Applications are now closed.

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 (24th October 2023 – 26th April 2024)
• Stage 2 – Eligibility screen and internal and external reviews of applications (early May)
• Stage 3 – Due Diligence/Governance checks on short-listed applicants (mid May) and Interviews for shortlisted applicants (27th-31st May)
• Stage 4 – Final checks on short-listed applicants (June)
• Stage 5 – Final decision by Rethink Ireland board (July)

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?

We will contact all applicants by email to let them know whether or not they have been shortlisted and invited to interview.  Interviews will be conducted via online video link. 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. 

What happens after the selection process? 

• Successful applicants will be informed in early August
• The cash grants will be delivered over the two years and are tied to agreed performance milestones. 
• The Accelerator Programme will run from October 2024 to September 2026. 
• The Accelerator supports will be designed in consultation with the awardees and reflect organisational/project needs. 
• The Fund will close in September 2026.

There will be up to 5 awards available in total, and each awardee will receive a cash grant, a business supports package, a place on our capacity building programme and access to Rethink Ireland’s networks.

What can cash grants be spent on? 

This Fund has been set up to support previous Rethink Ireland awardees who have encountered a temporary core funding gap and are seeking support to revisit their business model and improve their financial sustainability. Therefore, the proposed use of the grant should link back to this objective. We anticipate expenditure on activities that will strengthen the financial sustainability of the organisation overall as well as support the delivery of specific projects/programmes.

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 various costs (see budget template) but you must be able to demonstrate in your application how this is facilitating you to run the programme of work 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 avail of Rethink Ireland’s Accelerator Programme as appropriate. 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 relevant areas such as strategy development, business modelling and financial modelling. Supports will be designed in consultation with the successful oganisations.
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 Rethink Ireland Programme, which includes attending workshops and spending time working 1:1 with a business/strategy consultant.

You will be required to provide a ‘Donor Letter of Commitment’ when submitting your application. Please download this letter for editing. 

There are two strands associated with this Fund:

For Strand 1, applicants need to secure philanthropic funding commitments totalling at least €200,000 (€100,000 per annum) to make an application.

For Strand 2, applicants need to secure philanthropic funding commitments totalling at least €100,000 (€50,000 per annum) to make an application.

Note that the Rethink Ireland Board will decide how much money to award, which may be less than the amount requested. The final amount of the award will depend on how many organisations are selected.

If you are successful, you will be asked to provide further evidence to verify the private funding you have secured.

How the funding process works: 

• These private funds, once received by the awardee, are transferred to Rethink Ireland and then returned to the awardee within 30 days.* 
• Rethink Ireland provides evidence of committed donor funds to Government.
• Government releases funding to Rethink Ireland. 
• Rethink Ireland provides an uplift of 50% on the donor funds and makes uplift payments to the awardee and provides non-financial supports.

*The philanthropic funding can be received and transferred in instalments but uplift funding will only be available once philanthropic funding has been received and transferred. All funding should be received by the awardee and transferred to Rethink Ireland in 2024 or in 2024 and 2025. All funding should be received and transferred by 30th June 2025 latest.

For example: If an applicant raises €200,000 in private funds over 2 years, Rethink Ireland will provide an uplift of €100,000 in total. The total Rethink Ireland cash grant will be calculated as €300,000 (private funds plus uplift). 

What does philanthropic funding include?

Rethink Ireland defines philanthropy as coming from private sources e.g., individuals, companies, trust and foundations and cannot include statutory funding or funding from a public body. Eligible philanthropy for this fund is defined as newly secured private donations as a result of the fund. This can include new donors or renewal of current/past donors.

Can the philanthropic funding come from multiple sources/donors?

Yes, the funding can come from multiple sources.

Does the philanthropic funding need to be received by the applicant before the application deadline?

The commitment of philanthropic funding needs to be in place by the deadline for applications (a donor letter of commitment is required as part of the application). However, the philanthropic funding does not need to be received prior to the deadline – the actual funding can be received in 2024 and in 2025 (up to 30th June 2025).

By applying for Social Innovation Regeneration Fund, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

• 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.
• Awardees (successful Applicants) agree to  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 rescinded because you did not comply with the terms and conditions, the Board of 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.