Echoing Green (New York), founded in 1987, is a nonprofit organization that applies entrepreneurial principles to social sector investing.

Echoing Green has invested $27 million in seed grants to over 450 social entrepreneurs, who have sparked social change in 40 countries on 5 continents. Visionaries (fellowship candidates) are identified, funded with grants, provided with technical assistance, and connected to a global network of social entrepreneurs.

Through a 2-year fellowship program, social entrepreneurs are given assistance to solve deeply-rooted social, environmental, economic and political inequities around the world.

These new organizations, unconstrained by tradition, are often best able to bring true social change.

Some of the 2008 Echoing Green social entrepreneurs that were funded are:

* Zacatecas, Mexico - Gabriela Enrigue (UC Berkeley) and Leticia Jauregui (UC Davis), both attended college in Mexico, developed CREA as an integrated method for channeling migrant remittances to income generating projects of women entrepreneurs in high-migration communities in Mexico. CREA helps women entrepreneurs acquire new skills, build self-esteem, build closer partnerships with migrants, and generate local income and employment.

* China - Carol Chyau and Marie So (classmates at Harvard Kennedy School) launched Ventures in Development to identify, incubate and implement sustainable business enterprises in remote areas of the Tibetan plateau of China that will yield direct social benefits. Two of the initial enterprises focus on Shokay (materials made from Yak fur) and Mei Xiang Yak Cheese.

* Israel - Saman Salaime-Ebariya’s The Seven Women Center will help women fight the phenomenon of honor killings in the Arab community in Israel.

* Developing Countries - Yasmine McCarty and Nandini Narula’s project would bring low-income entrepreneurs in developing countries the power of online marketing technologies, which would enable them to grow their businesses.

* Developing Countries - Jane Chen and Rahul Panicker are working to develop and distribute a low cost infant incubator for use in developing countries.

Information on donating, interning, applying for a fellowship grant, and other activities can be found on Echoing Green’s website.