The Ireland Funds made over 1,250 grants worth €26m to more than 330 organizations last year, making 2024 one of the global philanthropic network's biggest years for grant-making since its foundation 49 years ago.
The funding was distributed across not-for-profit organizations in education community development; peace and reconciliation; and arts and culture.
The Ireland Funds' The Heart of the Community Fund disbursed almost €1m in grants to 93 organizations in 29 counties.
The recipients used the money to enhance outcomes in education, build community resilience, increase environmental sustainability, enable mental health programs, provide trauma therapy, and more.
Organisations to benefit included Cancer Fund for Children; Good Shepherd Cork; The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University; and Sailing into Wellness.
A total of 441 students received support from The Ireland Funds across two scholarship programs: the No Mind Left Behind and George Moore Scholars.
No Mind Left Behind awarded 379 third-level scholarships in Ireland and the UK to students from DEIS schools, including 137 undergraduates who receive €4,000 each year of their degree.
The George Moore Scholars programs awarded scholarships of €3.3m to 74 students for Master's education at 33 universities in Europe, the UK, Canada and the US.
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At the end of the year in December, The Ireland Funds awarded €500,000 to 20 organizations - €25,000 each – providing essential services to children experiencing poverty, marginalization, and difficult circumstances.
Those organizations included Barnardos, Cope Galway, Dillon Quirke Foundation, Foodcloud, Home-Start North Down, and Laura Lynn.
“We are delighted with the progress made in 2024 which enabled us to reach more organizations and individuals and helped us support the education of young people more so than ever before," Caitriona Fottrell, president and CEO of The Ireland Funds.
"This work would not be possible without our outstanding community of donors, who ensured that The Ireland Funds delivered real lasting impact to communities across the island and around the world.”
“We will be unstinting in our mission to make meaningful contribution to those organizations whose great work makes lives better. Indeed, we take inspiration from those organizations, the people behind them and the work they undertake, every day.
"We have no doubt our donors are equally encouraged by the great work they witness in the communities they support.”
* This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.
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