Resources for grant seekers are available in this section.
Organisations may be funded through grants, donations, membership fees, contracts, social finance or a combination of any of the above. In this section, we have compiled information that may be helpful for Ireland-based organisations seeking funding. Please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with any suggestions for this section.
Directory of Philanthropy Ireland
The column on the right is a list of entries in our Directory of Philanthropy. You may find some useful contacts here, including contact information for Philanthropy Ireland members.
FundingPoint.ie offers a subscription service for Irish voluntary and communty organisations looking for funding. Subscribers can access information on funding programmes run by government organisations, the European Union, independent philanthropic organisations and businesses.
This Web site is for non-profit organisations seeking grant funding. It was developed by a California-based grant writer and contains information on preparing a grant proposal as well as tips from funding organisations and useful links.
The EFC’s grant seekers page contains many links that are worth exploring.
The Foundation Center provides many free resources for fundraising organisations. While this organisation is based in the United States, it contains many tips that are relevant for grant seekers in Ireland.
Social Finance is an innovative finance mechanism that enables micro-businesses and communities to achieve their aspirations and, in the process, deliver social returns. Social Finance lenders offer repayable loans at affordable rates to community-based projects, as well as to start-up businesses generating employment. Social finance lenders provide economically viable and socially beneficial projects a way to access finance when they may not have been able to do so through mainstream financial institutions.
Those applying for a loan from a social finance lender will be assessed not just on their capacity to deliver meaningful benefit to individuals or communities but also on their ability to repay the loans.
Key social finance lenders in Ireland include
Clann Credo (specialising in community enterprise and social infrastructure throughout Ireland)
First Step Microfinance (specialising in microfinance for business start-ups)
UCIT Ireland (specialising in community enterprise and social infrastructure throughout Ireland)
LEDP (specialising in community development and micro-enterprise in the Limerick region)
Those interested in accessing social finance should visit the Web sites of the lenders above for details on lending criteria and submitting an application.
This section is prepared with the assistance of the Social Finance Foundation set up in 2007 and responsible for sourcing and distributing funds to social finance lenders.
Effective Fundraising for Voluntary and Community Groups
Produced by the Carmichael Centre, this leaflet contains helpful information and links to resources for fundraisers. Below are links to Web sites that may be of interest. Please note that Philanthropy Ireland cannot guarantee the accuracy of information on these Web sites. Fundraising.ie
Fundraising.ie is a free service provided by Chapterhouse Consulting. The Web site contains a directory of non-profit organisations, a job recruitment board, fundraising advice and details on obtaining professional fundraising counsel.
MyCharity.ie offers charitable organisations an online presence and the ability to take donations directly from the public. They also provide fundraisers the opportunity to create pages for their events and raise money for the organisations. The fee for this service is 3% of each donation.
NEW! The Little Blue Book: NPC’s guide to analysing charities, for charities and funders. At a time when many charities are having to make tough decisions, this Guide can help them to assess their own performance, to identify successes and failures, and to understand how they can improve. It can also help funders make thoughtful funding decisions, by better understanding charities’ strengths and areas for development.
Collaboration for Greater Impact was prepared by The Ireland Funds, The Irish Heart Foundation and 2into3 to provide an overview of the options, opportunities, and challenges inherent in collaborative working, including some examples of those that have engaged in collaborative working. It is intended to give some ‘food for thought’ for organisations in the non‐profit sector in Ireland. It is not intended as complete and comprehensive coverage of the issues involved, or as a substitute for professional advice for non‐profits considering collaborative work.
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
CRAGA’s Web site contains information on the principal features, Frequently Asked Questions and consultation papers on the Charities Bill.
Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising
Following its feasibility study on voluntary codes of practice for fundraisers, Irish Charities Tax Research Ltd. developed its Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising, which contains a set of overarching principles and guidelines for fundraisers in Ireland. To view the feasibility study please click here.
The Wheel’s Web site contains sectoral newsletters and directories as well as information on good governance. To access the Wheel’s section on the upcoming Charities Bill, please click here.
Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups
The Carmichael Centre offers a wide range of training courses for community and voluntary groups. Autumn 2008 courses include ‘Researching and Securing Grant Aid’, ‘Incorporating Codes of Fundraising Practice’, ‘Financial Reporting for Charitable Organinsations’ and many more.
Centre for Nonprofit Management
Community Exchange on activelink.ie provides up-to-date information on community and voluntary sector training courses and workshops, events and campaigns, job vacancies and volunteer opportunities.
Learningpoint.ie is a database of training courses for those working in the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. Developed by The Wheel, the site also provides links to publications from a range of research and educational institutions and other service providers.