Philanthropic Ireland -Ready for take off?

There are 15,000 millionaires in ireland today...

The top 100 most wealthy irish individuals have a combined value of €25 billion. In other words, the rich have never been richer in ireland.

Many of these people have been making gifts to the not-for-profit sector. This is a wonderful development and we wish to be the vanguard of encouraging more private giving in ireland for the public good.

Seminars for the sector
For the last number of years The Funds has been organizing seminars for not-for-profit groups, advising them on mounting major gift campaigns and developing fundraising strategies. The latest in this series took place in Dublin last December. It was attended by some 200 groups and, as ever, there were as many groups on the waiting list. Kingsley Aikins described the success of The Ireland Funds’ $100 million Hope & History Campaign and Scott Nichols of Harvard talked about successful donor relations. There is a huge demand for this work across the sector in Ireland and we will host another series of seminars in the second half of 2004.

Developing Philanthropy
In 2002 The Ireland Funds published ‘Fostering Fundraising in Ireland’ which contained a blueprint for increasing private giving. Many groups endorsed and adopted the recommendations of this paper. Philanthropy Ireland is an independent grouping of private grant-making trusts and foundations in Ireland. It has launched a campaign aimed at those with wealth advising them on the philosophy and procedures of philanthropy.
To actively encourage private gift giving, Loretta Brennan Glucksman is heading up a Development Committee to advise on the potential for further developing this trend. The Irish have been very generous to The Funds contributing some $5 million to the Hope & History Campaign, making Ireland the second largest source of donations after The American Ireland Fund.

Regulating the sector
Incredibly, charities do not have a distinct status in Irish law. The Government has set out to rectify this by publishing a draft legislation establishing a regulatory framework for the not-for-profit sector. The Ireland Funds greatly welcome this development and have submitted their response to the Government. We are also participating in series of other fora, comprised of leading charities, supporting the Government’s moves. We hope the result of this will be greater consistency and professionalism in the management of not-for-profit organizations in Ireland which can only impress Donors and enhance their propensity to give.

“Quite the best fundraising seminar I have been to – and I have been to many! Having glanced through ‘Fostering Fundraising’ I endorse it all.”
— Gordon Ferguson, Pushkin Prizes Trust

“I believe The Ireland Funds could play a key role in researching the charity sector on a regular basis. Research and education are keys to successful philanthropy in Ireland.”
— Mary Moorhead, World Vision Ireland

“The seminar was by far the most useful I believe I’ve ever been to. From start to finish, packed with rich insights and great examples. I will be recommending that our board members attend this seminar in the future.”
— Stacey Dodd, Habitat for Humanity Ireland

“A brilliant day – our time flew and it was great to have the fundraising batteries recharged!”
— Caroline Senior, Garter Lane Arts Centre

Promoting Philanthropy in Ireland >

The Ireland Funds' Projects in Dublin >