The accelerator programme is open to organisations that have a not-for-profit legal form, e.g. a company limited by guarantee, a co-operative, trust, charity and other voluntary organisations that meet both the Rethink Ireland core criteria and the additional criteria specific to this opportunity below.  

Eligibility & Criteria 

Organisations must meet both Rethink Ireland’s criteria and the specific criteria for the AI for Good Fund, as set out below: 

Rethink Ireland Core Criteria:   

• The organisation must address a critical social issue 

• The organisation proposed must be innovative in an Irish context 

• The organisation must have potential and a desire to scale or replicate in Ireland 

• The organisation must provide evidence that it is up and running, or has been tested at least in a minimal way  

• The organisation must be based on the island of Ireland and make its main impact in the Republic of Ireland    

• Applicants must come from an entity that has a not-for-profit legal form, e.g. a company limited by guarantee, a co-operative, trust, charity.
    

Rethink Ireland defines a not-for-profit as any organisation whose constitution indicates it has public benefit purposes and is neither privately owned nor controlled by the State.  

It is noted that not all of Rethink Ireland’s core criteria will be assessed as part of this application process. 

AI for Good Fund Accelerator Programme Criteria   

Your organisation must be able to meet all the criteria below to be eligible to join the accelerator programme.  

This will be a competitive process so please reflect on your suitability for the programme before committing time to your application. You will be asked to confirm your suitability before accessing the online application form.  

• Your organisation has already identified a problem or gap that you believe AI could help solve.  

• Your organisation already has digital capacity to adopt AI tools. Your work is already partly digitised (paperless files, perhaps a database).  

• Your organisation has identified staff members who are keen to upskill in this area and apply learning to problems you tackle. A minimum of two people must be ready to take part.  

• The selected staff members have the capacity to fully take part in the programme within the time required.  

• One of the selected staff members is in a leadership position, with the associated decision-making capabilities. This staff member must be on Senior Leadership Team or be a Board Chair.      

 Advantageous criteria  

• Has taken part in one of the AI for Good Discovery Days mentioned above 

• Has had staff or volunteers take part in other AI learning opportunities or courses 

• Has tested or piloted AI use in their organisation. 

 Which organisations cannot apply?  

• Organisations where research is the primary activity  

• Organisations seeking funding for capital assets (such as buildings, vans or equipment) 

• Organisations promoting or aligned with a political party  

• Organisations that only accept participants of a particular faith or religious denomination  

• Organisations focused on animal welfare  

• Organisations based outside the island of Republic of Ireland  

• Organisations led by people under 18 years of age  

• Organisations that are an idea (only) and that have not yet started.

 Which applicants cannot apply?  

• Applicants under 18 years of age  

• Commercial companies, sole traders and individuals  

• Any staff member from Rethink Ireland, Google.org and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) and their family members. Family members include siblings, parents, spouses or civil partners or children 

• Individuals  

• Statutory or public bodies, companies limited by shares and organisations that are state bodies or agencies that are not registered charities  
• Any consultant currently working with Rethink Ireland  

If my organisation has previously been in receipt of an award from Rethink Ireland, can I still apply?  

Yes. If you have previously been funded by Rethink Ireland, you can still apply.  

If my organisation/project is currently in receipt of an award from Rethink Ireland, can I still apply?  

Yes. Organisations on one of our funds that have cash grant payments remaining before the commencement of the new fund programme are still eligible to apply. 

Is this just for large-scale, national organisations?  

No, it is not, and indeed we welcome applications from organisations of all sizes once it is a not-for-profit organisation with a legal form (see criteria above).  

Can I apply for this funding even though my organisation is still at the ideation stage?   

Unfortunately no, this fund needs to see proof that the organisation is up and running and has been operating. 

Do I have to use a Google affiliated tool to take part in the programme?  

No, the programme and funds are AI agnostic and do not restrict you from using any particular AI tools.  

Can organisations make multiple applications?   

No, we expect this programme will receive a large volume of applications and we ask that each organisation limits itself to one application.  

If my organisation is funded by a Government/state agency (HSE, TULSA etc) are we eligible?   

Yes, you can apply if you are in receipt of funding from a government or state agency. However, if more than 50% of your board is nominated by the Government your organisation is ineligible for funding.  

Is it possible for organisations to collaborate in an application (e.g. a community development organisation and an educational provider)?  

They can but one organisation is required to take the lead. Please note that if your application is successful, that the lead applicant will be required to sign a contract and fulfil all legal obligations associated with programme. Please always refer to the eligibility criteria to ensure that your project is eligible for funding.  

My organisation is already using AI. Are we too advanced to apply?
No, you’re not. We expect to receive applications from not-for-profits at many stages of AI adoption. As long as there is room to progress further, you can apply. 

