Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is a social enterprise? 
2) Who is eligible to apply for ECSEL?
3) Can I apply to ECSEL on behalf of my whole team? Or do I apply as an individual? Can multiple members of the same company all apply to ECSEL?
4) What does the application process look like?
5) How does ECSEL judge its applicants？
6) Do I have to quit my job if I become an ECSEL fellow? What is the time commitment like?
7) Do I need to pay to become an ECSEL fellow?？
8) What happens if I’m not accepted as an ECSEL fellow? Can I still access any of the resources you offer？

1) What is a social enterprise?

The term "social enterprise" refers to a business or organization that uses market-based strategies to address a social or environmental problem. A social enterprise’s mission goes beyond simple profit; it strives to drive change, but in a sustainable, entrepreneurial manner. For examples, read about our current fellows and their projects here.

2) Who is eligible to apply?

Any social entrepreneur living and carrying out business in Mainland China, Hong Kong or Taiwan.

3) Can I apply to ECSEL on behalf of my whole team? Or do I apply as an individual? Can multiple members of the same company all apply to ECSEL?

Each person applies to ECSEL as an individual, and there is no limitation on the number of people applying from the same company. Because ECSEL supports you as an individual, even if you leave your current project you remain part of the fellowship program.

4) What does the application process look like?

There are three steps in our application process. To begin applying, first register on our website. Then, create a personal profile and briefly fill out some information about your project. This will be submitted into our project directory and some of the information you submit can be viewed publicly.

If you reach the second-round of the application process, you will be asked to submit more materials and information regarding you and your project including customer references, a slide deck and program interest essay. If you reach the final round, you will be asked to participate in a telephone interview.

5) How does ECSEL judge its applicants?

Since ECSEL looks to support any outstanding or high-potential social enterprises operating in Greater China, we place more emphasis on the quality of the applicant’s project or idea, rather than the quality of the applicant. Regardless of your age, background or education level, if you are currently running a social business or have an innovative idea to start one, we encourage you to apply.

ECSEL mainly considers the following three criterion when evaluating an applicant’s project:

a) Project Traction

Although ECSEL welcomes applicants to apply at any stage of their project, the most successful applicants will have been working on their projects full-time for at least a couple of months. In evaluating project traction, ECSEL considers the following: Has the applicant been working on the project full-time? How long ago did the applicant start? Have revenue been achieved? Has the project attracted investment?

b) Revenue Model

ECSEL looks to support projects that are sustainable. This does not mean that we only look to support projects that are already profitable, but we do seek to support projects that are viable in the long-term. In evaluating a project’s revenue model, ECSEL considers the following: How does the project achieve/seek to achieve revenue? Is it self-sustainable? Will it likely still be around in five years?

c) Social Impact

Perhaps one of the most important criterions that ECSEL considers is the project’s social impact. In past years, successful applicants were able to provide specific data on the targets and impact of their project. In evaluating social impact, ECSEL considers the following: What is the social or environmental problem the project aiming to solve? Who are the target beneficiaries? Who has been impacted? To what extent? What kind of impact data is available?

6) Do I have to quit my job if I become an ECSEL fellow? What is the time commitment like?

No. ECSEL is a part-time program. We estimate that over the course of the year, you'll need to commit 10-15 work days to ECSEL (mostly for our training trips in the United States and China). Past participants have included CEOs of growing companies, professionals, and students.

7) Do I have to pay to become an ECSEL fellow?

There is no fee for applying to ECSEL, nor is there a fee for becoming a fellow. The entire ECSEL program is fully subsidized for each fellow, and is made possible by the Schoenfeld Foundation. 

8) What happens if I’m not accepted as an ECSEL fellow? Can I still access any of the resources you offer?

ECSEL’s mission is to help create outstanding social enterprises in greater China, and that doesn’t just mean among 30 fellows we can accept each year. Even if we can’t offer you a spot in the fellowship, you can take advantage of a number of resources we offer. Feel free to browse the content we produce and share on our website, share your project and connect with other social entrepreneurs on our community directory page and attend the special events we periodically organize and promote.

For additional questions about ECSEL, please contact us at [email protected] 

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