Community Foundation News
18 Jun 2025
RTÉ Toy Show Appeal Grants Awarded
We’re pleased to share that 20 organisations across Northern Ireland are set to receive grants from this year’s RTÉ Toy Show Appeal. Thanks to the generosity of The…
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13 Jun 2025
‘Your Giving Your Impact’ event comes to Derry with CFNI
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland hosted an event aimed at outlining the benefits of giving to charitable causes in Derry this week. The ‘Your Giving,…
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4 Jun 2025
Launch of the Digital Futures Report – Building a Digital Hub for the VCSE Sector
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is proud to announce the launch of Digital Futures, a landmark report funded by Dormant Accounts NI, which outlines a bold…
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19 May 2025
Introducing Our New CFNI Ambassador – Mary O’Dwyer
Mary has some 30 years experience in senior finance roles in both the private and public sectors since qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1987. Mary’s career started…
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6 May 2025
10 Years of Championing Rights and Justice with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund
This year marks a decade of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund (NIHRF) — a vital initiative established in 2015 to support and sustain human rights work across…
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24 Mar 2025
Connected Funders Event Highlights Opportunities for Collaborative Investment in Northern Ireland
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (CFNI) hosted the ’Connected Funders – Building the Future, Together’ on March 20th, 2025, to foster greater…
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21 Mar 2025
What if a small group of people, pooling their resources, could create a big impact in their community? That’s exactly what the Acorn Fund Giving Circle set out to do
The Acorn Fund Giving Circle is a great example of local philanthropy in action. In 2012, under the umbrella of The Community Foundation’s, Acorn Fund, the Acorn Giving…
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27 Feb 2025
Five Powerful Reasons to Leave a Gift in Your Will
Planning your will might not seem like a priority, but it’s an exciting opportunity to create a lasting impact. Leaving a charitable gift in your will allows you to…
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3 Feb 2025
Charities Host Conference on Combating Xenophobia, Racism, and Islamophobia in Northern Ireland
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, Africa House, Northern Ireland Council on Voluntary Action (NICVA), and Social Change Initiative (SCI) held a major…
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3 Feb 2025
Driving Impact Through ESG and Philanthropy
Incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into your business creates a framework for impactful giving. By aligning your philanthropy with ESG…
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13 Dec 2024
Grow Your Own Fresh Food in 2025: Join the Acorn Farm Project’s ‘I Can Grow’ Programme!
The Acorn Farm Project is excited to announce that the ‘I Can Grow’ Programme is back for 2025! This fantastic initiative helps people and families in the…
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28 Nov 2024
Tender Opportunity: Nothing About Us Without Us
The Community Foundation is seeking a suitable individual or organisation to conduct a formative and summative evaluation of the Nothing About Us Without Us Programme. The…
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28 Nov 2024
Q&A with Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Trustee, Jane Wilde CBE
Jane Wilde CBE Jane trained in medicine and public health. She was the founding Director of the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland, the precursor of the Public…
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20 Nov 2024
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Celebrates the Impact of £30M in Health Funds
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland have held a celebration in recognition of the impact of the Mental Health, Cancer and Carers support funds. The event held at…
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13 Nov 2024
Hands-On Winter Gardening Day for Nazareth House Primary School Students at Soft Launch of Gate Lodge
The Acorn Farm Project celebrated the soft launch of the new Gate Lodge Garden in St Columb’s Park by hosting Nazareth House Primary School’s P6 class for an exciting,…
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21 Oct 2024
Women’s Health Strategy survey results launched by The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and their Nothing About Us Without Us (NAUWU) group have today launched the results of a survey into women’s health and a…
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10 Oct 2024
Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Communities Beyond Technology
We all hope that COVID-19 is in the rear-view mirror, but the pandemic has clearly had a lasting impact on many organisations. I witness the struggles of the private sector…
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24 Sep 2024
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Celebrates the Impact of Housing and Homelessness programme
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has today celebrated the delivery of its Community Solutions to Housing & Homelessness programme, funded by the OAK…
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16 Sep 2024
CFNI welcomes the launch of Northern Ireland’s first-ever Ending Violence Against Women & Girls Strategy
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has welcomed the introduction of the Strategic Framework and first Delivery Plan (2024-26) to end violence against women and…
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6 Sep 2024
CFNI Congratulates their Chairperson on appointment as Belfast’s New Innovation Commissioner
