Echoing Green, a global leader in social innovation, has announced the selection of 44 exceptional individuals for its 2024 cohort of Echoing Green Fellows. This year’s cohort, one of the most diverse and expansive in the organization’s history, includes changemakers from 21 countries, reflecting a broad spectrum of innovative ideas aimed at addressing critical global challenges.
Each Fellow will receive $80,000 in unrestricted funding over the 18-month Fellowship period. This support is part of a comprehensive model that includes financial capital, capacity-building resources, and access to a vibrant community of like-minded innovators. The Fellows were chosen from a pool of 2,100 applicants through an open call and participatory grantmaking process, underscoring the rigorous selection criteria and the high level of talent within the group.
Echoing Green President Cheryl L. Dorsey highlighted the importance of this year’s cohort, stating, “From the planet’s hottest year yet, to ongoing global threats to democracy, to backsliding on hard-fought progress on racial equity—these are challenging times. We need bold solutions now for these and other significant challenges. These new Fellows are meeting this moment with a level of brilliance, care, and passion that gives me renewed hope for our collective future.”
Dorsey expressed optimism about the impact these Fellows will have, saying, “When I look at the transformative work that they’ve launched across 21 countries, I am excited about the opportunities before them and the possibilities of what they can achieve for their communities and for the world.”
Among the 2024 Fellows are six innovators from Kenya:
- Amisa Rashid, Nivishe Foundation (Kenya): Focused on providing mental health services and support to marginalized communities.
- Esther Wanjiru, Farmer Lifeline Technologies (Kenya): Utilizing technology to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods.
- Lea Masamo Bey, Africa Sickle Cell Organisation (Kenya): Working to improve the lives of those affected by sickle cell disease across Africa.
- Maryanne Gichanga, AgriTech Analytics Ltd (Kenya): Developing data-driven solutions for the agricultural sector.
- Naom Monari, BENA CARE LTD (Kenya): Providing affordable and accessible home-based healthcare services.
- Taita Ngetich, Synnefa (Africa): Leveraging technology to enhance food security and agricultural efficiency.
These Kenyan innovators are part of a broader cohort that spans multiple continents, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The Fellows are working on a wide range of initiatives, from healthcare and education to technology and environmental sustainability.
The 2024 cohort is particularly significant as it represents the final group of Fellows supported by Echoing Green’s Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund, launched in 2020. This Fund was established 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, making a substantial impact in the fight for racial equity.
The Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund has been supported by numerous prominent organizations, including the Jerome L. Greene Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Skoll Foundation, Comcast NBCUniversal, the Citi Foundation, and Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women, among others. These partnerships have been crucial in advancing the Fund’s mission and supporting the innovative work of the Fellows.
Echoing Green’s 2024 Fellowship cohort stands as a testament to the power of innovation and community in driving social change. As these Fellows embark on their journeys, they join a lifelong community of strategic partners, industry peers, and Echoing Green alumni, all dedicated to making a lasting impact on the world.
