Project ECHO

Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is an organization that provides training, expertise, and mentoring via video conference in a variety of fields but primarily focuses on medicine. Project ECHO began in New Mexico to provide medical expertise to health care professionals in underserved areas and has expanded to all 50 states and at least 25 countries around the world. Project ECHO still mainly focuses on healthcare but has expanded to include education and civics programs. The program continues to grow especially because of the Covid pandemic. It is funded mainly through private donations but recently has received money from government.

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Issue Areas: Healthcare Policy
Website: www.hsc.unm.edu/echo
Founded:

2003

Director and Founder:

Dr. Sanjeev Arora

Location: Albuquerque, NM View on map
Tax ID: 85-0275408
Most Recent Filing: 2023
Budget (2023): Assets: $454,667,512 Revenue: $68,129,757 Expenses: $52,495,924

Contents

    History

    Project ECHO was founded in 2003 as a program that sought to expand healthcare to rural and underserved areas of New Mexico. 1 Founded by Sanjeev Arora, Project ECHO began by sending out hepatitis C treatment guidelines to doctors around the state and evolved into recruiting health care professionals throughout the state to form a virtual community to learn from experts and each other. 2

    Project ECHO launched in 2004 as TeleECHO Clinic with support from the University of New Mexico, the New Mexico legislature, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 3 Project ECHO uses a video-mentoring hub and spoke model. 4 Weekly, experts in fields of medicine host online discussions and cite examples to teach others in their expertise to provide knowledge to underserved areas or those seeking more knowledge. 4 Project ECHO currently serves people in every state in the United States and over 25 countries around the world. 5

    Programs

    Project ECHO was founded as a telehealth operation and has greatly expanded with advanced technology in videoconferencing. It began as a healthcare platform for healthcare professionals but has evolved to include health, education, and civics programs. 6

    Healthcare continues to be the primary focus of Project ECHO. 6 Each area of expertise in Project ECHO is called a hub and the organization has hubs on more than 750 topics. 7 Additionally, Project ECHO has super-hubs which are usually run by medical schools or associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics. 8 These super-hubs provide more content and training, archived presentations, and online information on demand. 8 During the COVID-19 pandemic, Project ECHO became a focal point for health care professionals to share information. 9

    Project Echo introduced an education portal. 10 The education portal was designed for teachers to communicate on best practices or discuss situations that arise in education. 10 Another component of the education portal is training and educational resources for inmates in prison. 11 The education portal saw an increase in users beginning with students staying home in 2020 during COVID-19. 12

    The third program is a civics component. 13 Project ECHO has been used by the Albuquerque Police Department to train officers on crisis intervention and other continuing education. 13 It also includes areas such as mentoring of incarcerated individuals, journalism training and networking, and connecting government leaders. 13 More recently, Project ECHO has expanded and is now engaged in the global warming debate. 14

    Funding

    Project ECHO’s funding largely relies on donations from organizations and nonprofits including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Con Alma Foundation, McCune Foundation, and the GE Foundation. 15 Among government support, in 2012 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Project ECHO an $8.5 million grant to expand programming on chronic health conditions. 3 In 2021, Project ECHO was one of six finalists competing to receive a $100 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation. 16 In 2022, Project ECHO received an unspecified grant from MacKenzie Scott. 17

    Several states including California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon have used Medicaid funds to support Project ECHO. 18 Use of such a funding mechanism would require a state to seek a waiver or permission from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to direct funding to the program. 18

    Leadership

    Sanjeev Arora is the director and founder of Project ECHO. 6 Dr. Arora is a professor of medicine at the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Center and has served as executive vice chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and president of the medical staff. 19 He has also served as president of the University Physicians Association. 19 Born in India, Arora moved to the United States in 1980 to study medicine and became a gastroenterologist. 19 Arora has given to multiple political candidates from both parties since 1997 while slightly giving more to Democrats than Republicans. 20

