The funding system is extremely complex and it can be a minefield for the inexperienced fundraiser. There are many potential funding sources including government initiatives, European/international funds, the National Lottery, independent trusts and foundations, the Arts Council and Sport England.
This guide intended to identify some of the lager more common funding organisations that are potential funding sources for Irish cultural groups operating as not for profit or charitable organisations. Only some of the funders listed on this site may be relevant to your organisation or project. You will need to research this in more detail before applying.
There are probably many more funding opportunities available to you locally including small trusts with dedicated funds or a 'community fund' to support local initiatives. You will find more details on local funders through the Local Authority or your local Council for Voluntary Organisations (CVO).
It is important that you do your research before making any application. Your organisation or project will need to match the specific priorities and funding criteria before you apply for funding. Make sure you have enough time to write your application and gather all the supporting documents you need to send with it. Never be tempted to send an incomplete application form or miss out information that has been requested. This will ensure your time has been wasted.
Please also remember there is never any guarantee that your application will be successful and you should never commit to any expenditure before an award is confirmed.
Although it would not be possible for FIS to provide detailed assistance with every funding application we will always try to guide you in the right direction. We will consider providing more focused support on larger bids and applications with significant developmental content.Whatever you are applying for we wish you the best of luck. The following links provide more in-depth information: