History

Echoing Green was established in 1987 by the senior leadership of General Atlantic, LLC.

As the Story Goes...

Echoing Green’s founders had great success in the private sector and were looking to bring proven venture capital investment strategies to the social sector. The idea for Echoing Green was sparked in an overstuffed car en route from Connecticut to New York. Upon reaching the destination, a commitment to launch Echoing Green was made. Through the creation of Echoing Green, General Atlantic has helped pioneer the strategy of applying entrepreneurial principles to social sector investing.

Our Name

Named after a William Blake poem, Echoing Green opened its doors in 1987 and supported successful recent business school graduates (such as Diana Propper de Callejon—who is credited as our first investment) to work in the social sector. Although Echoing Green’s program evolved throughout the years, we have consistently supported visionary leaders and their innovative ideas for social change.

Like some venture capital firms, we consider ourselves active investors—not just providing funding, but also helping our social entrepreneurs achieve their maximum potential through a range of support services, including training, networking opportunities, consulting, and championing. Similarly, we view our fellows as investment partners, with whom we collaborate as they build and grow their organizations and with whom we hope to have a long-term relationship.

Still supported by our original founders, Echoing Green is celebrating its 21st anniversary and continues to search the world for new leaders who have untested, smart ideas that deserve to be implemented.