Cost of Living Response Reflected in Grant-making

1,700 philanthropic grants (€24-million) in past 12-months

Responding to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis is emerging as a central theme in provisional grant-making figures for the past 12-months from Community Foundation Ireland (5th January 2026)

Donations from corporates, individuals and families together with other supporters saw €24.17 million distributed through 1,714 grants in support of an equality mission.

The figures confirm that 25% of funds granted focused on poverty, homelessness and related community development work. In addition to supporting frontline services the Foundation has also supported agenda setting research by both the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Childrens Rights Alliance showing 250,000 children living with the reality of poverty.

Other areas where philanthropic grants from the Foundation have been responding to need include, Education and Training (19%) and Climate and Nature (15%).

The level of philanthropic grant-making through the Foundation has been growing since the pandemic. Of the €170-million in grants provided since the year 2000 more than 60% has been in the past five-years.

The Community Foundation aligns its actions against the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Alignment has been recorded with Goal 3 Good Health and Wellbeing (€6.2 million), Goal 4 Quality Education (€4 million), Goal 10 Reduced Inequalities (€5 million) and Goal 17 Partnerships for the Goals (all grant-making).

Announcing the figures Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland said:

“Partnership is central to everything we do as a philanthropic foundation. This approach together with our connectivity to 5,000 voluntary, community and charitable organisations provides the insight to allow impactful grant-making.

Poverty and in particular child poverty continues to loom large. Our research with our partners is framing policies, including the introduction of hot school meals for every child, pilot holiday hunger projects, enhancement of DEIS Schools.

Our partners remain committed to the introduction of targeted child benefits and no doubt this is an issue that will be returned to in the coming year.

The Foundation is proud of the level of grants aimed responding to the crisis in climate and nature. The level of grant-making here not only underlines the prioritisation placed on responding to the emergency but also increased donor interest. A trend likely to continue.

In the year ahead we will be guiding our work by responding to the needs of people, place and planet. Three priorities which will not only ensure our grants remain impactful but also ensures we can best meet the vision and requirements of donors and philanthropists.”

ENDS