    Elizabeth Clewett is chief of staff at Project ECHO. 21 Clewett has a PhD in comparative politics from George Washington University and oversees policy, development, sustainability, partnerships, and programs at Project ECHO. 21 Previously she was the director of development at Global Links, a Pittsburgh-based medical aid organization that collected unused supplies from U.S. hospitals and provided them to hospitals and clinics in Latin America. 21 Clewett has politically donated to Democratic candidates since 2008, including former President Barack Obama. 22

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2023 $454,667,512 $68,129,757 $52,495,924 View
    2022 $393,610,862 $103,141,341 $78,203,160 View
    2021 $344,313,898 $65,868,216 $45,383,261 View
    2020 $270,142,035 $53,815,950 $46,864,572
    2019 $271,556,895 $43,621,942 $41,453,602 View

    Prior year filings: 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 103

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Jeffrey ToddPRESIDENT AND CEO$459,877
    Willliam UherVICE PRESIDENT$266,572
    Patrick AllenGENERAL COUNSEL$253,492
    Lawrence RyanVICE PRESIDENT$239,048
    Kenneth StansburyCFO & TREAS. (THRU 3/31/23)$224,129
    Kristine C MazzeiVICE PRESIDENT$175,926
    Annette HazenSENIOR ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT$156,248
    Patricia IdarolaCHIEF DIGITAL STRATEGY AND SOLUTIONS OFFICER$150,531
    Gretchen DoyleSENIOR ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT$147,374
    Anndee Wright BrownEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT$138,935
    Christopher AlbrechtSENIOR REGIONAL DIR. OF DEVELOPMENT$137,258
    Bonnie McLeskyASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT$133,803
    Joseph Weiss Thru 41423SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT$131,812
    Nadina PaisanoCFO & TREASURER$107,313

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $44,718,372
    • Number of Grants: 1,012
    • Number of Funders: 258

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $3,935,4842022 The Robert O Anderson School and Graduate School of Management FoundationANDERSON SCHOOL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FELLOWS ($250,000): ADDITIONAL GRANT ($350,000); TRANSFER OF ANDERSON FOUNDATION'S REMAINING ASSETS TO UNM FOUNDATION ($3,335,484)
    $1,401,6332020 New Venture FundINTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
    $1,249,4502020 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $710,0002023 The Roots and Wings Foundation IncPrenatal through age 3 and unrestricted
    $500,0002021 New Venture FundINTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
    $467,7502024 Delta Dental Plan of New Mexico IncCHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
    $400,0002021 Vijay and Marie Goradia Charitable FoundationPROJECT ECHO
    $363,7582020 Albuquerque Community FoundationDONOR-ADVISED
    $345,0002021 The Roots and Wings Foundation IncSTRONG KIDS, COMMUNITIES, AND MINDS
    $300,0002020 Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao FoundationGENERAL OPERATIONS
    $300,0002020 Imagis FoundationTO ESTABLISH THE UNM LAW SCHOOL LEAFFER BORDER JUSTICE INITIATIVE
    $249,6372024 Deloitte FoundationDELOITTE FOUNDATION ACCOUNTING SCHOLARS PROGRAM
    $217,0522020 Daniels FundDaniels fund ethics initiative 3.0Anderson school of management
    $200,0672023 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.EDUCATION
    $167,7482024 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.EDUCATION
    $163,0002020 Doris Duke Charitable Foundation IncDoris Duke Native American Oral History Collection Revitalization Project
    $160,9002024 Santa Fe Community FoundationGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    $140,5002024 Vanguard CharitableFOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
    $140,0002022 Lineberry FoundationLineberry Foundation Medical School Scholarship Fund
    $140,0002022 Lineberry FoundationLineberry Foundation Physician Loan Forgiveness Fund
    $137,5002021 The Robert O Anderson School and Graduate School of Management FoundationTO FUND ENDOWMENT MANAGED BY UNM FOUNDATION FOR PHASE 2 OF THE NEW BUILDING FOR THE ANDERSON SCHOOL. PAYMENTS ARE SET AT $137,500 FOR FOUR YEARS. TOTAL $550,000 ($137,500).
    $137,5002020 The Robert O Anderson School and Graduate School of Management FoundationTO FUND ENDOWMENT MANAGED BY UNM FOUNDATION TO BENEFIT THE ANDERSON HALL OF FAME SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ANDERSON STUDENTS ($72,969). TO FUND ENDOWMENT MANAGED BY UNM FOUNDATION FOR PHASE 2 OF THE NEW BUILDING FOR THE ANDERSON SCHOOL. PAYMENTS ARE SET AT $137,500 FOR FOUR YEARS. TOTAL $550,000 ($137,500).
    $135,0002022 Delta Dental Plan of New Mexico IncCHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION TO DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM
    $125,0002021 Tulsa Community FoundationGENERAL OPERATIONS
    $117,3002021 Vanguard CharitableFOR RECIPIENT'S EXEM

