The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (April 12th) announced €8.7 million in funding for community and sports facilities nationwide under the 2024 CLÁR programme.

As part of the initiative, grants of up to €50,000 will be provided to support the renovation and upgrade of community centres, parish halls, GAA clubhouses, youth facilities and more.

– 2024 CLÁR Programme to deliver hundreds of projects nationwide (within the areas as per map below)

– Funding to renovate community centres, parish halls, GAA clubhouses, youth facilities and more

– Grants for outdoor projects such as playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks, skateparks and community allotments

– Renewed focus on upgrading spectator stands at local GAA and sports clubs

– Scheme extended to cover the purchase of vehicles for Meals on Wheels under Measure 2

– Continued support for our island communities

Deadline: 19th June 2024

More info: https://grantsandfunding.ie/e8-7-million-in-funding-for-community-and-sports-facilities-under-the-2024-clar-programme/

The AIB Community €1 Million Fund has supported 150 charities across six regions in Ireland, and Northern Ireland & Great Britain. The AIB Community €1 Million Fund enables customers, the public and AIB employees to support the local charities that mean most to them, within their region.

Deadline: 12th June 2024

More info: https://aib.ie/community

The OWW Seed Fund is an exciting opportunity for youth organisations to explore an aspect of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to connect your work locally with issues, events and happenings globally’.

Project implementation should take place between 12th August – 20th October 2024. Successful applicants will receive a grant of up to €400 and free training with the Youth 2030 expert team to help you deliver a young person-centred project on issues relating to our global world. This funding is to support projects in the non-formal youth work education sector. Bring your ideas to life!

Deadline: June 21st 2024

More info: https://www.youth.ie/programmes/projects-initiatives/one-world-week/one-world-week-seed-fund/

• Funding available for investment in barrier-free outdoor sport infrastructure
• Fund focused at increasing participation in local community settings
• Fund open to applications from the network of Local Sports Partnerships nationwide until Friday, 21 June

The Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne T.D., has launched a new sport investment fund, the ‘Participation Nation Outdoor Fund’, for the purchase and installation of permanent sport equipment that can be placed on public land for community use.

In line with the Programme for Government target of reaching 60% overall participation in sport by 2027, the fund is designed to spur physical activity in local community settings by supporting Local Sports Partnerships with the development of sport projects on publicly-accessible land.

The fund will be overseen by the Department and administered by Sport Ireland with applications open to the network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. (‘LSP’). A minimum of €70,000 will be available to each LSP for the purposes of installing barrier-free sports infrastructure on publicly-accessible land.

Deadline: Friday 21st June 2024

More info: https://grantsandfunding.ie/participation-nation-outdoor-fund-launched/

Funding of up to €25,000 is available to every Local Sports Partnership to support nature connected projects at sports facilities that are open to community use. There will be a specific focus on supporting the biodiversity surrounding publicly accessible outdoor sports facilities. Examples of possible projects include biodiversity pollinator-friendly planting, safe nesting sites for birds, bees and bats, the installation of biodiversity ponds, hedgerow and tree planting and rainwater planters.

This is a parallel initiative to the recently launched outdoor sport equipment investment fund, the ‘Participation Nation Outdoor Fund’, which was announced on 3 May by the Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD.

Deadline: 21st June 2024

More info: https://grantsandfunding.ie/new-amuigh-faoin-speir-fund-launched-to-boost-biodiversity-on-public-land-with-outdoor-sports-facilities/

The Music Capital Scheme, which is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments to individual professional musicians and non-professional groups across the country. A total of €542,000 in funding is available through the following awards which are now open for applications:

Award 1 – for non-professional performing groups

Award 2 – for individual established professional performing musicians

Award 3 – for individual emerging professional performing musicians

Deadline: 2pm, Tuesday 25 June 2024

More info: https://www.musicnetwork.ie/whats-on/music-capital-scheme

This unique program by Fleetwood Paints is dedicated to supporting community groups and clubs across Ireland by giving away up to €1,000 worth of paint every day from 1st May to 30th June 2024

Building on the success of last year’s Show Us Your Colours campaign, which positively impacted numerous community organisations and sports clubs, this year’s Community Colours initiative promises to deliver even more support to grassroots efforts nationwide. The goal is simple: to help local groups bring a fresh look and feel to their spaces, energizing and revitalizing community spirits.

Deadline: 30th June 2024

More info: https://www.fleetwood.ie/community-colours-win-up-to-e1000-worth-of-paint-for-your-local-community-group-or-club/

Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, have announced funding of up to €120m under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

Assessment of applications, for funding of between €600,000 and €30m, will take into account population size, sustainability, reducing administrative overheads and ensuring that similar access is provided to accommodate access by men and women to LSSIF-funded facilities.

