Heritage Organisations Support Fund opens for applications

The Heritage Council's Heritage Organisations Support Fund aims to build the capacity of non-governmental organisations working in the heritage sector in Ireland by providing funding towards their core costs.

Recognising the critical role heritage projects play in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, the Heritage Organisations Support Fund 2025 prioritises support for projects that demonstrate environmentally sustainable practices. This funding will provide support to:

• develop and strengthen the skills, processes, and resources that heritage organisations need to survive, adapt, and thrive.
• heritage organisations who play a key role in the heritage infrastructure of Ireland and to help achieve national policy and plans.

The Heritage Council's Heritage Organisations Support Fund is open to not-for-profit non-governmental heritage-focused organisations with demonstrated national and or regional relevance. Organisations that fit the following criteria are eligible to apply:

• Company Type: Your not-for-profit organisation must be established as a Company limited by guarantee (CLG) and must not be controlled either directly or indirectly by any state or other body.
• Constitution requirements: The constitution of the organisation must prohibit the payment of remuneration to the directors.
• Purpose of the organisation: The purpose must relate to one of the aspects of heritage mentioned in the Heritage Acts 1995, 2018, or organisations engaged in the protection of intangible cultural heritage as part of Ireland’s commitments to the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• Demonstrated national and or regional relevance: Applicants must show impact at a national or regional level by operating across two or more local authority areas and demonstrating best practices in a specific heritage area that can influence broader policies. Examples include projects spanning multiple counties, piloting innovative heritage practices, or contributing to policy through exemplary regional work.
• Organisational work plan: The organisation must be undertaking innovative small to medium-scale actions that provide clear outcomes that assist in the delivery of one or more of the following the Heritage Council’s strategic plan; the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030; Heritage Ireland 2030; Places for People- National Policy on Architecture National Climate Action Plan and the relevant Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plans (eg Biodiversity, Built Heritage and Archaeology).

Private companies, individuals, public bodies or organisations controlled either directly or indirectly by any state or other body are not eligible to apply for funding under this scheme.

The maximum amount available per organisation is €50,000. It is envisaged that the average offers to be in the €30,000 - €50,000 range and that about 30 to 40 organisations will be supported by this scheme.

To consider your application, we must receive it online along with supporting documents by 5 p.m. on 27 January 2025.

Register here for the zoom information webinar on 5th December 2024 at 12 noon.