Open call: Children’s Promise Grants Programme (Ireland)

Deadline: 19-Mar-2026

The Children’s Promise Grants Programme, led by the Katharine Howard Foundation with Community Foundation Ireland and the Sunflower Charitable Foundation, funds community-based organisations supporting young children and families affected by poverty in Ireland. Grants target early years, perinatal support, preschool and school transition, and whole-family interventions, with funding ranging from €15,000 annually to €100,000 over three years.

Programme Overview

The Children’s Promise Grants Programme is a multi-annual initiative aimed at supporting families and children impacted by poverty, addressing inequalities in early childhood development, mental health, and family wellbeing. The programme focuses on:

• Perinatal support: Pregnancy to one year

• Early years projects: Children aged 1–3

• Preschool initiatives: Bridging home and Early Learning & Care (3–5 years)

• Transition to primary school: Children aged 5–7

• Whole-family approaches: Supporting families from pregnancy up to 12 years and beyond

The programme also supports:

• Parenting programmes and parent peer support

• Parent-infant or toddler groups

• Therapeutic interventions for infant and early childhood mental health

• Capacity-building and research-integrated initiatives

• Pilot or innovative projects addressing unmet needs

Priority Focus Areas

The programme prioritises projects that:

• Scale proven approaches for systemic impact

• Deliver community area-based wraparound supports

• Address challenges linked to:

  • Homelessness or insecure housing

  • Domestic violence and parental mental health

  • Early childhood disability

  • Migration or temporary/international protection

  • Imprisonment or substance misuse

  • Marginalisation due to ethnic background

Evidence-informed interventions are strongly encouraged, particularly those that integrate with statutory and voluntary services. Parent and child participation is central to project design, delivery, and review.

Funding Opportunities

Momentum Grants

• Amount: Up to €45,000 over three years (€15,000 per year)

• Eligible Organisations: Small not-for-profit organisations with annual turnover under €2,000,000

• Purpose: Develop promising or new initiatives addressing unmet needs while planning for sustainability

• Number of Awards: Approximately six projects in 2026

• Funding Period: May 2026 – June 2029

Breakthrough Grant

• Amount: Single award of up to €100,000 over three years

• Purpose: Scale evidence-based projects already proven at a smaller scale

• Focus: Partnership-based initiatives embedding effective practices within larger systems and potentially supporting national policy commitments

• Sustainability: Leverages existing infrastructure to maintain impact beyond 2029

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be:

• Child- or family-focused, community-based organisations operating at the local level

• Registered as a charity or company limited by guarantee, or collaborate with a lead partner that meets these criteria

• Able to provide up-to-date governance documents, annual accounts, and child safeguarding policies

• Working with children aged 0–5 and families experiencing socio-economic hardship, violence, homelessness, disability, imprisonment, or substance misuse

How to Apply

Step 1: Determine Grant Type

• Choose Momentum Grant for smaller organisations or new initiatives

• Choose Breakthrough Grant for scaling existing evidence-based projects

Step 2: Prepare Application Materials

• Demonstrate alignment with programme priorities

• Include project design, objectives, sustainability plan, monitoring, and risk management strategy

• Provide governance documentation, financial records, and safeguarding policies

Step 3: Submit Application

• Submit through the official programme portal before the specified deadline

• Ensure collaboration agreements are included if applying as a partnership

Tips for Success

• Clearly demonstrate evidence-informed impact

• Include parent and child participation strategies

• Show integration with statutory and voluntary services

• Outline scalability and sustainability beyond the funding period

• Address specific vulnerabilities and at-risk groups

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply for the programme?
   Child- or family-focused community organisations registered as charities or companies limited by guarantee, or partnerships with eligible lead organisations.

2. What types of projects are funded?
   Projects supporting early years, perinatal support, preschool bridging, primary school transition, whole-family approaches, parenting programmes, and therapeutic interventions.

3. What funding amounts are available?
   Momentum Grants: €15,000/year for up to three years (€45,000 total).
   Breakthrough Grant: Up to €100,000 over three years.

4. Are innovative or pilot projects eligible?
   Yes, particularly if they address unmet needs or scale proven evidence-based approaches.

5. Do projects need to involve parents or children directly?
   Yes, consultation and participation of parents is required, and child participation is encouraged where appropriate.

6. What priority needs does the programme focus on?
   Poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, parental mental health, early childhood disability, migration, imprisonment, substance misuse, and marginalisation.

7. What documents are required for the application?
   Governance documents, annual accounts, safeguarding policies, and evidence of alignment with programme priorities.

Conclusion

The Children’s Promise Grants Programme 2026–2029 offers a strategic funding opportunity for organisations working to protect and develop the potential of children and families affected by poverty in Ireland. Through Momentum and Breakthrough Grants, the programme supports initiatives that are evidence-informed, community-focused, and sustainable, fostering systemic change, early childhood development, and stronger family outcomes across disadvantaged communities.

For more information, visit KHF.