Open Grant Rounds

Community Foundation Ireland runs a series of Open Grant rounds throughout the year. As each round opens we will release more information on eligibility and criteria. How it works:

You see an Open Grant round which fits with the aim of your project or the people you are supporting.

You submit a proposal for funding. The criteria for assessment are published as part of this.

You will receive notification on whether your application for funding was successful.

Grants from Donors

Individuals, families, charities, and corporates who want to support our communities work with Community Foundation Ireland to decide on organisations to support.

Donors set up an account with us, called a Donor-Advised Fund, and then select organisations that align with their charitable goals for support.

Organisations may be contacted by Community Foundation Ireland if a donor has selected them for a grant award or is interested in considering a grant proposal from them.

Impact Grants

In specific cases, Community Foundation Ireland may invite an organisation to submit a grant proposal, or select an organisation for a grant award, where the grantee’s activities further the Foundation’s strategy and charitable purpose.

Eligibility Checklist

In order to be eligible for any type of grant from Community Foundation Ireland, applicants must provide at minimum:

Governing Document

A governing document (a Constitution or Memorandum & Articles of Association)

Bank Details

A bank statement where the account matches the name of the applicant. We cannot fund individuals; bank statements must be in the name of the organisation.

Extras

Additional documents may be necessary for larger grants.

Open Grants

Biodiversity Fund 2024

Our Biodiversity Fund is now open for applications. There are two strands to this year’s grant round:

  1. We are inviting community groups to apply for a grant to engage an ecologist and develop a Community Biodiversity Action Plan (CBAP) for their local area. Please find more information in our Criteria document here.
  2. We are inviting any organisation who has a CBAP to apply for funding to implement recommendations contained in it. Please find more information in our Criteria document here.

This grant round closes on Friday 25th October at 4pm. Please read the Criteria documents carefully before applying and check our Application Help Guide here for how to access the application form.

You can also access a Resource Pack here for more information on the Fund itself, along with general biodiversity tools and resources. Please email info@foundation.ie if you have any queries.


Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund

 

Climate Actions Work is a first-of-its-kind national engagement and communications campaign to support and encourage action on climate and community resilience. The campaign, led by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, will focus on hearing from, and working with, local communities – talking directly to people to help combat climate change.

The purpose of the Fund is to support widespread public and stakeholder engagement on climate action, empower people across all of society to adopt more sustainable behaviours, and be a vehicle to facilitate public participation in the Climate Action Plan.

The fund will be administered by Community Foundation Ireland which as part of its mission of Equality For All in Thriving Communities has been empowering local groups, researchers and advocates to take action on climate and nature since 2000. The foundation’s work in this space is informed by its experience of partnering with 5,000 voluntary, community and charitable groups as a philanthropic hub. A network which continues to grow.

This grant round is to support groups or organisations working to bring people together and share information in communities.

If you are an existing or newly formed organisation, this funding is to support communications and engagement activities that enable you to connect with a wider audience in your community.

This unique fund is to support you to communicate about climate actions you may be undertaking in your community. It is not for climate actions by themselves as there are many other supports available for those, rather this funding is aimed at your communication and engagement needs.

Please read through the Criteria here for further details on the fund and how to apply. This deadline to apply is 12pm, Friday 11th October 2024.

Below is the recording of the webinar for the Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund. This webinar is helpful for those who are applying- we would recommend having a look before applying. If you have any questions, please contact info@foundation.ie.

Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund Webinar


Energia Meenadreen & Derrysallagh Community Fund 2024

The Energia Meenadreen and Derrysallagh Community Fund opens on Monday, 23rd September and closes on Friday, 18th October at 5pm. Keep in mind that your organisation must first be registered on our Portal before an application can be started, so please be sure to give yourself enough time to do both, as the registration process may take a few days. Information on registration can be found in the Application Help Guide below.

These are two grant rounds which are dedicated to supporting non-profit, community, voluntary, and not-for-profit organisations in the vicinity of either the Meenadreen or Derrysallagh Wind Farms. Our goal is to foster environmental sustainability, climate action, and community wellbeing through impactful partnerships.

Both rounds seek to back community projects that focus on:

  • Environmental enhancement
  • Climate action
  • Biodiversity
  • Community engagement and wellbeing

Energia Meenadreen Community Fund:

The Energia Meenadreen Community Fund supports non-profit, community, voluntary, and not-for-profit organisations within a 14km radius of the Meenadreen Wind Farm, with priority given to those within a 10km radius.

Grants of up to €10,000 are available.

Energia Derrysallagh Community Fund:

The Energia Derrysallagh Community Fund supports non-profit, community, voluntary, and not-for-profit organisations within a 14km radius of the Derrysallagh Wind Farm, with priority given to those within a 10km radius.

Grants of up to €6,000 are available.

 

To view the Meenadreen grant round Criteria please click here.

 

To view the Derrysallagh grant round Criteria please click here.

 

To apply please follow our Application Help Guide here.