What Is The Early Childhood Fund?
The Early Childhood Fund 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.
As part of the application requirements, the SIFI are asking applicants to demonstrate that they have secured private or philanthropic funding for the duration of this fund. If the applicant is successful, the SIFI will match their donation by providing a 50% uplift on their funds, as well as delivering other supports such as training, impact measurement and capacity building.
What Is The Objective Of The Early Childhood Fund?
The goal of the fund is to provide critical support to projects and services focused on increasing the health and well being (physical and mental), social and emotional skills, cognitive development and learning outcomes of children, from pregnancy to six years of age, with the goal of reduced inequalities, improved childhood and lifelong outcomes.
As suggested by the most up to date evidence, priority will be given to projects focused on prevention and early intervention approaches, targeting children and/or parents/guardians.
The SIFI are calling out to innovative projects or programmes in Ireland that focus on improving outcomes for children from prenatal development through to six years of age through one or a combination of the following:
- Improving physical and mental health and well being
- Emotional well being and attachment (infant mental health)
- Social Skills
- Language and cognitive development
The Early Childhood Fund aims to have wider impact and will contribute to Ireland’s achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
What Does The Early Childhood Fund Offer?
The Early Childhood Fund offers the following:
- A 50% uplift on funds raised by applicants (applicants must provide evidence to verify the private funding has been secured)
- Peer to peer networking and knowledge sharing
- Training workshops
- Impact measurement
- A platform for award winners to showcase their work at an awards event
What Kind Of Projects Is The Fund Looking For?
Applicants should be able to demonstrate how they focus on improving outcomes for children from prenatal development through to six years of age through one or more of the following:
-
- Improving physical and mental health and well being
- Emotional well being and attachment (infant mental health)
- Social Skills
- Language and cognitive development
What Organisations Are Eligible?
Applicants must have not-for-profit legal status to be considered for the Early Childhood Fund. For example: charity, company limited by guarantee, trust etc.
What Is The Application Deadline?
The Early Childhood Fund is open for applications from 3rd August 2018 until 18th January 2019 at 5pm.
How Do I Apply?
The Early Childhood Fund application form is available HERE.
You should also look at the application criteria and terms and conditions that can be found, with full details of the funds objectives, and an explanation of the uplift funding HERE
Where Can I get Further Information?
Please contact the SIFI at hello@socialinnovation.ie with any questions you have on the criteria. If you have any questions about the fund raising requirement of this fund please contact Anne Dermody at anne@socialinnovation.ie
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