The Reconciliation Fund awards grants to organisations working to build better relations within and between traditions in Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. The Reconciliation Fund operates two main funding rounds each year (in spring and autumn) for 12-month grants. A Strategic Partnerships stream for 3-year funding was also launched in summer 2021.
Autumn 2022 Funding Round (for 12-month funding)
The autumn funding round will open on Tuesday 6 September 2022 at 11am. The round will remain open for 2 weeks, closing on Tuesday 20 September 2022 at 12pm.
Applications may be made only through the online grant application portal: https://onlinefunding.dfa.ie/
NOTE: Any application submitted before the opening time of 11am on the opening day of an annual funding round will be regarded as invalid and will not be accepted.
Further information on the requirements under this round are set out: https://www.dfa.ie/reconciliation
Reconciliation Fund Strategy 2021-2024
Following extensive engagement with our funding partners and others working in the field of peace and reconciliation, a new Reconciliation Fund Strategy was approved by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in order to guide the work of the Reconciliation Fund during the period 2021-2024. The new strategy came into effect on 15 March 2021.
The strategy outlines an updated set of funding priorities and criteria for the Reconciliation Fund, to ensure that the Fund supports our vision of a reconciled Ireland and remains relevant, effective, and efficient over the coming years. A summary of these funding priorities and criteria can be found in the Am I Eligible? tab below. Potential applicants should also consult the new Strategy document itself.
As well as setting out overarching themes and priority areas, the new Strategy outlines how the Reconciliation Fund can provide, in addition to direct project funding, Core Operational and Capital funding to support the important work of peace and reconciliation.
The new Strategy provided for the expansion of the Strategic Partnership multi-annual funding stream that had been piloted under the Reconciliation Fund’s previous Strategy. Under the new funding stream, around 15-30 organisations will be eligible to become a Strategic Partner of the Fund, with a commitment to funding over a 3-year period, allowing them to develop a more strategic long term approach to planning their work. The first call for applications for Strategic Partnership under this new scheme was made during May-June 2021.