This fund is open to registered charities only.

Eligibility & Criteria 

Projects must meet both Rethink Ireland’s criteria and the specific criteria for the Children’s Active Play Fund, as set out below: 

Rethink Ireland Core Criteria  

• The project must address a critical social or environmental issue.  

• The project must be innovative in an Irish context. 

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

• The project must have potential and a desire to scale or replicate in Ireland (it may also have potential internationally, but this is not a requirement). 

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

• Applicants must come from an entity which is a registered charity. 

Children’s Active Play Fund Criteria  

Projects must be working innovatively to enhance physical activity, mental health, and overall well-being among children living in Ireland, including one or more of the following; 

• Enhance the mental and physical health, sports, physical activity and healthy lifestyles of young people using evidence-based approaches and/or community development approaches. 

• Support the reduction of health inequities faced by young people and communities by increasing educational, training, cultural, recreational, leisure, social or physical activities 

• Projects that inspire children and young people through activity, play and outdoor pursuits to foster healthy habits and lifestyles, connection and community building 

• Projects that recognise and address the social determinants of health that contribute to poor mental health and well-being. 

Advantageous criteria  

In addition to the core criteria, projects may receive favourable consideration for the following advantageous criteria: 

• Projects that prioritise addressing health and well-being disparities among underserved youth in Ireland. 

• Projects that support an intergenerational 360 Health approach aimed at ensuring the moral, intellectual, physical, emotional and social welfare of all generations. 

• Projects that foster coalitions, partnerships and cross-sectoral collaborations to maximise the impact of their initiatives 

• Organisations that have a positive effect on Ireland’s Green Transition through their activities/interventions. This criteria applies if the organisation tackles issues related to the environment and green transition, such as carbon reduction, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, pollution and/or the just transition 

Which projects cannot apply? 

• Projects where research is the primary activity 

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

• Projects promoting or aligned with a political party 

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

• Projects focused on animal welfare 

• Projects based outside the Republic of Ireland 

• Projects led by people under 18 years of age 

• Projects 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 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 received an award from Rethink Ireland, can I still apply? 

Yes. If you have previously been funded by Rethink Ireland, you can still apply. Previous awardees must be able to demonstrate they have performed well on a previous programme and capture in the application form how the new funding being applied for is a logical continuation from the original investment, fitting the new fund criteria in particular.   

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

Projects on one of our funds that have cash grant payments remaining before the commencement of the new fund programme (March 2026) are not eligible to apply.  

Organisations on one of our funds that have cash grant payments remaining before the commencement of the new fund programme March 2026 are still eligible to apply with a different project and different project lead. 

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 registered charity (see criteria above). 

Can I apply for this funding even though I am still at the ideation stage?  

Unfortunately no, this fund needs to see proof that the project is up and running or at least has been tested and shown results in some way. 

Can organisations make multiple applications?  

Yes, there is nothing stopping your organisation from making more than one application for separate projects. However, due to the competitive nature of this fund and its selection process, it is very unlikely that we will fund more than one project from any organisation. We encourage organisations to submit one strong application rather than multiple applications. 

If my organisation is funded by a government or 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 registered charity and a community development organisation)? 

Yes, but one organisation [registered charity] is required to take the lead. Please note that if your application is successful,  the lead applicant will be required to sign a contract and fulfill all legal obligations associated with the projects performance. Please always refer to the eligibility criteria to ensure that your project is eligible for funding. 

What is involved in completing the application form? 

The application form asks you for information about: 

• your project and organisation 

• the problem your project tackles 

• what makes your project different from others 

• who it benefits 

• how your project meets the fund conditions 

• how you test or evaluate how well your project is doing  

• referees 

• other details 

It also asks you to send us financial documents (listed below) a short video about your project (optional) and your organisational/project strategic plan (if available) 

What kind of video do we need to submit? Optional 

Don’t worry – you don’t need to produce a high quality or expensive video. You can use a smartphone or tablet. We just want to hear you telling the story of your project in 2 – 3 mins max. Please tell us:  

• who you are 

• why you are applying for the award 

• the problem/issue your project is trying to solve 

• how you will do that  

• how your solution is innovative or creative.  

Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and include the URL link in the application form. Both platforms allow you to upload an “unlisted” video, which is accessible only via the link and not visible to the public. 

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

1. The documents you need to complete depend on whether you are applying in relation to a project within an organisation or you are applying as an organisation as a whole: 

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

2. All applicants must outline how they intend to use the funds from Rethink Ireland if successful and upload a proposed budget. A spreadsheet template is provided in the relevant section of the application form. 

How do we upload our project budget (planned income and expenditure)? 

In the relevant section of the application form you will be provided with a link to a budget template in Excel. Please click on the link provided and DOWNLOAD this document to your computer. Then fill in your financial information and save the document with your project’s name and then upload it in the relevant section of the application form.  

What if my organisation does not have a strategic plan?  

If your organisation has a strategic plan, we encourage you to share it with us, as it enables us to get a greater understanding of your work. However, it is not mandatory and if your organisation does not have a strategic plan this will not affect your application. 

What happens after we submit our application? 

1. Applications will go through a rigorous selection process (for more information see below). 
2. Interviews will take place online between 26th November – 5th December (if you are invited to an interview you will be informed by Friday 14th November 
3. Successful applicants will be informed in March 2026 

What does the Childrens Active Play Fund offer to awardees? 

• Cash grants grants between €130,000 – €210,000 (per successful project) 

• A business supports package 

• A place on our Capacity Building Accelerator Programme 

• Project performance management 

• Access to Rethink Ireland’s networks 

What can cash grants be spent on?  

The cash grant must be spent on the project that won the award and must be ring-fenced for work you are undertaking. The specific use of the cash grant will be agreed between Rethink Ireland and the awardee.  

The funding may be used to cover operations/staff costs but you must be able to demonstrate in your application how this is facilitating you to run the project that you are applying for. 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 non-financial supports will be provided to successful applicants? 

Rethink Ireland’s non-financial supports have been called our ‘secret sauce’ that help projects to really develop their capacity and sustainability, in addition to the benefit of the cash supports. Non-financial supports will include: 

1. Each awardee’s project lead and potentially other relevant staff will take part in the fund’s Accelerator Programme. The Accelerator Programme will consist of a series of interactive training workshops on topics such as strategy development, measuring and maximising your impact, communications and storytelling, diversity and inclusion and fundraising.
2. Awardees will also get some bespoke 1:1 business and capacity building supports from expert business/non-profit consultants in areas such as impact management, theory of change and strategy development. Supports will be designed in consultation with the successful projects.
3. Awardees will also get access to Rethink Ireland’s networks and have the opportunity to develop networks and contacts with the other awardees of the fund which are often very valuable in the longer term. 

What is expected of awardees? 

The project lead will be expected to take part in the Accelerator Programme, which includes attending workshops and working 1:1 with a business/strategy consultant. Project leads will be expected to spend a minimum of two days per week working on the awarded project and working towards agreed goals. 

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 the Children’s Active Play 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. 

• 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, and children.