Minister O’Gorman announces 2023 LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call

€900,000 is being made available to applicant groups, operating at national, regional and local level, to support community services and promote visibility and inclusion of LGBTI+ people
funding aims to promote inclusion, protect rights and to improve quality of life and wellbeing for LGBTI+ people in Ireland
grant scheme is open to applications from existing LGBTI+ non-government organisations and community organisations working with LGBTI+ people

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced that applications can now be made for funding from the LGBTI+ Community Services fund.

The 2023 LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call is an important element in supporting the implementation of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, which was published on 28 November 2019, and complements the National LGBTI+ Youth Strategy published in June 2018.

Announcing the fund, Minister O’Gorman said:

“The opening of the LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call coincides with Pride celebrations, and recognises the need for greater access to LGBTI+ services across Ireland.

"For the past 3 years, the Fund has provided vital funding to organisations throughout the country to help improve the quality of life for LGBTI+ people and ensure they are supported in realising their rights and I am pleased to see this continue.

"Provision of this funding underscores the government’s commitment to continue to support the LGBTI+ community to enable them to participate fully in Ireland's social, economic, cultural, and political life.”

There are two streams of funding:

Scheme A will support new initiatives but is also open to applications from existing LGBTI+ NGOs for funding to maintain and enhance existing services and initiatives. This will assist these organisations build capacity and maintain existing and well-established LGBTI+ supports
Scheme B will provide small grants to organisations for projects that promote visibility and inclusion of LGBTI+ persons

All applications must be submitted electronically.

Applications for funding will remain open until 12pm on Wednesday 26 July 2023. Groups can access a detailed guidance document and complete an online application form at the following links:

Notes

Applications for Funding will be assessed according to the following criteria:

strategic fit and achieving the goals of the Scheme, including how the proposed project would benefit LGBTI+ people in rural areas
strength of proposal, including how the planned activities will improve services and meet the current unmet needs of the LGBTI+ community
capacity of applicant organisation to deliver work programme, including whether the applicant organisation has a history of working with the LGBTI+ Community and track record on delivering specific programmes related to supporting the LGBTI+ Community
financial management and value for money