Social Innovation Fund Ireland Ignite Fund

WHAT IS THE IGNITE FUND?

The Ignite Fund is a €550,000 fund created by Social Innovation Fund Ireland in partnership with several private philanthropists 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 from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

‘Ignite’ means to ‘spark’ or ‘set in motion’. The objective of the Ignite Fund is to spark meaningful social impact in communities across Ireland by providing support to some of the most innovative charities and social enterprises. Several private philanthropists have been inspired to provide substantial support to organisations addressing some of the most critical social issues we face today. The Department of Rural and Community Development has committed to matching their support euro for euro. We are now seeking applications from organisations and projects who are ‘igniting’ impact in any of the four categories which are listed below;

1. Empowering Families

2. Music to Impact

3. Harnessing Ability

4. Youth Resilience

WHAT DOES THE FUND OFFER?

Awards of between €55,000 and €75,000 including:
- Cash grants of up to €60,000
- Business supports package worth up to €15,000
A place on an Accelerator Programme from January to June 2020. The programme will include mentoring, growth-planning, impact measurement, and communications training as well as access to Social Innovation Fund Ireland’s expertise and networks.

WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS IS THE FUND LOOKING FOR?

All applicants to Social Innovation Fund Ireland must meet a set of standard criteria as listed below. Each of the four ‘Ignite categories’ have their own requirements which must also be met. These are listed below.

Note: As part of Social Innovation Fund Ireland’s standard eligibility requirements, applicants seeking funding for capital assets are not eligible.

SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND IRELAND STANDARD CRITERIA

The project must address a critical social issue
The project 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 have a proven track record
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.

EMPOWERING FAMILIES AWARD

Supported by a private donor

This Award is open to innovative projects working with families experiencing disadvantage. The Award is open to projects providing training and support to parents or guardians of children age 6-12 years, in order to develop their parental capacity. Project’s working in this area must be able to demonstrate how their work improves the development and outcomes of children.

For the purposes of this Award, disadvantage is defined as one of the following:

People from a low socio-economic background
People with a disability
People who are members of a minority group
People experiencing disadvantage through circumstances such as lone parents or homelessness

Empowering Families Award Criteria:

Projects that focus on improving outcomes for children age 6-12 years, using an early intervention approach
Projects that consider the voices of children and parents in their design and implementation
Projects working holistically with the parent or guardians and child as part of the solution
Projects that strengthen the parental capacity
Projects that demonstrate how they will be delivered in an integrated way with other services – statutory or voluntary
Projects that have a proven track record of impact for parents, guardian or children

Note: This Award is not open to projects working to address the medical needs of a family.

There are 2 x Awards Packages available.

Projects can apply to win an Awards package worth €75,000, which includes cash grants up to the value of €60,000 and business supports package to the value of €15,000.

MUSIC TO IMPACT AWARD

Supported by a private donor

The Music to Impact Award is open to innovative projects using music as a means to enhance wellbeing or promote social inclusion for children, young people or adults.

Projects must be able to show a substantial impact on participants. Projects can focus on intervention or prevention. This may include therapeutic use, intellectual or personal development, or community development approaches.

Projects focusing on the following groups will have an advantage:

People with an intellectual, physical, sensory, or learning disability
People with mental health issues
People experiencing socio-economic or other disadvantages
People who are members of marginalised communities (including but not limited to LGBTI+ people, people with ethnic minority or migrant status, and ex-offenders or ex-prisoners)

Note: Projects that offer one-off interventions only will not be considered for this Award. Projects that focus solely on improving musical ability or performance will not qualify.

There are 2 x Awards Packages available through the Music to Impact Award.

Note: Projects can apply to win an Awards package worth €55,000, which includes cash grants to the value of €40,000 and business supports package to the value of €15,000.

HARNESSING ABILITY AWARD

Supported by W2 Foundation and Ralph and Maureen Parkes

The Harnessing Ability Award is open to organisations whose mission is to create economic opportunity for adolescents or adults with disabilities through innovative programmes that enhance skills, drive leadership potential and provide job opportunities.

Projects focused on the following will be considered for this Award:

Projects benefiting adolescents or adults with a disability (this includes people with an intellectual, physical or sensory disability)
Projects whose mission is to advance economic opportunities for people with disabilities through training, upskilling, and/or provision of job opportunities
Projects must have measurable outputs and outcomes for their participants
Projects providing work experience and placements or career progression will have an advantage.

Projects based in Munster or actively seeking to expand into Munster will have an advantage.

There is 1 x Awards Package available through the Harnessing Ability Award.

Projects can apply to win an Awards package worth €75,000, which includes cash grants to the value of €60,000 and a business supports package to the value of €15,000.

YOUTH RESILIENCE AWARD

Supported by W2 Foundation and Ralph and Maureen Parkes

The Youth Resilience Award is open to innovative projects focused on the mental health of young people in Ireland in the context of increasing social and digital media use.

This award calls for projects focused on the safe and positive use of the internet, including the prevention of cyberbullying, online grooming, and education of young people on internet safety. Projects can focus on prevention or intervention methods, Projects based in Munster or actively seeking to expand into Munster will have an advantage.

There is 1 x Awards Package available through the Youth Resilience Award.

Projects can apply to win an Awards package worth €75,000, which includes cash grants to the value of €60,000 and business supports package to the value of €15,000.

HOW LONG IS THE IGNITE FUND OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS?

The Ignite Fund is open for applications from Monday, March 4th to Monday, May 6th 2019.

HOW DO I APPLY?

The Ignite Fund application form can be accessed HERE

Additional terms and conditions and frequently asked questions about the Ignite Fund are available on the Social Innovation Fund Ireland website HERE