Impact Programme

Strengthening leaders to scale solutions to Ireland’s biggest social challenges.

Applications for the Impact Programme 2026 are now open until 20 April.

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Have you piloted your solution and proven its impact? The Impact Programme supports social entrepreneurs who are ready to join the journey to grow as leaders and scale their solutions to achieve sustained impact.

Overview

The Impact Programme is a nine-month journey

supporting Ireland’s highest potential social entrepreneurs who are ready to scale their solutions to Ireland’s biggest social challenges. Through tailored mentoring, expert training, unrestricted funding and a vibrant peer community, we support leaders to make confident, strategic decisions, strengthen their organisational capacity, and grow solutions that create lasting social change.

The programme focuses on four key areas: building a stronger organisation, developing resilient leadership, amplifying your voice and creating long-lasting social change. Whether it’s refining your strategy, strengthening governance or expanding your reach, we work with you to identify your biggest opportunities for growth and impact. Join Ireland’s largest community of social entrepreneurs and take your impact to the next level.

Support

The programme provides targeted support and engagement through a series of structured activities: Discovery sessions to get to know each other, the team in Social Entrepreneurs Ireland and your story; Co-Design days to collectively plan the programme; Group sessions including workshops and work discussion groups; Individual Supports including coaching, mentoring and consultancy. These sessions are facilitated by members of our team and wider community including our supporters, partners, funders and sector expert consultants.

All activities are aligned with four focus areas:

  • Stronger Organisation: Training, advice and support in areas related to improving an organisation’s structure, operational capacity, solution delivery, financial capacity and impact measurement.
  • Resilient Leaders: Leadership development and growth to strengthen the resilience and adaptability of social entrepreneurs. 
  • Impactful Voice: Connecting and communicating with a range of stakeholders. 
  • Long-Lasting Social Change: Tackling the root problem, not just delivering a solution, through networking building and collaborations within the eco-system.

Time-commitment

The programme is designed to be flexible and tailored to individual needs. Awardees will engage in approximately 2-4 days per month, participating in a mix of 1:1 meetings, expert-led workshops, and collaborative group sessions. As the programme progresses, time commitments may increase, particularly as participants work toward tangible deliverables.

Funding

  • Each awardee receives funding.
    • Funding can be allocated to strengthening and scaling the organisation including team expansion, legal structuring and strategic marketing. 
  • Participants also access additional supports worth €20,000-€30,000 per organisation, including expert consultancy, leadership development and bespoke training.

Who is it for?

Social entrepreneurs with a proven solution who are ready to define their scaling model to maximise impact and are committed to lasting social change.

What we offer

Co-designed supports in leadership, organisation building and scaling impact.
Funding.
Peer community, tailored mentorship, coaching and expert training.
Hands-on consultancy (impact measurement, marketing, legal, finance).
Pathways to scaling.

Key Dates:

1

Applications Period

from 23 March to 20 April 2026

Preview Application Guide

“
Miriam Spollen, Connections Arts CentreThe Impact Prgramme 2024/25

“The Impact Programme came at a crucial time for Connections Arts Centre, as we launched our first-ever impact report and learning platform for Creative TY Connections. It also marked the beginning of our serious engagement with government and ministerial advocacy. Your support and guidance through that was honestly invaluable.”

“
Scott Bryan, Community RootsThe Impact Programme 2024/25.

“The Impact Programme gave me space, structure and support to think big while staying grounded. It helped clarify Community Roots' mission, sharpen our strategy, and connect with a brilliant network of peers and mentors who genuinely understand the challenges of building a social enterprise. It’s not just a programme – it’s a launchpad.”

“
Rosemary Kunene, Dignity PartnershipThe Impact Programme 2024/25.

“The Impact Programmes brought the true meaning of - 'Don't waste your time chasing butterflies. Mend your garden and the butterflies will come.' as quoted by Brazilian poet Mario Quintana. As a social entrepreneur, I tend to avail of everything presented or offered. However, this programme reminded me of the importance of creating a strong foundation through self-improvement.”

“
Mick Ledden, PsyCare IrelandThe Impact Programme 2024/25.

“The SEI Impact Programme not only helped our organisation plan and shape our scalability and impact delivery into the future, it helped guide me to develop the skills to be a better strategist, storyteller and systemic thinker and become a more effective change manager and leader.”

“
Michelle O’Toole, HUGS CommunityThe Impact Programme 2024/25.

“Peer support is such an important element of our work with HUGS and through the SEI Impact Programme, we've been incredibly lucky to find a wonderful tribe of social entrepreneurs (and other connections!) to lean on. Thank you Jo and all at SEI for introducing us to this powerful, passionate, people-centred community.”

“

The Impact Programme came at a crucial time for Connections Arts Centre, as we launched our first-ever impact report and learning platform for Creative TY Connections. It also marked the beginning of our serious engagement with government and ministerial advocacy. Your support and guidance through that was honestly invaluable.

Miriam Spollen, Connections Arts CentreThe Impact Prgramme 2024/25
“

The Impact Programme gave me space, structure and support to think big while staying grounded. It helped clarify Community Roots' mission, sharpen our strategy, and connect with a brilliant network of peers and mentors who genuinely understand the challenges of building a social enterprise. It’s not just a programme – it’s a launchpad.

Scott Bryan, Community RootsThe Impact Programme 2024/25.
“

The Impact Programmes brought the true meaning of - 'Don't waste your time chasing butterflies. Mend your garden and the butterflies will come.' as quoted by Brazilian poet Mario Quintana. As a social entrepreneur, I tend to avail of everything presented or offered. However, this programme reminded me of the importance of creating a strong foundation through self-improvement.

Rosemary Kunene, Dignity PartnershipThe Impact Programme 2024/25.
“

The SEI Impact Programme not only helped our organisation plan and shape our scalability and impact delivery into the future, it helped guide me to develop the skills to be a better strategist, storyteller and systemic thinker and become a more effective change manager and leader.

Mick Ledden, PsyCare IrelandThe Impact Programme 2024/25.
“

Peer support is such an important element of our work with HUGS and through the SEI Impact Programme, we've been incredibly lucky to find a wonderful tribe of social entrepreneurs (and other connections!) to lean on. Thank you Jo and all at SEI for introducing us to this powerful, passionate, people-centred community.

Michelle O’Toole, HUGS CommunityThe Impact Programme 2024/25.

Who is eligible?

You and Your Organisation  

  • You (and any project/organisation partner(s)) are 18 years old or over at the time of application
  • You have identified a social or environmental issue and developed an effective solution to address it
  • The primary activities of your organisation take place in the Republic of Ireland
  • Your project/organisation is legally incorporated, registered with a recognised legal structure or as a sole trader
  • You are the founder or co-founder of this idea or organisation
  • You have been actively delivering your solution (either as a sole trader or legally incorporated) for 12 months or more
  • You have evidence demonstrating the measurable impact of your organisation on your target beneficiaries/audience (e.g., survey/feedback forms results, or quantified relevant indicators like “tons diverted” or “employment rates”)
  • Your current time commitment to your project/organisation is either part-time or full-time
  • You are aiming to significantly grow or scale your organisation in the next 3 years

You are willing and able to commit to:

  • working a minimum of 20 hours a week on your project/organisation for at least the duration of the programme. 
  • attending mandatory Selection Process and key programme events (such as the launch) outlined in the programme guide. 
  • engaging with the programme for the equivalent of 2 to 4 days per month including approximately one full–day workshop per month.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and we are committed to providing equal opportunities regardless of gender identity, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or religion. (The Equal Status Acts 2000-2018)