Covid-19 Fund, Update
As vaccine roll-out continues and restrictions ease, the Covid-19 Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland has pivoted to support communities and the non-profit sector to recover better.
Volunteers, communities, and charities are entering into the national recovery from Covid-19 deeply scarred, under resourced and drained from the pandemic. It is clear many lifeline organisations are struggling.
The precarious future facing many is backed up by research, including findings that eight-out-of-ten charities worry about maintaining services. After rallying to the call to Recover Better many communities and groups are now in serious danger of falling at the very first hurdle.
The Community Foundation for Ireland is rejuvenating its Covid-19 Fund to support communities and the not-for-profit sector to recover better from the restrictions, insecurity and exacerbated inequalities of the pandemic. The fund also aims to build resilience for future upheavals that might occur.
Our aim is to ensure Ireland recovers better than the pre-pandemic status quo. To achieve this ambitious goal there are two immediate areas where the Covid-19 Recovery Fund can make an impact. The Community Foundation is opening grant rounds to support:
· Community Recovery and Resilience
· Sector Recovery and Resilience
We are inviting applications to these grant rounds from Monday 6th September. Organisations may apply to one grant round only.
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Community Recovery and Resilience: Overcoming Isolation
The Overcoming Isolation grant round has now closed
Sector Recovery and Resilience: Building Capacity
According to the Charities Regulator, 74% of charities reported a severe impact on their organisation's income for 2020. And The Wheel has published that 82% of charities are very concerned about whether they will have sufficient funds to provide their services in 2021.
In order to recover stronger from the uncertainty of the pandemic, space to think, plan and strategize is crucial. Furthermore, with the uncertainty and even greater marginalisation created by the pandemic, research and advocacy is essential for creating a more equal and resilient society. This open grant round aims to build capacity, strength and resilience within the sector to build a more equal and empowered society.
Grants of up to €20,000 are available to organisations that have been deeply affected by the pandemic.
The Building Capacity grant round is now open and will close at 4.30pm Thursday 14th October.
For more information and to access our online application form use the links below:
How to apply
Organisations are eligible to apply once to either Overcoming Isolation or Building Capacity.
1. Read through the criteria documents to check that your organisation and project is eligible.
2. Have a look at our Grants Hub for any additional information you might need.
3. Apply through our online application forms:
· Overcoming Isolation application form
· Building Capacity application form
4. Keep an eye on the deadline dates for your application. The Overcoming Isolation deadline is October 7th 2021 and the Building Capacity deadline is October 14th 2021