(L-R ) Sylvia Gordon, Head of Programmes, Corrymeela; Denise Bradley, Programme Manager: Marginalisation, Corrymeela; Tina McKenzie, Board Member, The Ireland Funds, CEO Staffline Ireland; Siobhán Gallagher, Executive Director, The Ireland Funds; Conor Largey, Senior Youth Worker, Holy Trinity Youth Centre; Emma Hennessy, Grants Manager, The Ireland Funds; Angela Moore, Vice Chair, The Ireland Funds America, Managing Director, Ravensdale Capital Investments LLC; Emma Shaw, Executive Director, Phoenix Education Centre.
Photo credit: Philip Matthews
11th August 2025: The Ireland Funds, the global philanthropic network, has awarded £404,000 ($500,000) to 42 organisations across Northern Ireland through its Heart of the Community Fund. This essential funding will empower a wide array of programmes that provide vital services and strengthen communities. Made possible by generous philanthropic gifts and fundraising events of The Ireland Funds America, these grants exemplify the power of collective giving.
Caitriona Fottrell, President & CEO of The Ireland Funds, said:
“This round of the 2025 Heart of the Community Fund is a reflection of The Ireland Funds’ enduring commitment to communities across Northern Ireland. It will help non-profit organisations deliver timely, impactful services where they are needed most. We are proud to support initiatives that uplift communities and create lasting positive outcomes. This would not be possible without the continued generosity of our donors, whose support and belief in our mission is making a real difference across Northern Ireland.”
The Ireland Funds works with the not-for-profit sector across its four funding pillars: Arts and Culture, Community Development, Education, and Peace and Reconciliation. This most recent grant round is focused on organisations across rural and hard-to-reach communities in Northern Ireland working with disengaged youth; and organisations across Northern Ireland providing mental health supports in communities where trauma and limited opportunities have made such needs especially acute.
A second grant round will open later this year to support organisations in the Republic of Ireland.
Impact in Northern Ireland:
42 organisations will benefit from support. Examples include:
- Corrymeela Community (Antrim): Through their support groups, they promote peace and reconciliation, contributing to a more cohesive society.
- Mind Your Mate and Yourself (Down): Community based mental health and well-being charity that provides an adult counselling service and health and well-being programmes.
- Holy Trinity Youth Centre (Antrim): The sole full-time, voluntary provider of youth services for the Turf Lodge area in Belfast.
- Phoenix Education Centre (Antrim): A community-based, community-focused and community-led initiative tackling educational underachievement in East Belfast.
- Rural Support (Tyrone): Provides business, finance, technical and counselling mentoring to farm families across Northern Ireland.
Conor Largey, Senior Youth Worker, Holy Trinity Youth Centre said:
“The Ireland Funds Heart of the Community Fund will provide much-needed support to young people in Holy Trinity Youth Centre. This will fund learning opportunities otherwise inaccessible to them. This will improve the lives of the young people we work with, personally, socially and educationally, as they become active citizens in their communities. We are deeply indebted to The Ireland Funds and its donors for investing in the future of our community.”
The Ireland Funds is a global philanthropic network established in 1976. It is one of the largest independent grant makers for the not-for-profit sector across the island of Ireland.