Cork Chamber of Commerce to raise €200,000 social innovation fund

24 Jan 2019

From left: Terence O’Rourke, SIFI; Katherine Fitzgerald, Cork Chamber; Conor Healy, Cork Chamber; and Pádraic Vallely, SIFI. Image: Gerard McCarthy

A fitting way to mark 200th anniversary of Cork Chamber.

Cork Chamber of Commerce is to raise €200,000 for a social innovation fund to enable local initiatives with a social, environmental or economic impact.

It has a fundraising target of €100,000, which will be matched euro for euro by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

‘This project gives everyone a chance to become a philanthropist’
– BILL O’CONNELL

Fundraising will take place over six months from January to July 2019, after which an open call for applications will be made through Social Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI).

Community resilience

“This funding drive with Social Innovation Fund Ireland is one of the cornerstones of our anniversary programme, marking 200 years by raising €200,000,” said Cork Chamber president Bill O’Connell.

“Social innovation projects have a hugely important role to play in local communities, and this project gives everyone a chance to become a philanthropist.

“We are encouraging businesses of all sizes, as well as individuals, to take ownership of this partnership and contribute to the fund, thereby making a personal investment in initiatives that will build community resilience and ensure longevity for the future, making Cork a better place to live and work as we start our next 200-year journey.”

Those interested in supporting the Cork Chamber 1819 fund can do so here or by contacting Cork Chamber directly in relation to corporate donations.

“The successful projects will benefit hugely from this fund, which will allow them to raise their profile locally and nationally, gain key knowledge through the SIFI Accelerator programme, and expand their reach and capabilities to the benefit of their communities,” said the CEO of SIFI, Deirdre Mortell.

“To date, SIFI have backed over 80 social innovations around Ireland with over €14m in philanthropic funding.”

Updated, 9.40am, 24 January 2019: This article was updated to amend a headline error that said the fund hopes to raise $200,000. The correct figure is €200,000.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com