Frequently Asked Questions

All applications must be submitted online using our online application form. Please access socialentrepreneurs.grantplatform.com to login/register and create your application. Check out ‘Our Programmes‘ page for details on all programmes.

No. All applications must be submitted directly online using the online application form.

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland supports people at every stage of their journey. The primary difference lies in the maturity of your solution and the level of support provided.

The Ideas Academy

• Stage: Best for those at the ideation, research, or early testing phases.
• Focus: A three-month programme to help you move from concept to action by refining your understanding of the problem and developing a pilot plan.
• Commitment: Approximately 3 to 6 hours per week.

The Impact Programme

• Stage: For established organisations that have moved beyond the pilot stage and are already operational.
• Focus: A nine-month journey focused on building a stronger organisation, resilient leadership, and scaling your impact nationally.
• Support: Provides bespoke 1:1 coaching, expert consultancy, and professional pro-bono services.
• Commitment: 2 to 4 days per month for programme activities, while working at least 20 hours per week on your organisation.

No. You can only apply to the programme most relevant to your project/organisation’s stage of development. You cannot make two applications to two programmes with different projects. Each person can only submit one application, regardless of the programme. The Eligibility criteria are listed in each applicant guide.

If your idea is new, yes. You are not eligible to apply for the same programme with the same project. You can however apply to the same programme with a new idea or apply to a different programme with your originally supported idea.

Yes, if you need extra support with making your application, we can provide extra supports like voice recording responses to the application questions. Please contact applications@socialentrepreneurs.ie or call 01-685 3469 for more details.

What we would recommend, however, if you are looking for feedback on your individual application, is to share it with some friends, colleagues and board members, to get their insights into the quality of your answers.

Just log back at the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland grant platform to edit and submit your application. https://socialentrepreneurs.grantplatform.com

Go to the Log in or register page, add your email in the respective field and click “Continue”. You will be able to easily recover your password by clicking on Forgot password on the password page.

Once you have registered and accessed the applications portal, you can begin your application. After selecting the programme you are applying for, you must enter the Application Name and click ‘Save + Next’. From this point onward, your work will be saved automatically.

Please note that after submission, you will no longer be able to make changes. Ensure that you are submitting your application for the correct programme before finalising.

All questions in the application are required unless marked ‘optional’. Once you have submitted your application you will not be able to amend it. Please be sure to review your work carefully before you submit it.

Once all the applications have been submitted, a thorough review process will take place. A full breakdown of the review process and associated timelines is listed in the Applicant Guides.

The numbers in brackets indicate the word count limit for that application question. The online application platform will not allow you to submit your application until all answers are within the correct word count.

No, we can only accept the information provided within the online application form. It is possible to include links to supporting evidence for your answers. The application questions and word counts were specifically designed to empower applicants to outline their understanding of the problem, their solution and their motivation behind their work.

No. If your project activities only take place outside Ireland and the main communities benefiting from your activities are outside of the island of Ireland then you are not eligible to apply.

At Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, our primary focus is on addressing social and environmental challenges within the Republic of Ireland. While we welcome applications from organisations that also operate in Northern Ireland, the majority of your organisation’s activities and its primary social impact must take place within the Republic of Ireland.

If a significant proportion of the work you do takes place in Ireland and if you can clearly demonstrate the societal benefit which these activities bring to the communities you work within Ireland, then you may be eligible to apply, provided you meet the rest of the application criteria.

No. Our support programmes are only open to social entrepreneurs living in Ireland.

Yes, you must meet all of the eligibility criteria listed in the Applicant Guide. You will also be asked to fill in the eligibility criteria form in the application ensuring that you are eligible for the programme you are intending to apply for. If you have any specific questions about eligibility criteria, please email us at:
applications@socialentrepreneurs.ie

The Impact Programme is a nine-month journey designed to support Ireland’s highest-potential social entrepreneurs who are ready to scale their solutions. We provide the critical scaffolding needed to grow from an operational model to a sustainable, national-level organisation.

Through a mix of group training and individual consultancy, we help you strengthen your foundations in areas such as strategy, governance, and leadership. In addition to expert-led workshops, you will be paired with experienced mentors and coaches, gaining access to a vibrant peer community and unrestricted funding to accelerate your impact.