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has sent their congratulations to their Chairperson, Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, on his appointment as Belfast’s new Innovation…
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30 Aug 2024
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is encouraging Charities take action to avoid Climate Chaos
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland are encouraging charities across Northern Ireland to explore opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint and play their…
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28 Aug 2024
Expressions of Interest to join the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s Grants and Impact Committee
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is accepting expressions of interest from individuals to join our Grants and Impact Committee. We are interested in ensuring…
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14 Aug 2024
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland welcomes engagements from Northern Ireland’s LGBTQIA+ Sector
The Community Foundation has convened an engagement with LGBTQIA+ organisations across Northern Ireland to better understand the needs of this community and the…
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5 Aug 2024
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland condemn the violent attacks in Belfast during the weekend
The Community Foundation NI condemn the violent attacks in Belfast during the weekend. The Chief Executive for the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, Róisín Wood,…
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19 Jun 2024
Meet our New Women’s Development Officer
Welcome to our new Women’s Development Officer, Danielle Dawson Can you tell us a bit about the role of Women’s Development Officer? The goal of this post is to amplify…
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10 Jun 2024
Q&A with Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Trustee, Suzanne Lagan
How did you get involved with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland? My first experience of CFNI was taking part in a giving circle in 2016. The ‘Circle of…
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30 Apr 2024
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Supports Vital Services Across Belfast, County Down, and Derry
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland continues its commitment to improving the lives of individuals and communities across the region. Having administered the…
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26 Apr 2024
Fibrus Connects Communities with the reopening of £60,000 Fund through Community Foundation NI
Northern Ireland’s full fibre broadband provider, Fibrus, has today launched its 2024 Community Fund where £60,000 will be available for rural community groups. The…
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28 Mar 2024
200 families turn over new leaf in 2024 with I Can Grow programme
Over 200 families in the Derry and Strabane area have signed up for the I Can Grown programme in conjunction with the Acorn Farm. The highly popular ‘I Can Grow’ Scheme…
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14 Mar 2024
Brian Conlon Foundation continues to support local groups
Nine local groups in the Newry area are set to receive awards from the Brian Conlon Foundation this week, in conjunction with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland,…
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11 Mar 2024
Tender Opportunity – End of Project Evaluation of the Community Solutions to Housing and Homelessness Programme
The Community Foundation is seeking a suitable individual or organisation to conduct an end of project evaluation of its Community Solutions to Housing and Homelessness…
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13 Feb 2024
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland support the call for a Women’s Health Strategy for Northern Ireland
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and their Nothing About Us Without Us (NAUWU) group have today welcomed the motion to be debated by the Northern Ireland…
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5 Feb 2024
Tender Opportunity – Digital Inclusion
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is seeking to commission a scoping exercise to identify the following: Digital support services currently available to VCSE…
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29 Jan 2024
Artemis Schools NI announces £261,000 fund to support Belfast schools and communities
Artemis Schools NI is announcing the distribution of £261,000 to local schools and community projects across Northwest and East Belfast. After an application process…
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18 Jan 2024
Tender Opportunity – External Audit
The Board of Trustees wish to invite tenders from suitably qualified and competent registered auditors with a high level of knowledge and understanding of the voluntary and…
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6 Dec 2023
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland becomes an Accredited Living Wage Employer
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is thrilled to announce its official accreditation as a Living Wage Employer, further securing its commitment to fair…
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4 Dec 2023
Tender Opportunity – Violence against Women & Homelessness Fund
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland will commission a large scale academic led research piece, involving a comprehensive literature review of all existing and…
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27 Nov 2023
Portview supports local communities with Digital Devices on Giving Tuesday
Portview, partnering with Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, have donated digital devices to the use of local community organisations and charities to mark Giving…
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27 Nov 2023
