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.

1. Programme Focus: Ideas Academy is for fresh ideas needing nurturing, like a startup incubator, while the Impact Programme is for scaling up established ideas, similar to an accelerator.
2. Support Level: Ideas Academy provides seed funding and basic support to get projects off the ground, whereas the Impact Programme offers more substantial funding and extensive mentorship for growth.

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.

After you’ve registered and have entered the applications portal you will be able to start your application. Upon selection of the programme you’re applying for, you will need to enter the Application Name and press ‘Save+Next’. All your work after this will be automatically saved. After submission you will not be able to make any changes, so please ensure that you are submitting an application for the programme you intend to apply for.

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 ‘Ireland’ refers to both the Republic of Ireland and Northern 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.

No, you don’t necessarily have to be the originator of the idea, but you should currently be the main driver and decision-maker of the project, with the skills to drive it forward. You should be passionate about the work you do and have an entrepreneurial spirit.

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 accelerator programme designed to support Ireland’s highest potential social entrepreneurs. Through the programme, we help you build strong foundations and a plan to grow your impact.

We offer a mix of group and individual support and training in areas like strategy, governance, business modeling, fundraising, communications, leadership, and wellbeing. This helps you take your organisation to the next level.

On top of that, we pair you with highly experienced mentors, coaches, and connect you with our extensive network of social entrepreneurs. This comprehensive support system empowers you to build an impactful, scalable, and sustainable organisation.

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.

All Impact Awardees will receive direct unrestricted funding of €20,000, and a programme of support from SEI worth approximately €20,000. Impact Awardees of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland are also entitled to receive a series of pro-bono supports from several partner organisations, ensuring that each of our social entrepreneurs receives the best professional services available at no cost to them or their organisations. Impact Awardees are also provided with access to numerous free/low-cost training courses and workshops to help develop both themselves and their organisations further.

The Impact Programme is tailored to meet the needs of the individual social entrepreneur, with the programme structure agreed at the beginning of the Award. The time commitment for each Impact Awardee will be slightly different but on average 2-4 days per month for supports such as 1-1 meetings with your programme manager, meetings with consultants/experts and group and networking events. This time commitment may increase throughout the programme depending on the level of support required. 

Throughout the programme, participating in photocalls, media opportunities and speaking opportunities may be required and involvement in the SEI community is encouraged.

It’s important to note that the Programme will require significant input from the Impact Awardee in order to benefit from the supports on offer.

The support structure is at the heart of the Impact Programme. It comprises both funding and a tailored support programme designed to help social entrepreneurs to maximise their impact and accelerate their development. Impact Awardees must commit to participating fully in the programme to gain the benefits it offers.

Impact Programme projects and organisations must be currently operational, having progressed beyond the initial/pilot stage. This means that you can demonstrate that you have carried out a pilot, evaluated the results, and are now actively delivering your solution.

Additionally, Impact Programme projects and organisations must be legally incorporated, registered with a recognised legal structure or as a sole trader.

If you are unsure what stage your solution is at, please review the criteria outlined in the Applicant Guide on our website.

The financial support provided by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland is unrestricted. While there are some broad constraints to how the unrestricted funding is spent (for example we will not fund illegal activities) we consider the Impact Awardee to be the person best suited to decide how their project can benefit from the financial support. The unrestricted funding may be used, for example, to fund the salary of the social entrepreneur or specific initiatives. 

Impact Awardees are required to submit reports throughout the period of their Award, along with a summary report at the end of the award period. This report outlines progress made and actions completed against the Awardee’s project plan, along with a financial breakdown of the donation monies.

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.

We will let you know whether you have been selected to take part in the Assessment Workshops at the beginning of June 2024.

The programme will begin in August 2024 and will run until May 2025. You can find more details on this and associated timelines in the Selection Process Timeline in the application guide here.

The Changing Ireland Accelerator is a twelve-month initiative for social entrepreneur-led organisations with a proven solution to a social problem affecting under-represented or marginalised people in Ireland. Throughout the 12 months, you will work with SEI to support you in key areas of need to help you grow and scale your impact. We provide one-to-one support, coaching and consultancy as well as group training, in areas such as leadership development, marketing and communications, governance, strategic planning, and finance.

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 4 social entrepreneurs will be selected to participate in the Changing Ireland Accelerator.

All four succesful applicants will receive direct funding of €60,000, and a programme of bespoke support from SEI. As part of the supports, awardees will receive coaching, consultancy, training and pro-bono supports from several partner organisations, ensuring that each of our social entrepreneurs receives the best professional services available at no cost to them or their organisations. 

The Changing Ireland Accelerator is tailored to meet the needs of the individual social entrepreneur, with the programme structure agreed at the beginning of the programme. The time commitment for each Awardee will be slightly different but on average 3 to 5 days per month. Depending on the type and timing of support, some months may require more time commitment than others. It’s important to note that the programme will require significant input from the Awardee in order to benefit from the supports on offer.

The support structure is at the heart of the Changing Ireland Accelerator. Both the funding and a tailored support programme is designed to help social entrepreneurs to grow and scale their impact. Awardees must commit to participating fully in the programme to gain the benefits it offers.

Successful applicants to the Changing Ireland Accelerator Programme must be able to demonstrate the following:

• proof that they can successfully fund their solution,
• that they not only have the desire and ambition to scale, but a plan to do so,
• they must be able to show that they are directly supporting people who are under-represented and/or marginalised,
• the are working full-time in the organisation (or full-time equivalent if partnership) for the duration of the programme.  

The financial support provided by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland is unrestricted. While there are some broad constraints to how the unrestricted funding is spent (for example we will not fund illegal activities) we consider the Awardee to be the person best suited to decide how their project can benefit from the financial support. The funding may be used, for example, to fund the salary of the social entrepreneur or specific initiatives. 

Changing Ireland Accelerator Awardees are required to submit reports throughout the period of their Award, along with a summary report at the end of the award period. This report outlines progress made and actions completed against the Awardee’s support plan, along with a financial breakdown of the funding spend.

Yes; at Social Entrepreneurs Ireland we realise how tough it can be to raise the necessary funds to scale. 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/organisation has made significant progress since you last applied or if you have taken on feedback that was provided.

We will let you know whether you have been selected to take part in the Changing Ireland Accelerator first round of interviews by the 5th April.

The programme will begin in June 2023 and will run until June 2024. You can find more details on this and associated timelines in the Selection Process Timeline in the Applicant Guide.

Before applying, please review the eligibility criteria for The Impact Programme here, and for the Changing Ireland Accelerator here.