Specialised Funds

Fund Options for Religious Orders

Religious orders in Ireland have made a significant impact in Ireland in so many areas - education, health care, social services and more. It may be more difficult to continue this good work, but the ethos and values can continue with the establishment of a fund at The Community Foundation. The Community Foundation can be your ‘front of house’ and publicise your fund, generate applications, screen these and essentially remove much of the administrative work.

When might this be relevant?

When selling an asset, you could gain much goodwill, by allocating a percentage of the sale to establish a charitable fund at The Community Foundation to benefit the local area.
You may want to support local charities, but by choosing one over another, it may be problematic. Your fund at The Community Foundation could support local charities based on agreed, specific criteria.

• You can choose geographically – e.g. Diocese, or themed, e.g. more national or regional organisation.
• If you have existing funds which you need support in administering, we can also help
• As a donor you can decide on level of involvement in the grant decision making process.

How it works

Your Order sets up a fund at The Community Foundation - with a suggested starting amount of €25,000 for an endowment fund or less for a flow through fund.

• We set up a special fund – designated in your Order’s name.
• The instrument of transfer used to establish an endowment transfers legal ownership over the assets to The Community Foundation for Ireland.
• The Order benefits from a reduced investment fee as funds are pooled in a diversified portfolio with other charity and donor funds.
• Endowment funds need clear, engaged management. The Community Foundation provides the governance and the peace of mind required for your board and your donors.
• Any income generated by the endowment is designated to the fund as per a written agreement between The Community Foundation and your organisation. The Order can simply make an annual or year to year commitment to the fund alternatively.
• The Community Foundation has a dedicated governance sub-committee of the board. Member details, investment criteria and previous returns also available on request.
• The Community Foundation can advertise the fund on your behalf, identify and source potential projects and recipient charities and handle all administration involved. A committee from the Order can be appointed to review projects and to identify those which it would most like to support.

OLC Ireland Trust Fund

The OLC Ireland Trust Fund was established in late 2008 at The Community Foundation for Ireland by The Sisters of Our Lady of Charity. The Fund has a key focus on marginalised women and supports projects concerning addictions, prostitution, trafficking, violence and abuse of women. Grants will be in the region of €500 to €5,000 except in exceptional circumstances.

Examples of grants made from this fund include:

• Darndale Belcamp Drugs Awareness for Personal Development and Cocaine Prevention programmes for former or stabilised women who may return to prostitution
• Longford Women’s Link for the provision of internal and external facilitated 26 week support group for women survivors of violence/abuse
• Ruhama for the contribution to direct service delivery cost for 15 women during the initial phase of their engagement with the programme
• Cope Waterside House women’s refuge in Galway for a 12 week life skills programme entitled 'Moving On - Exploring Options for the Future'.