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Submit Applications for Community Grant Program 2026 (Ireland)

Deadline: 27-Feb-2026

The Community Grant 2026 provides small-scale funding to support community organisations in the Dublin Northwest Partnership area, focusing on capacity-building, equality, participation, and social inclusion. Grants of up to €1,500 fund initiatives that strengthen organisational effectiveness and improve quality of life for disadvantaged and underrepresented communities, including refugees, people with disabilities, and long-term unemployed individuals.

Overview of the Community Grant

The Community Grant 2026 is designed to empower community organisations to:

  • Strengthen capacity and governance

  • Promote equality, participation, and social inclusion

  • Deliver community-led initiatives with measurable impact

  • Support bottom-up approaches and meaningful community consultation

The programme prioritises projects that directly benefit disadvantaged and marginalised groups, ensuring community engagement and empowerment remain central to funded activities.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible organisations must:

  • Operate within the Dublin Northwest Partnership catchment area

  • Demonstrate commitment to social inclusion and equality

  • Represent socially excluded or underrepresented groups

  • Align activities with community-led development values and objectives

Priority target groups include:

  • People living in disadvantaged communities

  • International protection applicants and refugees

  • People impacted by educational disadvantage

  • People with disabilities

  • Individuals in jobless or low-income households

  • Heads of one-parent families

  • Long-term unemployed individuals

  • Travellers and Roma communities

  • People with a criminal history

Funding Details

  • Maximum Grant: €1,500

  • Higher-Cost Items: Small-scale capital items may be considered with evidence of matching funding

  • Eligible Uses:

    • Governance and strategic planning development

    • Community activities aligned with SICAP target groups

    • Small-scale capital or equipment purchases

    • Participation in regional or national networking and learning opportunities

    • Initiatives by women’s groups, Men Sheds, youth work initiatives, or other community-led projects

All funded activities must demonstrate contribution to broader inclusion, participation, and community wellbeing strategies.

How to Apply / How It Works

  1. Confirm Eligibility – Ensure organisation operates in Dublin Northwest Partnership area and serves target groups

  2. Prepare Application – Provide clear project description, intended outcomes, budget, and evidence of matching funds if applicable

  3. Submit Application – Follow the Dublin Northwest Partnership’s submission guidelines

  4. Assessment – Applications evaluated on alignment with community development principles, capacity-building potential, and social impact

  5. Grant Award – Successful organisations receive funding up to €1,500 or higher with matching contributions

Why It Matters

The Community Grant 2026 strengthens organisational capacity and enables community groups to deliver meaningful change in social inclusion, participation, and equality. By funding initiatives targeting disadvantaged populations, the grant promotes empowerment and ensures underrepresented voices are heard and supported.

Common Mistakes and Tips

  • Ensure clear alignment with SICAP target groups and outcomes

  • Provide evidence of matching funding for higher-cost items

  • Focus on community-led, bottom-up approaches rather than externally imposed solutions

  • Demonstrate how the project contributes to broader inclusion and participation goals

  • Include clear budgeting and intended impact measures

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can apply? Community organisations operating within the Dublin Northwest Partnership area.
2. What is the maximum grant amount? €1,500, with potential for higher-cost small-scale capital items with matching funding.
3. Which groups are prioritised? Disadvantaged communities, refugees, people with disabilities, long-term unemployed, Travellers, Roma, and other underrepresented groups.
4. What can the funding be used for? Governance development, strategic planning, small-scale capital, community activities, networking, and learning opportunities.
5. Are women’s groups and youth initiatives eligible? Yes, provided they target SICAP priority groups and align with community development principles.
6. How are applications assessed? Based on alignment with community-led development principles, social inclusion impact, and capacity-building potential.
7. Do funded projects need to demonstrate broader community impact? Yes, all activities must contribute to strategies promoting inclusion, participation, and wellbeing.

Conclusion

The Community Grant 2026 empowers local organisations to strengthen capacity and deliver impactful, community-led initiatives that promote equality, participation, and social inclusion. By prioritising disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, the grant supports sustainable community development and meaningful local engagement.

For more information, visit Dublin Northwest Partnership.