Community Foundation Ireland awarded grants totalling a record €27.2m last year, an increase of 45% year-on-year.
The philanthropic hub handed out grants to assist action on climate and biodiversity, promote minority rights and combat sexual violence as well as to assist with efforts to secure major changes to government policy.
Over €7.5m was used in direct response to the war in Ukraine to support those in war zone areas, as well as people fleeing the country, with some money raised through work with media partners under the Ireland for Ukraine Fund.
Community Foundation Ireland, which has a network of 5,000 voluntary, community and charitable partners, also partnered with the Children’s Rights Alliance on the first Child Poverty Monitor, which showed over 200,000 children experience poverty.
The monitor and subsequent campaigns led to the establishment of a new specialised unit within the Department of An Taoiseach, and the organisation also supported ESRI research on energy poverty.
The government is due to publish a new National Policy on Philanthropy this autumn, and Community Foundation Ireland has called for measures such as a National Sustainable Futures Fund and greater government commitment to match funding partnerships to be included.
“We remain in a time of great need. The constant challenge of climate change offers a grim back-drop to a cost of living crisis, wars in Ukraine and elsewhere as well as increasing levels of hate crime,” said Denise Charlton, CEO of Community Foundation Ireland.
“With record levels of giving, philanthropy has once again shown that it has a role in providing strategic support to address these and other challenges. Our donors are often there when others either cannot or won’t offer support.
“The new National Policy on Philanthropy offers an opportunity to grow this form of giving and leveraging even more support to secure our mission of equality for all in thriving communities.”
Roddy Rowan, chair of Community Foundation Ireland, said the organisation had “shown an ability not only to provide much needed funding to voluntary, community and charitable groups, but also has established itself as a source of knowledge which informs future policy.
“The impact on policy over the past 12-months has been incredible and will have a positive impact on people of all ages for years to come.
“We remain committed to working with government and other partners in the coming months to ensure the upcoming National Policy will offer opportunity to further increase that impact into the future.”
Photo: (l-r) Denise Charlton and Roddy Rowan. (Pic: Supplied)
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