WHAT IS THE EQUALITY FUND?
The Equality Fund is a €300,000 awards fund created by Social Innovation Fund Ireland in partnership with the Peter Kinney and Lisa Sandquist Foundation and 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. This fund has been created with the vision of providing critical supports to social innovations that are aimed at strengthening equality while supporting some of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities in Ireland.
The Equality Fund is committed to equality for all. The initial focus of the fund is to find and back innovative projects that focus on supporting and strengthening equality for LGBTI persons, migrants, prisoners and former offenders, and persons affected by gender-based violence.
WHAT DOES THE EQUALITY FUND OFFER?
- A €300,000 fund shared between three to four projects (This includes cash grants of up to €70,000 per project)
- A place on Social Innovation Fund Ireland’s Accelerator programme fromJanuary to June 2019. The programme, which is designed to sustain and grow your project, will be made up of bespoke supports such as mentoring, assistance with strategic planning, and expertise on maximising your impact.
WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS IS THE EQUALITY FUND LOOKING FOR?
The Equality Fund is open to social projects with main beneficiaries who belong to one or more of the following groups: LGBTI persons, migrants, prisoners and former offenders, and persons affected by gender-based violence.
By definition for this fund, equality can be advanced through the elevation of status, rights and opportunity; as well as through protection from discrimination and other harm on the grounds of belonging to one of the above groups.
- Applicants should be able to demonstrate how their project impacts upon the lives of their beneficiaries.
- Applicants must meet Social Innovation Fund Ireland standard criteria and specific criteria for the Equality Fund 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 entity that has a not-for-profit legal form e.g. company limited by guarantee, trust etc.
EQUALITY FUND CRITERIA
- Growth and mature stage projectswill have an advantage. Innovative early stage projects will also be considered if supported by an established organisation.
- Projectsmust be focused on supporting and enhancing equality for one or more of the following beneficiary groups;
- LGBTI’s
- Migrants
- Prisoners/former offenders
- Persons affected by gender-based violence*
*According to the UN, gender-based violence includes ”acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty”.
HOW LONG IS THE EQUALITY FUND OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS?
The Equality Fund is open for applications from Thursday 15th March 2018 – Friday 18th May 2018.
HOW DO I APPLY?
The Equality Fund application form is available HERE
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
More information about the Equality Fund, terms and conditions for applicants, and help with the application process can be found HERE.
Or contact hello@socialinnovation.ie with any questions.
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