Applications Invited for Growth Fund 2026-2029
Rethink Ireland is now accepting applications for the new Growth Fund 2026 - 2029. The Growth Fund aims to scale proven social innovations to achieve widespread impact and transformative change in Ireland.
Overview
The Growth Fund is a €3.6 million three-year fund that aims to scale proven social innovations to achieve widespread impact and transformative change in Ireland.
The Fund has been set up to support previous Rethink Ireland awardees who have graduated from their Rethink Ireland programme or are in the final year of a programme.
The fund will support up to 3 mature, high-performing organisations, providing total awards up to €1.15 million per awardee over 3 years, combining cash grants with bespoke business support through Rethink Ireland’s venture philanthropy model.
What do successful applicants get?
- Up to a 50% uplift on funding secured*
- A tailored non financial supports package to support awardees to grow, on topics such as strategy, scaling, impact management and financial resilience, designed in consultation with awardees.
- Access to Rethink Ireland’s networks
*Awardees need to secure philanthropic funding commitments for the Growth Fund totalling minimum €450,000 (€150,000 per annum x 3 years) to maximum €750,000 (€250,000 per annum x 3 years) in 2026. Awardees will receive up to a 50% uplift on funds secured. Awardees can submit their application in April 2026 and, if successful as a Growth Fund nominee, they will have until October 2026 to secure their philanthropic funding commitments and provide donor letters of commitment (template provided below). If successful as a Growth Fund nominee, Rethink Ireland Business Development Team will support you on your fundraising journey by opening up doors to our existing donors and helping to identify any potential prospects. For all aspects of fundraising – the Growth Fund nominee will lead with Rethink Ireland in support. The Rethink Ireland Board will decide how much money to award, which may be less than the amount requested.
Deadline for applications: 20 April 2026.