and possibly a pilot initiated), an initial strategic plan, basic organizational infrastructure, a staffing plan, initial funding sources, and an established and functioning board of directors within two years of launching. If you do not yet have those things in place, you may still be in your startup phase and eligible to apply for Echoing Green.

I’m not sure if my proposal meets your criteria. May I schedule a personal interview or phone call to review my proposal before I decide whether to apply?

No. Echoing Green has a small staff. Annually, we receive over 2,000 applications for our program. If we cannot offer personal interviews to all applicants, we cannot grant personal interviews to any applicants, either over the phone or in person. Please do not contact our office requesting an appointment for a personal interview. However, you are welcome to contact us with specific questions about our process if you do not find the answer here on the website.

If I applied for the fellowship in the past, may I reapply?

Yes. If you applied for an Echoing Green Fellowship in the past, you are welcome to reapply as long as your organization meets our eligibility criteria.

My project is based outside the US and I'm not an American citizen. May I apply for a fellowship?

Yes, as long as you meet our other eligibility criteria. The only limitation on work location is that if your project is based in the US, you must have American work authorization (i.e., citizenship, permanent residence status, or a work visa). We encourage applicants of all nationalities, working in any country, to apply for the fellowship.

My project is structured as a for-profit organization. May I apply for a fellowship?

Yes, as long as you meet our other eligibility criteria. Echoing Green seeks applications for innovative organizations creating high-impact social change, regardless of profit structure.

Beginning in 2011, fellowship stipends to for-profit organizations will be structured as “Recoverable Grants.”  Echoing Green seeks to maximize the social impact of our assets and so seeks to “recycle” capital from successful social enterprises that have benefitted from our Fellowship to those at the earliest stages. Echoing Green will retain an option to receive cash or stock proportional to the value of our support, including a small amount of interest, only in the event that your organization experiences an acquisition, buyout, public listing or other major liquidity event or reaches certain financial milestones. We will not hold any voting rights or control over your organization. Specific terms will be a function of the individual circumstances of each fellow.

I am currently a full time student. May I apply for a fellowship?

Yes. You may apply for our fellowship program while you are a full time student in a degree program. However, you must have completed your studies by July at the beginning of your fellowship period. If you are awarded an Echoing Green Fellowship, you are agreeing to make your organization your full-time employment.

I am working towards my doctorate degree. May I apply for an Echoing Green Fellowship to fund a research project in support of my degree requirements?

No. Echoing Green does not provide scholarship money or fund research. If you are proposing a research project as part of your academic studies, your project is not eligible for our program.

I am working on a book that I believe will have significant social impact. Am I eligible?

No. Echoing Green funds ideas for creating sustainable organizations; we do not fund discrete projects. Examples of discrete projects (those with definitive beginning and ending points) include writing a book or script, producing a play or creating a film.

I currently have a full time job and have been running an organization on the side. Am I eligible to apply for a fellowship?

Yes, if your program meets all eligibility criteria and you are prepared to resign from your current full-time employment if you are selected as a Fellow.

Please note that if you are awarded an Echoing Green Fellowship, you are expected to commit no less than 35 hours per week to your organization. In other words, you will not be able to continue in your current full-time employment if you accept an Echoing Green Fellowship.

I am creating a new project within an existing organization. The new project will be completely under my control and direction. Am I eligible?

No. To be eligible for consideration for an Echoing Green Fellowship, the program must be independent and autonomous. It cannot be under the management of another organization. It cannot depend on another entity for funding or access to funds.

Does Echoing Green require that it is the sole donor of my organization?

No. We understand and encourage applicants to continue to seek funding throughout the application process and during their fellowship if selected. However, funding from Echoing Green should qualify as a significant early investment in your organization.

My organization has a fiscal sponsor. Am I still eligible to apply?

Yes. Echoing Green requires Fellows to lead autonomous organizations. However, as fiscal sponsors generally only provide support and do not exert control over organizational decisions, you are still eligible for a fellowship so long as this applies to your situation.

Do I need to have 501(c)(3) status before I can apply for a fellowship?

No, you do not need to establish 501(c)(3) status or register your organization before you apply.

I have never run a social enterprise before. May I still apply for your program?

Yes. Echoing Green believes in identifying and supporting talented, yet unproven social entrepreneurs.

I have more than one idea for an innovative new program. May I submit both ideas?

No. Echoing Green only allows one submission per applicant per year. Submission of multiple applications, whether for multiple ideas or for a single idea, in a given year, will result in removal from further consideration for a fellowship.

My organization was founded by several people. Can we all apply for the fellowship?