The Murlough Foundation helps to break down loneliness on Giving Tuesday
The Murlough Fund, established by John and Fiona McCowan, have donated an award of £5,000 between two local groups with the aim of breaking down loneliness and isolation.…
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21 Nov 2023
Levelling Up funding decision must be reversed
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland have expressed their disappointment that Northern Ireland has not been allocated any funding under the latest round of…
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17 Oct 2023
The Community Foundation supports the call for a Women’s Health Strategy
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland welcome and support the call for a dedicated Women Health Strategy for Northern Ireland to improve health outcomes and health…
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10 Oct 2023
Over 4 million steps for wellbeing
The staff of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland have walked over 4 million steps in September in the build up to World Mental Health Day 2023. The challenge,…
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29 Sep 2023
Fibrus Community Fund NI offers iPads to Killicomaine Residents Homework Club
Fibrus and the Community Foundation are delighted to support Killicomaine Residents Group through the Fibrus Community Fund Northern Ireland. HYPE Learning has been going…
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21 Jul 2023
£160,000 delivered for Housing and Homelessness projects
£160,000 grant funding has been delivered for innovative, community led solutions to housing and homelessness at a Community Foundation for Northern Ireland event…
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13 Jun 2023
Stormont departments must take steps to make funding more accessible – Community Foundation NI
The CEO of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has called on government departments to support the Community and Voluntary sector by making funding more…
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9 May 2023
Bank of Ireland announces ten local organisations to benefit from Cost-of-Living Fund
Bank of Ireland UK has today announced the names of ten local groups that will benefit from its Cost of Living Fund with the second round of funding supporting groups…
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20 Apr 2023
The Brian Conlon Foundation opens for a second round of funding in Newry area.
The Brian Conlon Foundation, in conjunction with the Community Foundation, are delighted to announce a new, second round of funding for groups in Newry city. Funding will…
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31 Mar 2023
Long term, sustainable investment needed for the Community and Voluntary sector
Long term, sustainable investment, security and funding strategies are needed for the Community and Voluntary sector. This is the message from CEO of the Community…
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15 Mar 2023
Community Foundation presents evidence on Digital Exclusion in NI to Lords Committee
Róisín Wood, CEO of the Community Foundation, today gave evidence to the House of Lords inquiry into Digital Exclusion and the cost of living. The House of…
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17 Feb 2023
Human Rights, Climate and Arts in spotlight with new All-Island Funding
Cross Border Civil Society Partnerships receive Grants All-Island civil society partnerships combatting the far right, promoting human rights, boosting climate action and…
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15 Feb 2023
Community Solutions to Housing and Homelessness 2023 now open for Expressions of Interest
The Community Solutions to Housing and Homelessness is OPEN for expression of interest. The Community Foundation is delighted to offer a new round of Community Solutions to…
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9 Feb 2023
Key frontline community services will be lost unless ESF is replaced in full
The Westminster government must live up to its promises and at a very minimum replace European structural funds that have been lost due to Brexit. Key frontline services…
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1 Feb 2023
RTÉ Toy show raises over £3.3M to benefit communities across Ireland
Following on from another hugely generous response from the public last November, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal is now open for applications from children’s charities right…
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20 Jan 2023
Bank of Ireland donates £890,000 to cost of living crisis response
Funding will be used to provide support to 12 organisations across island of Ireland £450,000 being fast-tracked for vulnerable groups with immediate needs Bank of…
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12 Jan 2023
Giving the Energy to Help
The Cost-of-Living crisis is impacting right across our society with many now struggling to heat homes, buy food and pay rent. Some of our poorest families are left with…
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12 Dec 2022
Supporting communities to be more self-efficient with the Acorn Farm Project
The Acorn Farm, I Can Grow project is calling for 200 families in Derry/Londonderry and Strabane to roll up their sleeves and get planting. No experience is needed! The…
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9 Dec 2022
£1.87 million of funding to support cancer charities
The Community Foundation has announced the allocation of nearly £2m in funding through the Cancer Support Fund, established by The Department of Health last year. This is…
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7 Dec 2022
Cookstown schools to get a boost with new McAleer fund
Two Tyrone schools, Cookstown High School and Holy Trinity School are to get a welcome boost from the newly created Seamus McAleer fund. The fund, established by…
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1 Dec 2022
Celebrating 10 Years of the Acorn Giving Circle!