While everyone will be different, in general, we advise that it takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete the application form, depending on the level of detail being provided. Trying to do all of this in one sitting is tough though, so we advise completing the application form in sections, making use of all the time available to complete the form.

Up to 5 social entrepreneurs will be selected as Impact Awardees.

If your application is successful, you will receive a comprehensive support package designed to help you scale your impact:

• Direct Funding: Each awardee receives unrestricted funding, providing the flexibility to invest in your salary, team, or specific growth initiatives.
• Tailored Support Programme: You will benefit from a structured nine-month programme of expert-led training and mentorship.
• Professional Pro-bono Services: Gain access to high-level professional services from our partner organisations at no cost, covering essential areas like legal, marketing, and financial advice.
• Growth Opportunities: You will have access to specialized training courses and workshops aimed at developing both your personal leadership skills and your organisation’s capacity.
• A Lifelong Community: Beyond the programme, you become part of Ireland’s largest network of social entrepreneurs, offering a permanent sense of belonging and peer support.

The Impact Programme is designed to meet your specific needs, with a tailored structure agreed upon at the start of your journey. While the exact commitment varies, you should expect to dedicate an average of 2 to 4 days per month to core programme activities. This includes 1:1 meetings with your programme manager, sessions with specialist consultants, and group networking events.

To gain the full benefit of the supports on offer, significant input and engagement are required. This commitment may increase at key moments depending on the level of bespoke support you need. Additionally, as a representative of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, you will be expected to participate in photocalls, media opportunities, and community events to help amplify your impact.

At Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, we believe that funding alone isn’t enough to create lasting change. The heart of the Impact Programme is our dual-support model, which combines unrestricted funding with a bespoke consultancy and training package.

We back the person behind the idea, and our support is designed to ease and strengthen your journey as a founder. By committing fully to the programme, you gain the critical scaffolding needed to build a resilient organisation, develop your leadership skills, and scale your impact nationally. To truly benefit from this high-level expertise and the vibrant peer community, active engagement and participation are essential.

The Impact Programme is designed for social entrepreneurs who have moved beyond the pilot phase and are now actively delivering their solution for at least 12 months. To be eligible, your project must be operational, meaning you have already tested your model, evaluated the results, and can demonstrate measurable social impact.

Furthermore, your organisation must be legally incorporated or registered under a recognised legal structure, such as a company limited by guarantee or a sole trader. If your idea is still in the research or early testing phase, we recommend applying for the Ideas Academy instead. For further clarity, please consult the criteria in the Applicant Guide on our website.

The funding provided by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland is unrestricted, as we believe you are best positioned to decide where the investment will have the greatest impact. This flexible funding is designed to ease the financial pressure on founders, allowing you to focus on your mission.

Common uses for this support include:

• Salary costs: Providing the social entrepreneur with the financial security to work on their organisation full-time.
• Team growth: Hiring key staff or specialist contractors.
• Strategic initiatives: Funding specific projects, technology upgrades, or marketing campaigns that accelerate your growth.

While the funding is flexible, it must be used for the development of the organisation and its social mission; it cannot be used for any illegal activities or purposes outside the scope of your social impact work.

Transparency and progress tracking are key to the partnership between Social Entrepreneurs Ireland and our awardees. Throughout the nine-month programme, participants are required to submit regular progress reports alongside a final summary report at the end of the programme.

These reports should outline the milestones achieved and actions completed against your initial project plan. Additionally, you will need to provide a financial breakdown of how the unrestricted funding was spent to ensure accountability and demonstrate the impact of the investment on your organisation’s growth.

Yes; at Social Entrepreneurs Ireland realises how tough it can be to raise the necessary funds for a project, particularly in the early stages of development. As a result, we have no issue with applications being made to other funding opportunities that may arise.

Yes. However, we would only recommend re-applying if your project or idea has made significant progress since you last applied or if you have taken on feedback that was provided.

For specific dates and a detailed breakdown of the selection process, please refer to the timeline included in our Applicant Guide. We will communicate with all applicants via email to notify them of whether they have been shortlisted for the next stage of the process.

The programme will begin in September 2026 and will run until May 2027. You can find more details on this and associated timelines in the Selection Process Timeline in the application guide.