Publication
The Philanthropy Fund
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
The Innovate Together Fund is a collaboration between Government, philanthropists and social innovators. It focuses on supporting innovative responses to the Covid-19 crisis. The Fund is one of a suite of measures sponsored by this Department to meet the challenges presented by the current pandemic.
The Fund is supported by a commitment of €5 million from the Department of Rural and Community Development through the support of the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Rethink Ireland raised an additional €0.6m from philanthropic donations for this initiative.
The Innovate Together Fund started as a €5 million Fund focusing on community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises that have either increased, adapted or created a new innovative product/service in response to problems caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
The first call for applications for the Fund ran from 13th to 27th May 2020 inclusive. In August 2020, following a rigorous assessment procedure 52 awardees were selected under Round 1 with a funding value of approximately €3.2million.
Round 2 of The Innovate Together Fund runs from July to November 2020. The successful projects for Round 2 will be announced in mid-November.
Applicants to the The Innovate Together Fund came from charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations based in the Republic of Ireland who provide services in Irish communities i.e. addressing social, economic or educational disadvantage or supporting persons with a disability and for which there is a clear ongoing need.
The second call for applications to the Fund had a particular focus on projects achieving impact in sustainability, economic recovery and community outreach
Government believes that innovation is one of the keys to addressing emerging social, economic and environmental needs in a sustainable manner. As we begin to build a path to recovery, now is the time to come together to build an Ireland in which we all want to live and work. A country that is inclusive, equal and focused on sustainable solutions.
More information on the Fund and the awardees can be found at Rethink Ireland