Echoing Green, a pioneer in the field of social innovation, has unveiled the 2024 cohort of its prestigious Echoing Green Fellowship.
This year, Echoing Green has selected 44 Fellows from 21 countries, making it one of the most geographically diverse groups in the organization’s history.
With an investment of $3.5 million in funding and leadership support, Echoing Green continues to empower early-stage social innovators worldwide.
Key Takeaways:
- Echoing Green announces 44 Fellows for the 2024 cohort, representing 21 countries.
- Each Fellow receives $80,000 in unrestricted funding and comprehensive support.
- The cohort is supported by Echoing Green’s Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund.
- Echoing Green has a 37-year legacy of fostering social innovation and supporting transformational leaders.
- Notable supporters include the MacArthur Foundation, Skoll Foundation, and Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women.
Unrestricted Funding and Comprehensive Support
Each Fellow in the 2024 cohort will receive $80,000 in unrestricted funding over an 18-month period.
This funding is just one aspect of Echoing Green’s holistic support model, which also includes capacity-building resources and a robust community network.
Fellows will gain access to strategic partners, industry peers, and lifelong connections with Echoing Green’s global community of innovative thinkers.
A Rigorous Selection Process
The selection process for the 2024 Fellows was highly competitive, with over 2,100 applications received through an open call and participatory grantmaking process.
The selection criteria focused on the quality of the business model, scalability potential, and the commitment to fostering economic growth and job creation within local communities.
Meet the 2024 Echoing Green Fellows
The new cohort of Fellows represents a diverse range of innovative solutions addressing critical global challenges.
Here are a few notable Fellows:
Ashley Williams - Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Clymb (United States)
Bold Idea: Enhancing educational outcomes through innovative learning platforms.
Mati Amin - Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SOLAx (Afghanistan)
Bold Idea: Providing sustainable energy solutions in conflict-affected areas.
Virtue Oboro - Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tiny Hearts Technology (Nigeria)
Bold Idea: Innovating in healthcare technology to improve infant health.
Akonkwa Mubagwa - CEO and Co-Founder, Winko Solar, Inc. (Africa)
Bold Idea: Connect and power Africa’s next generation by providing complete off-grid solar power and internet connectivity solutions for healthcare, education, and commercial facilities.
Barnabas Nomo - Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Goliath Robotics (Ghana)
Bold Idea: Improve independence and quality of life for wheelchair users in Ghana by creating affordable assistive mobility devices tailored to local context.
Brendah Nantongo - Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Veathari Ventures (Uganda)
Bold Idea: Foster financial independence, business growth, and real estate ownership for African women by offering targeted mortgage loans and savings and credit co-operatives.
Derwin Sisnett - Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Adaptive Commons (United States)
Bold Idea: Increase access to affordable housing for teachers across the U.S. by transforming underutilized public school buildings.
Echoing Green’s Commitment to Equity
This cohort is the fourth and final group supported by Echoing Green’s Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund, launched in 2020.
The Fund aims to create sustainable pathways of funding and support for next-generation leaders advancing racial equity globally.
Since its inception, the Fund has supported 120 new Fellows and awarded $12 million in follow-on investments.
Notable Supporters and Partners
The Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund has received support from prominent organizations, including:
• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
• Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women
About Echoing Green
For 37 years, Echoing Green has been at the forefront of social innovation, identifying and supporting transformational leaders willing to challenge the status quo.
The organization’s community of nearly 1,000 social innovators includes influential figures such as First Lady Michelle Obama and the founders of Teach For America and One Acre Fund.
