Rethink Ireland launches Equity in Education Fund 2022-2025

Deadline: 24-Mar-22

The Rethink Ireland is accepting applications for its Equity in Education Fund that aims to support not-for-profit organisations working to enhance access to education for young people from minority groups experiencing disadvantage.

They aim to support not-for-profit organizations working to enhance access to education for young people experiencing educational disadvantage based on their cultural identity or geographical location.

Many students from vulnerable, minority communities and students living in poverty face a greater degree of an educational disadvantage when compared to young people in the general population.

Students who leave school early are much less likely to find well-paying jobs, and are at more risk of poverty as access to education is heavily linked to socioeconomic status.

Projects Supports

The fund will:

Support young people experiencing marginalization with greater access to education at the second level
Support young people facing intersecting disadvantages to engaging in formal and non-formal education.
Non-formal education refers to education that occurs outside the formal school system for eg: participating in forums and chat rooms, performance support, coaching sessions, and games
Support young people to become leaders in their communities

Funding Information

This is a three-year €1,250,000 fund created by Rethink Ireland in partnership with a private donor and the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Cash grants between €50,000 and €67,500 each year for three years
A business supports package
A place on the capacity building Gamechanger Programme – The programme is a 3-year executive level management training in a workshop format which is delivered in close collaboration with strategic consultants and communication experts
Project performance management will include consultant support and guidance.

Eligibility Criteria

Projects must meet both Rethink Ireland’s criteria and the specific criteria for the Fund, as set out below:

Rethink Ireland Core Criteria
- There are two sets of core criteria: project criteria and applicant criteria
  - Project Criteria
    - The project must:
      - Address a critical social issue
      - Be innovative in an Irish context
      - Must be based on the island of Ireland and must make its main impact in the Republic of Ireland
      - Must have the potential and desire to scale or replicate in Ireland (it may also have potential internationally, but this is not a requirement)
      - Must provide evidence that it is up and running, or has been tested at least in a minimal way
  - Applicant Criteria
    - Applicants must come from an entity that has a ‘not for profit legal form, for example:
      - A company limited by guarantee
      - A Charity or other not-for-profit legal forms