Social Innovation Fund Ireland seeking Applications for ‘Sports to Impact’ Fund 2020

Deadline: 22 January 2020

Applicants are invited to apply for the ‘Sports to Impact’ Fund 2020 which has been created by Social Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI) in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development. The Department of Rural and Community Development provides match funding for all philanthropic funds raised by Social Innovation Fund Ireland, via the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Objectives

The goal of the fund is to support the innovative use of sports as a means to improve physical and mental health and to promote social inclusion for children, adolescents and adults.
They are calling out to innovative projects or programmes that focus on using sports as a means to create positive social impact in the lives of individuals and in communities across Ireland.
The Sports to Impact Fund aims to have wider impact and will contribute to Ireland’s achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Funding Requirements

The fund requires:

A minimum of €20,000 philanthropic funding per year, minimum period of 2 years and maximum period of 4 years, for participation in the Programme.
A Donor Letter of Commitment must be provided in support of this application outlining the amount of funding and the duration. (SIFI will provide their template donor letter for donor to complete).

Eligible Projects

Applicants should be able to demonstrate how they focus on improving physical or mental health and promote social inclusion for children, adolescents and adults through the innovative use of sports.
All applicants should have an evidence base for their project and have an evaluation or assessment component.
Applicants should also be able to demonstrate that they have raised private or philanthropic funding for the period proposed and that the programme cannot be carried out without the match funding of SIFI.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have charitable status with a registered charity number, or have been granted Charitable Tax Exemption under Section 207 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 with a CHY number to be considered for the Sports to Impact Fund.
Where the promotion of sporting activities is not the primary objective of their organisation, not-for-profit legal status’ can be considered. For example; charity, company limited by guarantee, trust, etc.
Projects applying to the Sports to Impact Fund must meet the standard SIFI and Sports to Impact Fund core criteria listed below:
- Social Innovation Fund Ireland Core Criteria
  - The project must address a critical social issue
  - The project proposed must be innovative in an Irish context
  - The project must have potential and a desire to scale or replicate in Ireland (it may also have potential internationally, but this is not a requirement)
  - The project must provide evidence that it is up and running, or has been tested at least in a minimal way
  - The project must be based on the island of Ireland and make its main impact in the Republic of Ireland
  - Applicants must come from an eligible entity
- Sports To Impact Fund Core Criteria
  - Projects must use sport as their core methodology with a view to improving physical and/or mental health for children, adolescents or adults
  - Projects must clearly demonstrate the innovative aspect of their sports programme
  - Projects must demonstrate a social inclusion approach
  - Projects must have a research or evaluation component, for example, it must have built-in an assessment or evaluation of impact from the start
  - Projects must have secured a minimum of €20,000 per year for 2 years in private pledged philanthropic donations
- Sports To Impact Fund Advantageous Criteria
  - Projects supporting children, adolescents or adults experiencing disadvantage (this includes but is not limited to people with an intellectual, physical, sensory or learning disability, people with a mental health issue, and people experiencing socio-economic or other disadvantages)
  - Projects supporting members of marginalised communities (including but not limited to LGBTI+ people, people with ethnic minority or migrant status and ex-offenders or ex-prisoners)
  - Projects that demonstrate partnerships with other existing organisations (national or international)
  - Projects that employ a holistic approach – school-wide approach or community