On June 5th, 2004, near 100 entrepreneurs initiated the Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology Conservation (SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY) in Tengger Desert, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia, marking the founding of China’s first NGO embodied by entrepreneurs dedicated to ecological protection and social responsibility.

In order to build a sustainable strategic foundation for environmental protection public welfare, and to facilitate the systematic and long-term development of environmental projects, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY and its members have established 8 foundations, focusing on desertification control, climate change and business sustainability, coastal wetland protection, biodiversity protection, nature education, Yangtze River protection, green supply chains, industrial development and other relevant environment issues. With over 2 billion yuan fundraising income, these institutions have joined hands with more than 1,400 Chinese civil society organizations and individuals to carry out environmental protection work. To date, more than 2,000 entrepreneurs have been mobilized to take on social responsibility and deeply engage in environmental protection, inspiring more than 1.4 billion public participants and supporters of environmental efforts.

In 2008, the SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY initiated the SEE Foundation in Beijing (which later became a public fundraising foundation in 2014). It has been committed to environment protection projects such as “100 Million Suosuo” for desertification prevention and control, and “Green Starters” and “Growing Up Together” for supporting civil society on environmental protection. In 2012, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY founded the Mangrove Conservation Foundation (MCF), the first public fundraising foundation for environmental protection initiated by civil society, and it has grown to be a role model for coastal wetland protection in China. In 2016, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY founded the Hubei Changjiang Conservation Foundation (CCF) to facilitate the national strategy of “Yangtze River Protection”. In 2017, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY founded the Xi'an Entrepreneurs Environmental Protection Foundation to protect the ecology of Qinling, a major chain of mountains in Central China. In 2018, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY launched Shenzhen Aleshan Foundation, which brings entrepreneurs’ resourcefulness and innovative spirit into full play, and provides sustainable support for public welfare organizations and projects. In 2019, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY founded the SEE Environmental and Philanthropy Institute to train professionals and experts in environmental protection. In 2021, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY founded Guangdong Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and Guangxi Conservation Foundation (GCF), focusing on the Guangdong and Guangxi regions to promote natural resource protection and ecological restoration, supporting green development. In 2023, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY launched Jiangxi Poyang Lake Conservation Foundation, aiming to explore effective conservation paths for rare and endangered species and wetland ecosystems, contributing to the national strategy of “Yangtze River Protection”.

To date, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY has been awarded with numerous honors such as Top Ten Hotspots of China’s Public Welfare and Charity in 2008-2018, the National Exemplary Social Organization, Beijing Social Organization Demonstration Base, China-Europe Green Award for the Ecological Transition, and the title of 5A Level organization in China Social Organization Evaluation Grade, Ford Conservation & Environmental Grants, China (CEGC), Paulson Prize for Sustainability, "Beautiful China, I Am a Participant" Top Ten Public Participation Cases, Mother River Award of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League.

After 22 years since its founding, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY has entered a new phase of development, further driving and integrating the efforts of entrepreneurs and social resources to promote innovative environmental protection practices. SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS & ECOLOGY is determined to call for the support and participation of a wider public , establishing a public environmental platform for social engagement for a better environment.