Deadline: 1st July 2024

More info: https://grantsandfunding.ie/e120m-fund-announced-for-major-sports-infrastructure/

As Ireland moves towards a low-carbon economy, Fáilte Ireland will deliver the Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands 2023-2026 as part of the EU Just Transition Fund.

Through this scheme, we will invest in the sustainable development of tourism in the Midlands with the aim of diversifying the regional economy by creating jobs, supporting habitats and biodiversity and sustaining communities.

The Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands 2023-2026 will be delivered through a series of funding programmes.

Deadline – EOI Closing Dates:

The closing date for submitting an EOI under Categories 1,2,3 and 5 is 12 Noon on the 30th June 2024.

Investment Grant Application Form Closing Date:

The closing date for submitting an Investment Grant Application form for Categories 1,2 and 3 is 12 Noon on the 31st December 2024.

Projects awarded funding must be completed by the end of August 2026

More info: https://www.failteireland.ie/JustTransition.aspx

• Up to 80% of project costs covered under the scheme
• Grants of up to €40,000 available for Natura 2000 designated sites
• Grants of up to €20,000 available for Non-Natura peatland sites

Applications are welcomed across a diverse range of initiatives with community benefit from events, education programmes, promotions, publications, exhibitions, development of conservation management plans, public amenity and recreational measures, maintenance measures that support  conservation measures, monitoring or surveying work to inform of restoration/conservation projects, invasive species and fire control measures, anti-littering initiatives to local environmental improvements in the area of the designated sites and other peatland areas.

Deadline: Friday, July 5th 2024

More info: https://www.npws.ie/peatlands-and-turf-cutting/peatlands-and-natura-community-engagement-scheme-2024

The Sports and Wellness Fund aims to support social innovations that use sports and physical activity programmes to have a demonstrable impact on improving mental health outcomes and social inclusion for people and communities in Ireland.

This two-year Fund will offer a package of cash grants and non-financial supports to up to 5 awardees to help them scale and maximise their impact in promoting healthier lives, increased levels of mental health and wellbeing and improved social cohesion.

Deadline: 12th July 2024

More info: https://rethinkireland.ie/current_fund/sportsandwellnessfund2024/

Ecclesiastical and Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards is back. Now in its sixth year, the awards are giving charities across the UK and Ireland the opportunity to receive €1,000.

The Movement for Good Awards will once again see more than €1million donated to good causes and from today, people can quickly and easily nominate a charity online at www.movementforgood.com.

The Movement for Good Awards has donated over £5million to charities in the UK and Ireland since the initiative started in 2019.

Winners will be drawn at random and the more times a charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected.

There will also be a series of special draws where charities operating within specific sectors can be nominated to receive a grant of €5,000, the timetable of draws can be viewed at www.movementforgood.com and donations will be announced throughout the year.

Deadline – Ongoing with monthly draws

More info: https://movementforgood.com

The Commemorations Bursary Scheme, in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has been established to encourage and support new local research and local history studies relating to the commemoration of events associated with the early years of the State as well as other significant historical anniversaries, events and themes.

The bursaries will be awarded to individual researchers across a wide range of themes which recognise the importance of the commemoration of events and a number of grants of between €1,500 and €10,000 will be made annually.

Deadline: Friday, 9th August 2024 at 5.00pm.

More info: https://www.ria.ie/commemorations-bursary

Charities working in the areas of suicide prevention, homelessness and education access and support can apply to the Fund for project specific funding.

Three times a year, ESB allocates an amount from the Fund for disbursement. The amount may vary because of the volume of applications received or seasonal considerations – wintertime and Christmas may require more funding than summer.

Applications submitted during each round are appraised with funding allocated accordingly.

Deadline: August 19th 2024

More info: https://esb.ie/who-we-are/our-story/efg-funds

Are you an artist working collaboratively with a community? Are you an artist or community group with an interest in working on a collaborative, socially engaged project?

The Arts Council’s Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme, managed by Create, offers awards to enable artists and communities of place and/or interest to work together on projects. The AIC Scheme also offers an annual bursary, as well as residencies and a summer school. The AIC scheme is open to artists from any of the following artform disciplines: architecture, circus, street art and spectacle, dance, film, literature (Irish and English language), music, opera, theatre, visual arts and traditional arts.

Deadline: 5pm Mon 30th September (Round Two)

More info: https://www.create-ireland.ie/aic-scheme-2024-round-one-open-for-applications/

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, announced that 62 new walking trails across the country are approved in principle to join the Walks Scheme in February 2024. The expansion recognises the importance of the scheme in delivering high quality trails.

