NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Echoing Green is an angel investor for entrepreneurs focused on social change. I wrote about a couple of their 2007 fellows earlier this summer. They provide seed funding and support to entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for social change.

As an angel investor in the social sector, Echoing Green identifies, funds, and supports emerging leaders around the world and the organizations that they launch. Echoing Green has a two-year fellowship program, in which they identify social entrepreneurs that develop new solutions to social problems. They are currently accepting applications for the 2008 fellowship, for which 20 social entrepreneurs will be selected. Fellows will receive up to $90,000 to fund sustainable solutions to social problems.I’d like to encourage our readers to make a contribution on innovative social change by applying to the fellowship and contributing with their groundbreaking ideas. As Jeremy Schifeling from Echoing Green says,

… the Echoing Green Fellowship provides the seed funding and technical support (fellows learn how to develop a strategic plan, create a budget, and run an organization) to turn a visionary idea for social change – be it a sustainable energy system, a new model for middle schools, or a cutting-edge public health program – into a reality. And social entrepreneurs in dozens of countries and just about every field of social change, from education (Teach For America) to human rights (EarthRights International), from public service (City Year) to microfinance (SKS India), have used this fellowship to launch their organizations.

The primary criterion for being a fellow is having a creative solution to a pressing social problem, and a coherent strategy to create sustainable change by growing or leading a new organization. These social entrepreneurs and their organizations will work to address deeply-rooted social problems. At NextBillion.net we encourage our readers to apply and propose business solutions to the people living at the Base of the Pyramid.

The fellowship is open for candidates of all nationalities and the last day to apply is December 3, 2007. Click here to learn more about the Echoing Green 2008 fellowship.