No. Only two founders may apply per organization. As a result, please choose two, at most, to represent your organization to Echoing Green. However, you do not need to change your leadership structure to suit Echoing Green. Even if only two founders can be Echoing Green Fellows, you can have as many people leading your organization as you see fit.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Should I apply as an individual or as a partnership?

Echoing Green provides the option to apply as a single person or as a two people. If you are unclear which you should apply as, consider the following:

First, consider that both partners must individually meet all of Echoing Green’s eligibility requirements, including agreeing to work full-time (minimum 35 hours per week) for the duration of the two year fellowship. Before deciding to apply as a partnership, we strongly recommend having an open conversation with your partner about his/her commitment to the organization.

Secondly, both partners must be clear co-founders and co-leaders in the organization. This means that while partners may have different roles within the organization itself, both should have equal decision-making authority and have had equal involvement in the founding of the organization. If during the review process, a partnership is found to fail in meeting these criteria, the applicants may be disqualified and removed from the competition.

Just as we understand that some organizations have more than two founders, we do not require that organizations with two founders apply as a partnership. Some organizational partnerships select one individual to apply as to limit the commitments of each individual.


May I begin the application process as an individual and convert to a partnership application once I find a partner?

No. We do not allow applicants to change their application type from individual to partnership during the application process. Nor can you swap out one partner for another during the application process or during the fellowship period.

May I attach supplemental materials to my application or submit them to your office?

No. Any extraneous materials submitted will be discarded immediately and not reviewed.

I have limited access to the Internet. Can you mail me an application or can I download a copy off your website? Instead of using your format, may I mail you my business plan?

No, you must submit your application using our online application form. If you have limited access to the Internet, we suggest printing out the application questions, so that you can work on composing your answers offline, either by hand or in a Word document. This will save you considerable time when you go online to enter your responses. Note: If you compose your answers in a word processor and copy them into our online system, you must make sure that they still fit our character limitations – including spaces.

We will not accept or review any other documents (e.g., letters of inquiry, business plans) in lieu of the online application.

Can you provide me with some samples of successful applications?

No. Echoing Green does not provide sample applications. Every year, Echoing Green looks for the strongest applications that present compelling and original ideas for addressing and resolving the root causes of tough social challenges. We look for well-rounded applicants who display a solid understanding of the issues they plan to address and demonstrate leadership potential. These successful applications are all incredibly unique. However, we hope the documents we provide in our Application Guidance section help you focus your answers on the information we are looking to evaluate.

BLACK MALE ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP
Why has Echoing Green begun this focus on Black Social Entrepreneurs?

One of Echoing Green’s core values is a commitment to the notion that social entrepreneurs can (and must) be found in many different communities. We are proud of our record of supporting perhaps the most diverse cohort of social entrepreneurs in the world by race, ethnicity, gender, and citizenship. When we discovered that the leadership of the Open Society Foundations’ Campaign for Black Male Achievement had a similar commitment, we mutually agreed that it was a natural partnership.

While the focus of the Fellows selected for the Open Society Fellowship for Black Male Achievement must be on issues affecting black men and boys, the applicants do not have to be part of this target group in order to be considered and will be chosen regardless of race or ethnicity.

How will the BMA Fellowship affect the Echoing Green Fellowship?

The BMA Fellowship is a separate and unique opportunity that is parallel to the Echoing Green Fellowship. The existence of the BMA Fellowship does not change the process or criteria of the Echoing Green Fellowship. We fully expect the two Fellowships to enrich each other, particularly by offering Echoing Green Fellows and BMA Fellows the benefits of being part of the same larger community of social entrepreneurs.

Are BMA Fellows considered Echoing Green Fellows?

The Open Society Fellowship for Black Male Achievement is an independent and distinct fellowship opportunity. BMA Fellows will have the same access to the full network and support services as Echoing Green Fellows and will have the additional benefit of access to the Open Society Foundations’ network and communities.

Do I have to be a black man to be eligible?

No. While your organization must focus on issues affecting black men and boys, the BMA Fellows are not required to be part of this population. However, we do expect all applicants to be able to articulate clearly why they feel a deep and long-lasting commitment to making change in this particular community.

Are there any specific program or issue areas that the BMA Fellowship is focused on addressing?

Fellowship projects should align with the Open Society Foundation’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement priorities focused on improving the life outcomes of black men and boys in the three core areas of: education, family, and work.

If I am applying for both the BMA and Echoing Green Fellowships, do I need to submit two separate applications to be considered for both?

No, you only need to submit one application to be considered for both the BMA Fellowship and the Echoing Green Fellowship. By submitting your application, you will automatically be considered for the Echoing Green Fellowship. You will also have the opportunity on the application to indicate your interest in the BMA Fellowship.

How do I indicate my interest in applying for the BMA Fellowship? What if I forget to opt-in or note my interest?