A key action in Embracing Irelands Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, is to expand the Walks Scheme to 150 trails by end 2024.

In light of this, a Call for Expressions of Interest to join the Walks Scheme has now opened. Closing date for Expressions of Interest is 11th October 2024. All applications must be made through your Local Development Company.

Deadline for Expressions of Interest is 11th October 2024.

More info: https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/942b4b-the-walks-scheme-and-rural-recreation-officers/

The Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme offers financial supports – provided by Sport Ireland – to local clubs, groups and organisations, nationwide who promote increased participation in recreational sport or physical activity for older people.

Some of the Sport Initiatives supported are:

Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme

Offers financial supports to local clubs, groups and organisations, nationwide.

FitLine

A telephone mentoring service which encourages callers to start getting more active- we’re only a phone call away!

Physical Activity Leaders

An education and peer leadership initiative which trains older people how to lead sport and activity sessions in their local groups and communities.

CarePALS

Trains those working in care settings to lead suitable physical activities.

People with intellectual disability Physical Activity Leaders

Enabling people with intellectual disability (ID) to become physical activity leaders.

Walking Football initiative

An Age & Opportunity initiative for older men that is great craic and good for general health and wellbeing.

European Week of Sport

Promoting sport and physical activity across Europe.

Go For Life Games

Teams from all over Ireland coming together to take part in a national day of sport in June every year.

More info: https://ageandopportunity.ie/active/age-and-opportunity-active-national-grant-scheme/

The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced last year to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland.

Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in supporting cities, towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries.

A further €50 million is being provided again to deliver projects over 2024 and 2025.

Local authorities, in collaboration with communities, will be funded to develop projects that will deliver long term benefits to those living in the areas selected.

Projects that will be funded include:

• Development or refurbishment of community or cultural facilities including play areas, walkways, parks, community/sensory gardens, allotments, and recreational areas;
• Development or refurbishment of local club and sports facilities;
• Enhancement to school/parish facilities which are open to use by all of the community after school hours;
• Purchase of equipment for local clubs, festivals, community events and organisations
• Transport infrastructure such as community vehicles

Deadline: Varies according to Local Authority (LA) but most seem to be early to late May 2024. Visit the page below for links to your local council and details on how to apply.

Read more: https://grantsandfunding.ie/2024-community-recognition-fund-launched/

Following from the success of last year’s Grants, the Parent and Toddler Group Grants Initiative 2024 will offer two streams of funding:

1. Funding of €800 for existing Groups and €1,000 for the establishment of new Groups.

2. Funding of up to €300 to establish and operate Buggy Walking Groups. These Buggy Walking Groups are organised social walks for parents/guardians and young children. This stream is open to any existing or new organisations or Groups who wish to offer a minimum of six organised walks within their community.

Parent and Toddler Groups are invited to make an application for funding under this Initiative through their local City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs). To find yours visit myccc.ie.

Deadline: Varies per county, April to May. Check with your local City/County Childcare Committee

More info: https://grantsandfunding.ie/parent-and-toddler-group-grants-initiative-2024-launched/

The Seniors Alert Scheme (SAS) has been established to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities. It provides funding for a personal monitored alarm, connected to a contact centre to enable older persons of 65 or older and of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind.

The Scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development via Pobal with equipment made available through community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations registered with Pobal under the SAS.

Deadline: Ongoing

More info: https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/seniors-alert-scheme-sas/

To Register as a Seniors Alert Scheme organisation: https://www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2018/06/How-to-register-as-an-SAS-Organisation.pdf

The Hospital Saturday Fund is a registered charity whose aims are to provide assistance for registered health charities, hospices, medical organisations and individuals with a medical condition or disability.

They can provide grants for medical projects, care, research or support of medical training within the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland and Malta.

For individuals, they can provide help with the purchase of specialised equipment or forms of treatment.

For medically related charities, hospitals, hospices and medical clinics:

The Hospital Saturday Fund will consider giving grants towards medical capital projects, medical care or research and in support of medical training. The Hospital Saturday Fund will also consider grants for running costs.

For Individuals:

The Hospital Saturday Fund will consider giving partial or full grants to individuals for the following:

Specialised mobility equipment, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, car adaptions, medical appliances and aids, hearing aids, nebulisers, specialised vision aids, specialised computer equipment, therapeutic equipment/treatment, orthopaedic beds, mattresses or pillows, riser /recliners chairs, lift hoist/aids.

Physiotherapy, Hydrotherapy, Acupuncture, Speech Therapy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic treatment, Reflexology, Massage Therapy and Aromatherapy.

Home adaptations, walk in showers, accessibility adaptations to bathrooms, access ramps, non-slip flooring, stair lifts.