We would like to say a huge thank you to all the members of the Acorn Giving Circle as you celebrate this 10 year milestone. Throughout your time you have supported a…
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1 Dec 2022
Community Foundation awards £26,000 to celebrate Giving Tuesday
Christmas came early for 18 local organisations who received a welcome funding boost at the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland annual Giving Tuesday event at the…
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22 Nov 2022
All-Island Convening Report
Thirty North/South partnerships were formed under an All-Island Fund set up by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and The Community Foundation for Ireland last…
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21 Nov 2022
Community Foundation calls for Digital Strategy for Northern Ireland
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is calling for a Digital Strategy for Northern Ireland to be brought forward. The call was made at a breakfast launch…
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17 Nov 2022
“Nothing about us without us” – Grassroots women make a call for a Women’s Health Strategy
Over 200 women from a wide range of grassroots organisations came together for an event aimed at amplifying their voice. The “Nothing About Us Without…
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7 Nov 2022
New Voices Programme
Supporting Communities to Grow, Be Confident and Meet Their Potential Is your group one that is managed by and works with people from either ethnic and/or LGBTQIA+…
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27 Oct 2022
Community Foundation CEO calls for formation of an Executive
The CEO of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has called for the immediate restoration of an Executive ahead of the deadline for an election to be reached on the…
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18 Oct 2022
Seven projects inspire Civic Innovation engagement at the Braid Theatre
The Community Foundation, NI held an exciting evening at the Braid Theater, celebrating the success of seven projects, that have been part of the Foundations Civic…
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29 Sep 2022
All-Island Partners convene to decide next steps
Thirty partnerships were formed between organisations North and South under an All-Island Fund set up by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and The Community…
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29 Sep 2022
Kingsbridge Foundation awards £29,000 to support mental wellbeing
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is proud to be working with Kingsbridge Healthcare Group to distribute funding through The Kingsbridge Foundation. The fund…
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21 Sep 2022
84 Community Groups to improve their local green spaces
84 Community Groups from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland share over €900,000 to improve their local areas From an urban life corridor seeking to…
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25 Aug 2022
Roisin Wood – ‘Cost of Living Crisis’
The author Eli Khamarov once wrote “Poverty is like a punishment for a crime you didn’t commit”. The ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ is a euphemism for poverty.…
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24 Aug 2022
£900,000 funding awarded to support carers
The Carers Support Fund, managed by the Community Foundation supported by the Department of Health, has announced the allocation of nearly £900,000 in the third round of…
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4 Aug 2022
£73,000 awarded for innovative housing solutions
The Community Foundation has awarded £73,000 of funding towards projects tackling housing and homelessness issues in NI. The Housing and Homelessness Innovation and…
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28 Jul 2022
Older People’s Fund aims to assist with Cost of Living crisis
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland launched a fund to help address the Cost of Living crisis for groups working with older people or projects run by older…
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26 Jul 2022
£1.7m to tackle climate action in Derry/Londonderry
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland are delighted to launch a five-year environmental project through the Acorn Farm in St Columb’s Park. The ambitious project…
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25 Jul 2022
Riding for the Disabled Association
Riding for the Disabled Association, Coleraine provides equestrian therapy, challenges and fun to over 150 riders each year, of all ages with varying disabilities.…
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19 Jul 2022
National Conversations on Civic Innovation
Today (19th July) Roisin Wood, Community Foundation NI CEO was delighted to join ‘National Conversations on Civic Innovation’ sharing examples of civic innovation in…
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7 Jul 2022
Older People’s Fund to assist with Cost of Living crisis
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland will today be launching a fund to help address the Cost of Living crisis for groups working with older people or projects run…
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4 Jul 2022
Work begins on £6.2 million Acorn farm project
Work is set to begin on the initial site clearance of the old MOD site at St Columb’s Park in advance of the wider Acorn Farm regeneration project funded by the UK…
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1 Jul 2022
An insightful visit to Carers Organisations in Larne
