Echoing Green Climate Fellowship

Program Type: Two-year fellowship program for social entrepreneurs addressing climate change

Award Amount:

• $80,000 for individual Fellow
• $90,000 for partnership (two founders)

Geographic Scope: Global - applicants working in any country addressing climate change

Focus Areas: Full spectrum of climate mitigation and adaptation responses

• US-based technological solutions
• Developing world community organizing solutions
• Any innovative approach to climate change addressing

Organization Eligibility:

• Original idea of applicant(s)
• In start-up phase (usually within first two years of operation)
• Independent and autonomous
• Can be nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid structure
• Focus on climate change mitigation or adaptation
• Can still be in idea phase

Applicant Eligibility:

• Must be 18+ years old at time of application submission
• Fluent in English
• Able to commit full 40-hour work week to organization
• Must have American work authorization if project based in US
• Previously rejected applicants may reapply
• Only one submission per applicant per year
• Maximum 2 founders may apply per organization

Organization Types NOT Eligible:

• Students, scholarships, or research projects
• Lobbying or faith-based organizations
• Established organizations past start-up phase
• Books, films, plays, or scripts
• New projects within existing organizations
• Discrete projects with set beginning and end points

Climate Approach:

• No specific climate approach required
• Interested in full spectrum of mitigation and adaptation
• Applicants must meet standard Echoing Green eligibility criteria
• Open to diverse solutions: technology, policy, community organizing, etc.

For-Profit Organizations:

• Eligible to apply
• Receive "recoverable grants" instead of regular grants
• Must agree to repay stipend if company achieves: $2M revenue in fiscal year with positive net income OR valued at >$5M
• Repayment term applies during 2-year Fellowship and 3 years after (5 years total)
• If thresholds not met within 5 years, no repayment required

Support Provided:

• Unrestricted funding
• Health care reimbursement
• Dedicated portfolio manager guidance
• Access to advisors and mentors
• Community convening across cohorts
• Conferences and gatherings

Contact Information:

• Address: 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4610, New York, NY 10118
• Phone: 212-689-1165
• Website: echoinggreen.org

Application Process

General Information:

• Applicants applying for both Climate and Global Fellowships use one consolidated application
• Opt-in to Climate Fellowship consideration in application
• Majority of application content is same across Fellowship Programs
• Additional questions specific to Climate Fellowship required if opted in
• One submission per applicant per year

Application Steps:

1. Visit Echoing Green's Apply page at echoinggreen.org
2. Complete online application form
3. Provide responses to general fellowship questions
4. Opt-in to Climate Fellowship consideration
5. Respond to Climate-specific questions
6. Submit before deadline
7. Selected applicants advance to Finals round

Core Application Content:

• Personal background and passion for climate action
• Organization details and founding story
• Problem statement (climate challenge being addressed)
• Solution description and approach
• Target audience and geographic scope
• Climate mitigation or adaptation focus
• Business/operational plan
• Proof of work authorization (if US-based)
• Evidence of startup phase status

Climate-Specific Questions:

• What climate challenge does the organization address?
• Is approach mitigation, adaptation, or both?
• How is the organization's approach innovative?
• What is the geographic scope of impact?
• How does the solution create measurable climate impact?
• Personal passion and commitment narrative for climate work

Review Criteria:

• Innovative approach to climate change
• Understanding of climate challenge being addressed
• Leadership quality and commitment
• Organizational readiness
• Sustainability potential
• Potential for scale and impact

Fellowship Award Determination:

• Applicants cannot win more than one specific Fellowship in same cycle
• Review committee determines best fit (Climate vs. Global)
• Applicants invited to appropriate Finals round based on committee decision
• Applicant preferences cannot influence review determination

Timeline:

• Applications open on announced dates
• Finalist announcements follow submission period
• Final round with selected finalists in New York
• Fellowship cohort announced

Support During Application:

• FAQ resources available on Apply page
• Email inquiries accepted for specific questions
• Personal interviews or phone consultations NOT available
• Application guidance materials provided