Deadline: Various deadlines

More info: https://hospitalsaturdayfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/

The community-based CCTV grant aid scheme supports communities and local authorities who wish to install and maintain CCTV security systems in their area to increase public safety and to deter illegal or anti-social behaviour.

The maximum grant available for each CCTV system is €45,000.

Applicants to the scheme can include not-for-profit organisations within the community, as well as relevant statutory or voluntary organisations. For example, applicants may include:

• area partnerships
• community development projects
• family resource centres
• local authorities
• community enterprises

Applications are also welcome from groups such as a not-for-profit consortium of private and community interests which has come together to formulate an application.

Deadline: Ongoing

More info: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/3a6b2-community-based-cctv-grant-aid-scheme/

The grant programme is open all year round and you can apply for funding by completing a funding application form. The grant offer is valid for 12 months to give you plenty of time to identify the community priorities, find an external expert and develop your energy masterplan in consultation with your community.

SEAI will provide a 100% grant to cover the costs of an external expert to help your community develop an Energy Master Plan. The Energy Master Plan funding ranges in value depending on the level and scale of the Sustainable Energy Community. The scale of the SEC is linked to the estimate of the energy spend in your community.

Funding available is from €10,000 to €25,000 depending on size of community.

Deadline: Open all year round

More info: https://www.seai.ie/community-energy/sustainable-energy-communities/join-the-sustainable-ener/

The 2023-2027 LEADER programme is open for applications in most areas. Now is a good time to begin making preparations for any potential funding applications. To get a good insight into projects supported in the past, this booklet produced by CAP Network Ireland (formerly National Rural Network) has an excellent compilation of case studies:  LEADER Programme 2014-2020 Case Studies from Ireland. Hopefully you can gain some inspiration from that.

Click here to find your Local Development Company

PayPal Giving Fund Ireland helps people support their favourite charities online and raises funds to benefit charities through PayPal and other technology platforms. We receive donations and make grants to our donors’ recommended charities.

Deadline: ongoing

More info: https://www.paypal.com/ie/webapps/mpp/givingfund/home

The government has agreed a range of measures with the aim of reducing costs for small and medium sized businesses, brought forward by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke. While Social Enterprises aren’t specifically mentioned,  many of these are applicable to various social enterprises.

Key measures include:

• reopening the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) Scheme for another 14 days
• introducing a second payment of ICOB for businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors
• doubling the Innovation Grant Scheme to €10,000
• increasing the maximum amount available under the Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme to €10,000 and reducing the business contribution rate from 50% to 25%
• widening the eligibility for the Trading Online Voucher, extending it to all sectors up to 50 employees, modernise eligible expenditure and doubling the grant to €5,000
• increasing the lending limit for Microfinance Ireland loans to €50,000 from €25,000
• widening the eligibility for the Digital for Business Consultancy Scheme and extending it to all sectors with up to 50 employees

For the full list of supports and more details visit: https://grantsandfunding.ie/government-agrees-measures-to-support-smes/

Patagonia supports environmental organisations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change.

They support innovative work that addresses the root causes of the environmental crisis and seeks to protect both the environment and affected communities.

Deadlines: May 31st & September 30th 2024 and January 31st 2025

More info: https://eu.patagonia.com/ie/en/how-we-fund/

The ProVeg Grants program is accelerating the transformation of our food system by providing support for organisations involved in this vital work. Since 2019, ProVeg International has provided more than 500 grants to organisations and individuals in over 70 countries. They provide both financial support and assistance with capacity-building. ProVeg Grants offers financial support of between $5,000 and $50,000 per year.

Deadline: Quarterly – 1st June 2024, 1st September, 1st December 2024

More info: https://proveg.org/advocacy/grants/

Through the GRAINS Financial Facility Program up to 60 Social Economy SMEs will be selected to support financially the implementation of their greening projects in their agrifood businesses in EU Members States and Ukraine.

The activities for which social economy SMEs may receive financial support are:

training (upskilling and reskilling),

consultancy and labelling for greening their operations,

tailored advisory services to develop local markets,

other elements necessary for greening their enterprises (eco certifications, eco packaging, digitalisation and technologies, etc.),

additional path of coaching and mentoring on development of the green transition for social enterprises.

Deadline: 5pm CET, June 28th 2024

More info: https://www.diesis.coop/grains/

Wildlife Acoustics is proud to offer a grant program to support the advancement of wildlife research, habitat monitoring, and environmental conservation. Our quarterly grant program provides scientists with bioacoustics research tools to further their study of bats, birds, amphibians, and other vocal wildlife.

Deadline: August 15, 2024

More info: https://www.wildlifeacoustics.com/grant-program