WHAT IS THE ENGAGE & EDUCATE FUND?

The Engage & Educate Fund is a €150,000 awards fund created by Social Innovation Fund Ireland in partnership with Mason Hayes & Curran and the Department of Rural and Community Development. The Department of Rural and Community Development provides match funding for all philanthropic funds raised by Social Innovation Fund Ireland, via the Dormant Accounts Fund. 

The Engage & Educate Fund is open to projects that empower people through education to achieve their full potential and to contribute to their community. The objective of the fund is to find and back innovative projects that empower people through education with a focus on tackling the disabling effects on human potential of disadvantage, disability or migrant status.

WHAT DOES THE FUND OFFER?

  • A share of €150,000 fund, including both cash grant and business supports shared between 4 or 5 projects
  • Access to an Accelerator Programme from July to December 2019. The programme will be made up of bespoke supports such as mentoring, assistance with strategic planning, and expertise on how to maximise impact

WHAT KIND OF PROJECT IS THE FUND LOOKING FOR?

The Engage & Educate Fund is open to projects that empower people through education to achieve their full potential and to contribute to their community. Projects that focus on people from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people with migrant status are encouraged to apply. Project activities can also include adult education and physical education for adults, young people and/or children. 

Applicants should be able to demonstrate how their project impacts upon the lives of their participants and their local communities. Projects should have tangible educational outcomes e.g. certification.

Applicants must meet Social Innovation Fund Ireland standard criteria and specific criteria for the Engage & Educate Fund listed below.

SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND IRELAND STANDARD CRITERIA

  • The project must address a critical social issue – in this case educational disadvantage
  • The project proposed must be innovative in an Irish context
  • 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
  • The project 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. school, charity, social enterprise, voluntary organisation or Higher Education Institution

PROJECTS THAT CAN DEMONSTRATE THREE OF THE FOLLOWING WILL HAVE AN ADVANTAGE 

  • Educational certification on completion of the project’s programme 
  • Focus on students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, including Travellers
  • Focus on students with disabilities (intellectual, mental health, physical)
  • Focus on students from migrant backgrounds
  • Employ an evidenced based holistic approach – whole school, parent, community involvement
  • Have a research and evaluation component
  • Have a numeracy or literacy component

HOW DO I APPLY?

The Engage & Educate application form is available on its dedicated page here.

HOW LONG IS THE FUND OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS?

The Engage & Educate Fund is open for applications from Wednesday 19th December 2018 until Tuesday 19th February 2019 at 5pm.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF APPLICANTS?

Applicants are expected to be available for interviews on from Monday 25th March – Friday 29th March 2019 at our offices in Dublin.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF AWARDEES?

Awardees will be expected to participate in an Accelerator Programme from July to December 2019. It is expected a minimum of 2 days per week will be devoted to working on your awarded project. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I upload a video link to my application?

Click here for our short and sweet guide to uploading video.

What is expected of the video?

Click here to watch a sample video that John Smith prepared.

Can you explain what you mean by output (model, impact, testing etc)?

Click here to see our handy one-page glossary of terms, and click here to see examples of how those terms can be applied.

What can the Awardee spend the cash grant on?

The cash grant must be spent on the project which won the Award. The specific use of the cash grant will be agreed between Social Innovation Fund Ireland and the Awardee. Cash grants may not be used to pay off debts or purchase land, buildings or equipment (capital expenses).

Who will decide who wins the Awards?

The selection process is outlined below. Final decisions will be made by the Board of Social Innovation Fund Ireland.

What is the selection process?

  • Stage 1: Open call for applications 19th December 2018 – 19th February 2019
  • Stage 2: Selection process – internal and external review
  • Stage 3: Interviews (25th March – 29th March 2019)
  • Stage 4: Final due diligence
  • Stage 5: Decision by Social Innovation Fund Ireland’s Board
  • Stage 6: Announce Awardees (May 2019)

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

All applicants will be informed by telephone or email.

What projects are not eligible?

  • Projects seeking funds for scholarships
  • Projects seeking funding for capital items – buildings, vans, etc.
  • Research projects
  • Party political projects
  • Projects that do not provide a benefit to people or the environment e.g. projects that benefit animals only
  • Projects that screen beneficiaries in or out by faith or religious denomination
  • Projects where the main impact is outside Republic of Ireland
  • Projects that are an idea (only) and that have not yet started

What applicants are not eligible? 

  • Applicants must be over 18 years old
  • Applicant organisations must be a registered charity or be in advanced stages of application to the Charities Regulatory Authority
  • Social Innovation Fund Ireland staff, Directors and their family members* are excluded from applying
  • Mason Hayes & Curran staff, Directors and their family members are excluded from applying
  • Clients of Mason Hayes & Curran are not excluded from applying but must declare relationship at time of application

*Immediate family members include sibling, parent, spouse or civil partner or child.

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF THE FUND

By applying for the Sports to Impact Fund, all applicants have agreed to the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure you have read and understood the Terms & Conditions before beginning your application.

  • All applicants warrant that they are over 18 years of age
  • All applicants warrant that they have engaged fully and truthfully with the application process and will engage fully and truthfully with the selection process. This includes providing full and accurate information, both written and verbal, at all stages of the process
  • All applicants warrant that they are eligible to apply
  • All applicants warrant that they have the right to apply. This means that they hold the necessary rights to carry out the project

Please contact hello@socialinnovation.ie with any questions.

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