Ireland Funds: Seeking Applications for Heart of the Community Fund

Deadline: 8-Apr-21

The Ireland Funds is seeking applications for its Heart of the Community Fund that aims to provide critical and timely funding to a wide range of not-for-profit and community organisations across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Heart of the Community Fund is suitable for organisations making an impact and a positive contribution in their local community. The Fund aims to support organisations who are responding to the ongoing and immediate needs created by COVID-19 and whose day-to-day operations continue to be directly impacted by COVID-19.

Funding will support those organisations who continue to adapt their work to respond to the changing needs of their beneficiaries. The aim is to support immediate costs and allow organisations to respond to the needs they have identified in their local area.

Funding Information

The Heart of the Community Fund offers awards up to €5,000 for small, not-for-profits and community organisations with an annual turnover of less than €/£500,000.
Awards will be offered in the following 2 tiers:
- €2,500
- €5,000

The Fund will Prioritise

Organisations that can demonstrate that they are responding to the current and emerging needs of their communities due to the challenges of the ongoing pandemic.
Organisations that have struggled to access alternative funding streams during the pandemic or do not have many active grants.
- Example: An organisation that has not received funding from the government for 2021, in comparison to an organisation that has received a grant to cover this project and government funding for 2021.

Eligibility Criteria

All projects must be in line with government advice and guidelines regarding Coronavirus
The organisation must have an annual turnover of less than €/£500,000. Organisations with a turnover exceeding this limit are not eligible to apply for this specific grant round.
The project or activity for which applicants are seeking funding must take place on the island of Ireland.
The project must be for a future activity, not for an activity or project that has already been completed – funding cannot be retroactively applied.
Due diligence is critical to The Ireland Funds and organisations must be able to satisfy the following requirements:
- Must be:
  - Unincorporated Association with an explicit not-for-profit object
  - Company Limited Guarantee (CLG)
  - Community Interest Company (CIC)
  - Registered Charity
  - Charitable Trust
- Must have:
  - Governing Document (ie. Memorandum & Articles of Association; Trust Deed; Constitution)
  - Financial Statements (Audited or Unaudited Accounts are equally accepted)
- Governing documents must contain the following clauses:
  - Income and Property
    - Outlining the allocation of any income to the sole purpose of pursuing the organisations purpose and objects
    - Ensuring that any Directors will not be renumerated by salary or fees
  - Winding Up/Dissolution
    - Providing security for income/funds should the organization cease operations.
    - Funds are guaranteed to be transferred to an organisation with a similar charitable purpose.
Organisations may submit only one application – multiple applications from the same (registered) organisation for different areas of work will not be accepted.
Salary costs may be included but a clear case for positive impact in the local community must be presented.
Applications may request the purchase of IT equipment. If submitting to purchase IT equipment for beneficiaries of your service, a clear plan for distribution and sustainability of equipment must be included.