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $224,900,254
    • Number of Grants: 6
    • Number of Recipients: 2

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $64,012,8062022 University of New MexicoENABLE UNIVERSITY TO ENGAGE IN COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH AND SERVICE PROGRAMS.
    $36,208,5552023 University of New MexicoENABLE UNIVERSITY TO ENGAGE IN COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH AND SERVICE PROGRAMS.
    $33,536,1722020 University of New MexicoEDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS
    $33,342,6322021 University of New MexicoENABLE UNIVERSITY TO ENGAGE IN COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH AND SERVICE PROGRAMS.

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. University of New Mexico Foundation website. www.unmfund.org. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.unmfund.org/fund/project-echo/?_ga=2.268766641.1926488066.1654472950-1982735859.1653971064; Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/about-us/our-story.html.
    2. Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/about-us/our-story.html.
    3. Salinsky, Eileen. “Project ECHO.” Grant Makers in Health website. August 2015. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.gih.org/files/FileDownloads/Project_ECHO_August_2015.pdf.
    4. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website. www.rwjf.org. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.rwjf.org/en/how-we-work/grants-explorer/featured-programs/project-echo.html.
    5. Perea, Shelby. “Diverse Communities Use Project ECHO to Combat Climate Change.” University of New Mexico Health website. Accessed June 1, 2022. https://unmhealth.org/stories/2022/04/echo-climate-change.html.
    6. Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/.
    7. Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/become-a-partner/#findanexistingecho.
    8. Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/become-a-partner/superhubs/.
    9. Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://echo.unm.edu/covid-19/resources.
    10. Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/partner-portal/.
    11. [1] Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/partner-portal/.
    12. Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://unmhealth.org/stories/2021/10/project-echo-supports-educators-during-covid.html.
    13. Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/what-we-do/focus-areas-civics.html.
    14. Project ECHO website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://unmhealth.org/stories/2022/04/echo-climate-change.html.
    15. Center for Health Care Strategies. “Project ECHO: Pathways for Sustainability.” January 2019. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.chcs.org/resource/project-echo-policy-pathways-for-sustainability/; insky, Eileen. “Project ECHO.” Grant Makers in Health website. August 2015. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.gih.org/files/FileDownloads/Project_ECHO_August_2015.pdf.
    16. MacArthur Foundation website. www.macfound.org. Accessed June 6, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/programs/100change/.
    17. MacKenzie Scott Medium. www.medium.com. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/helping-any-of-us-can-help-us-all-f4c7487818d9.
    18. Center for Health Care Strategies. “Financing Project ECHO: Options for State Medicaid Programs.” September 2017. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.chcs.org/media/ECHO-Medicaid-Financing-Brief_091217-2.pdf.
    19. University of New Mexico Health Sciences website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/directory/arora-sanjeev.html.
    20. Center for Responsive Politics. www.opensecrets.org. Accessed June 6, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Sanjeev+Arora&order=asc&sort=D.
    21. University of New Mexico Health Sciences website. www.hsc.unm.edu. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://hsc.unm.edu/directory/clewett-elizabeth.html.
    22. Center for Responsive Politics. www.opensecrets.org. Accessed June 6, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Elizabeth+Clewett.