Near the start of the application, you will be able to note your interest in being considered for both Fellowships. If our review process determines that you are eligible for the BMA Fellowship but you select “no” or forget to mark your interest, we may still invite you to participate in the Semifinal round of the BMA Fellowship. Echoing Green will review all submitted applications for BMA-eligibility. Your ongoing participation in subsequent rounds of either the Echoing Green or BMA Fellowship is entirely voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

What if I only want to apply for the BMA Fellowship, but not the Echoing Green Fellowship?

Our application process does not allow you to select the BMA Fellowship and not the Echoing Green Fellowship. However, if you are invited to participate in a Semifinal round and do not wish to proceed with being considered for that specific Fellowship, you are welcome to withdraw at that time by contacting Echoing Green directly.

Can an applicant win both Fellowships in the same year? If not, how does the review committee decide? Can I communicate my preference?

No, an applicant cannot win both Fellowships in the same application cycle. Our review process will determine which Fellowship seems the best fit for you and your organization, and if you qualify, we will invite you to participate in the appropriate Semifinal round.

Is the BMA application cycle and review process identical to that of the Echoing Green Fellowship?

The BMA application process will run parallel to the Echoing Green process, but will vary at different stages of the application. The first round application process is identical for both Fellowships. Once Semifinalists are selected, BMA Fellowship applicants will have a parallel process that includes BMA-specific Semifinalist application questions, which will be evaluated by a group of application readers and judges that are experts in the field of supporting black men and boys. Click here to see the full BMA application dates.

If I am applying to both the BMA Fellowship and the Echoing Green Fellowship, how do I write my application so that it is competitive for both Fellowships?

In this first stage of our application process, our review criteria are identical between both Fellowships. While BMA Fellowship applicants will need to demonstrate passion and commitment for positive life outcomes for black men and boys, we would expect all Echoing Green Fellowship applicants to demonstrate a similar passion for whatever issue or community their application addresses. More application advice can be found on the Application Guidance page. We also suggest reviewing the assessment criteria for both the Echoing Green Fellowship and the BMA Fellowship to see what the judges will be looking for.

Are partnerships eligible for the BMA Fellowship? Is there a difference in stipend for partnerships?

Yes, applicants can apply for the BMA Fellowship either as an individual or as a partnership limited to 2 individuals. If applying as a partnership, both individuals must be clear co-founders and co-leaders of the organization to be eligible. In addition, both individuals must meet all eligibility requirements.

The stipend amount is $70,000 total for each selected organization, regardless of whether the candidate applied as an individual or as a partnership.

Is the BMA Fellowship limited to projects focused in urban areas? If so, what are the target cities?

The BMA Fellowship is not limited to urban areas. Applicants from across the United States are invited to apply, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.

Am I eligible for the BMA Fellowship if black men and boys are a key target audience, but not the only focus?

We expect that both your primary personal passion and the primary focus of your organization be on ways to support positive life outcomes for black men and boys in the United States. As long as you are able to demonstrate this passion and focus, it is acceptable to have other beneficiaries.

Am I eligible for the BMA Fellowship if my project focuses on black men and boys in the US but also in other countries?

We expect that both your primary personal passion and the primary focus of your organization be on ways to support positive life outcomes for black men and boys in the United States. As long as you are able to demonstrate this passion and focus, it is acceptable to have other beneficiaries.

APPLICATION WEBSITE

I am unable to upload my resume or attach a document to my application. What should I do?

If you are having difficulty uploading your resume or attaching a file to your online application, please try the following steps:
1. Check the file extension: The application only accepts documents that are either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or Adobe (.pdf) format
2. Check the file size: Maximum size allowed is 100 MB.
3. Try a different Internet Browser: If your computer has multiple browser options (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome), try logging back into the application at www.wizehive.com/echoinggreen in a different browser to see if you are able to upload. You may also want to download the latest version of the browser to ensure it is compatible with the application website. You can download Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox for free.

If you are still having issues, please send an email to 2013resume@echoinggreen.org with subject line "Resume Help." Please attach the document to the email and include your name, the email address you used on your application, and the name of your organization. We will upload your resume for you and reply back within 2 business days.*

*You must notify Echoing Green of this problem prior to the Phase 1 deadline. As long as your entire application is complete with the exception of the file upload(s) AND you have emailed  2013resume@echoinggreen.org to notify us of this difficulty before the deadline, your application will not be penalized or considered late. You will receive a confirmation email once we have uploaded your resume. You may not receive this email until after the deadline - please do not be concerned. Applicants who do not follow instructions will also be notified, but will not be eligible for submission after the deadline.

Do character counts include spaces?

Yes. All short answer questions on the application have a character limit provided in parentheses after each question. These limits are inclusive of spaces.