In March 2022, the Community Foundation was proud to have awarded £1m of funding to 22 organisations, through the Carers Support Fund established by Health Minister Robin…
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9 Jun 2022
Philanthropy Fortnight 2022 set to celebrate generosity
Every year the Community Foundation for NI continues to be amazed at the generosity of individuals, families and business in Northern Ireland. As one of the most charitable…
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1 Jun 2022
Executive must be formed to deal with Cost of Living crisis
The Chief Executive of the Community Foundation NI has stated that an Executive must be formed and an urgent cross departmental approach implemented to deal with the…
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4 May 2022
Driving Prosperity and Change – a vision for 2025
Adrian Johnston has enormous knowledge and experience of strategy, commercialisation and digital transformation gained over a 25-year career in technology. At the same…
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20 Apr 2022
Foundation set up in memory of Newry businessman
The Foundation is delighted to be working in partnership with the Conlon Family to launch The Brian Conlon Foundation, set up in memory of Brian Conlon, to continue his…
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31 Mar 2022
New partnership with Kingsbridge Healthcare Group
The Community Foundation is delighted to announce a new partnership with Kingsbridge Healthcare Group. This week saw the launch of a new charitable arm of the Group called…
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25 Mar 2022
Community Foundation announces allocation of £1M to carers support groups
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has awarded just over £1m to 22 groups here, through the Carers Support Fund established by Health Minister Robin Swann last…
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1 Mar 2022
Leadership Programme open for applications!
Building Leaders, Building Peace: A Grassroots Leadership Programme We are seeking individuals from a range of communities across Northern Ireland to take part in…
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24 Feb 2022
Help where it is needed most
Written by Anne Hailes for the Irish News. 21st February, 2022. You may not be aware of the Community Foundation here in Northern Ireland but chances are you will…
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23 Feb 2022
£6.8M of funding awarded towards Mental Health Support
The Foundation has this week announced the allocation of £6.8m in funding through the Mental Health Support Fund, which was established by Minister Robin Swann last autumn…
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4 Feb 2022
Shifting Practice, Policy and Power
Individuals with lived experience share five tips for impactful change. Individuals with lived experience partnered with the Foundation and Comic Relief last year to…
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27 Jan 2022
Integrating Asylum Seekers into Elite Sports
Our economy is about people living, working, and thriving together. Building a fair economy or society is impossible if people are excluded from taking part. In Northern…
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27 Jan 2022
Democracy in Northern Ireland is Alive and Kicking
To many eyes, politics at Stormont doesn’t present a very rosy picture of the health of our democracy – institutions teetering on the brink again, a series of…
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26 Jan 2022
Social Innovation in Northern Ireland – 8 years, 8 reflections
Paul Braithwaite, Head of Innovation & Voice at the Foundation After eight and a half years, this week I’m moving on from a job I’ve loved, as Head of Innovation…
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12 Jan 2022
Community Foundations North and South working together
Article from the Irish Times. People living along both sides of the Border have found the last two years of Covid a particularly exasperating experience in having to deal…
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10 Jan 2022
Renewed Focus for 2022
I would like to say thank you to everyone for helping us to make 2021 a year of impact, perseverance and resilience! Although the year has been hugely challenging, with…
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6 Jan 2022
Coronavirus Statement
We are aware of and understand the many challenges that people and organisations we fund and stakeholders we work with may be facing due to the Coronavirus. We want to be…
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20 Dec 2021
Over £9,000 of funding awarded to address digital poverty
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is delighted to announce the first round of funding awards with their new partner, full fibre broadband provider, Fibrus…
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10 Dec 2021
Maeve Monaghan – Our Chair’s Farewell
The Community Foundation has been on a journey and it has been a pleasure to be along for the ride. When I took up post 6 years ago I saw an opportunity for me to develop…
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3 Dec 2021
Philanthropist of the Year Award 2021
For the second year running, the Community Foundation has awarded Philanthropist of the Year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to philanthropy in…
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1 Dec 2021
Community Foundation celebrates generosity on Giving Tuesday
At our recent Giving Tuesday event, (30th November) we celebrated generosity and giving back to good causes. Over 70 people attended the online event, to hear how three…
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