• Cash grants of up to €15,000 across 12 months 

• A place on our AI for Good Accelerator programme 

• Project performance management 

 What can cash grants be spent on?   

The cash grant is intended to help cover the cost of your leadership time on the programme. In practice it is for core organisational costs such as operations/staff costs, tool subscriptions or upskilling. Cash grants may not be used to pay off debts or for capital items such as renovations, or for vehicles, land, buildings or large equipment.   

What is expected of awardees?  

The project lead and a member of your leadership team will be expected to take part fully in the AI Accelerator Programme and be willing to act as a case study at the programme end.   Beginning in Summer 2027, over 12 months, the programme includes 4 in person full days, 6 online half day workshops, and work on progressing AI adoption within your organisation between these touch points. The exact structure and dates will be determined collaboratively once a cohort of awardees is selected, but we expect the dates to be spread quite evenly across 12 months, with in person days each quarter.

Where can I fill out an application?  

You can apply to the AI for Good Fund via this online portal from 30 Sept 2026 until the closing date 9 November 2026. 

What is involved in completing the application form?  

The application form asks you for information about:  

• your organisation  

• the problem you have identified that AI could help solve or improve  

• how your organisation meets the fund criteria  

• how your organisation currently uses digital tools and data  

• Your capacity to take part in the programme  

• Other details 

• It also asks you to send us financial documents (listed below) 

What financial information do we need to submit with our application?  

• If applying for a project within a larger organisation, the project’s management accounts and the organisation’s most recent audited and full accounts are needed.  

• If applying for an organisation as a whole, the most recent audited and full accounts are needed.  

• It is not required to submit budget. 

What happens after we submit our application?  

• The call for applications opens 30 September 2026 and closes to applications on 9 November 2026. Due diligence and reviews of all applications will take place from November to December 2026.  Applications will go through a rigorous selection process with internal reviews and expert input.   

• The final decision by Rethink Ireland board will be made in late April 2027. Successful applicants will be informed shortly after. 

• The cash grants will be delivered in two parts - one at the beginning and one towards the end of the programme activity period – and are tied to participation in the programme.  

• The programme activity period starts in June 2027 and runs for 12 months. Exact dates are subject to change depending on the awardee group. 

How does the selection process work? 

The selection process is very rigorous and consists of a number of stages: 

• Stage 1 – Open call for applications 30 September 2026 

• Stage 2 – Internal and external reviews of all applications in November and December 2026  

• Stage 3 – Due Diligence/Governance checks on proposed awardees in December 2026 

• Stage 4 – Final decision by Rethink Ireland board in late April 2027   

Who will decide who wins the awards?  

All applications will be reviewed thoroughly through a rigorous process. The Board of Rethink Ireland will make the final decision on successful applicants and the number and value of the final awards given.  

How do applicants find out where they are in the selection process?  

When final decisions have been made on the successful applicants, we will contact all shortlisted applicants by phone or email to let them know whether they have been successful.   

Will AI be used to assess my application? 

Rethink Ireland may use AI-enabled tools to support certain administrative aspects of the application process, such as initial eligibility checks and application processing. These tools support our team and do not replace human judgement or decision-making. All substantive assessments and decisions are made by members of the selection process team. AI is not used to make final interview or funding award decisions. You will have the option to opt out of the use of AI-enabled tools before starting your application. 

By applying for the fund, you agree to the following terms and conditions.  

• You are 18 years of age or older.  

• You have given full and truthful information, both verbal and written, at all stages of the application and selection process.  

• You are eligible to apply. This means that your organisation meets the criteria for Rethink Ireland and this fund, as described.  

• You have the right to apply. This means that you hold the necessary rights to carry out the project.  

• By sending in your application, you accept these terms and conditions and our Privacy Statement. If you do not comply with these terms and conditions, you may be disqualified and may have to return any award granted.  

• Rethink Ireland will hold the personal details which you submitted with your application form. We will only share this information with the third parties administering the application and selection process unless we agree otherwise with you. Please see our Privacy Statement for full details.  

• The awardees must take part in publicity about the grant. Rethink Ireland reserves the right to publish the names of organisations that are successful in their applications.  

• You must be willing to have your organisation’s AI adoption journey documented publicly as a case study, including setbacks.   

• If you decline an award or if the award is taken back because you did not comply with the terms and conditions, the Directors may select an alternative awardee.  

• Rethink Ireland reserves the right to disqualify any entrant, to change the terms and conditions without notice, or to cancel the application process at any stage.  

• Rethink Ireland staff (excluding board members) and Donor/s, their family members and consultants currently working with Rethink Ireland are not eligible to apply. (Family members include siblings, parents, spouses or civil partners or children.)    

If you have questions not answered by our FAQs, please register for one of our October webinars or reach out to the team at: aiforgood@rethinkireland.ie