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Learn About Philanthropy
Giving has the power to be transformative. Learn about the diverse ways individuals and organisations make a positive impact, and discover how philanthropy can play a vital role in creating a better future.
Whether you are a seasoned philanthropist, a budding donor, or simply curious about the world of giving back, this page is your gateway to understanding the science and practice of philanthropy in Ireland.
Join us on a journey of learning, insight, inspiration, and collaboration as we explore the principles, practices, and possibilities of philanthropy in our community and beyond.
Why Do We Need Philanthropy?
Philanthropy can be a powerful force for social change, hear from 3 organisations below that have benefitted from philanthropy, and how philanthropic giving has had a transformative impact for the travelling community, youth mental health, and gender equality.
Philanthropy: The Basics
What is philanthropy?
What is the difference between philanthropy and charity?
Is philanthropy right for me?
How can I get involved in philanthropy?
What is a Donor Advised Fund?
How can I collaborate with other philanthropists?
Models of Philanthropy
Community Foundation
Community foundations act as a center for philanthropic efforts, pooling together resources from individuals, families, and businesses to support a wide range of charitable causes in a specific geographic area. By building permanent endowments, community foundations ensure sustainable support for local initiatives now and in the future.
Corporate Foundation
A corporate foundation is a philanthropic arm of a company that supports charitable causes and community initiatives. It operates separately from the corporation, focusing on areas aligned with the company's values. Through grants, donations, and partnerships, corporate foundations contribute to social good and enhance the company's reputation for corporate social responsibility.
Direct Donation
A direct donation is a simple and straightforward model of philanthropy where an individual or organisation gives money or resources directly to a charitable cause or a nonprofit organisation. This form of giving allows donors to have a direct and immediate impact on the cause they care about. Direct donations are often used to support specific projects, provide emergency relief, or fund ongoing programs.
Family Foundation
A family foundation is a philanthropic organisation established and funded by a family, typically using the family's wealth to support charitable causes and make a positive impact on society. Family foundations are governed and managed primarliy by family members, who set the foundation's mission, make funding decisions, and oversee its operations. These foundations often focus on causes that are important to the family, such as education, healthcare, the arts, or social services. By pooling their resources and expertise, families can create a lasting legacy of giving and support initiatives that reflect their values and goals for social change.
Giving Circle
A giving circle is a collaborative approach to philanthropy where individuals pool their financial resources and expertise to make collective decisions on charitable giving. Members of a giving circle typically contribute a set amount of money or time to a shared fund, which is then used to support nonprofit organisations or causes chosen by the group. Giving circles promote democratic decision-making, engagement, and learning among members, who work together to maximise the impact of their donations and address social issues in a targeted and effective way. Through shared values, shared goals, and shared resources, giving circles empower individuals to amplify their philanthropic efforts and create meaningful change in their communities.
Independent Grant Making Foundation
An independent grantmaking organisation can take various forms, including for example a corporate or family foundation. It is a philanthropic entity that provides financial support to nonprofits through grants. They focus on specific areas of interest and play a key role in funding and advancing the work of nonprofits.
Intermediary Foundation
An intermediary foundation is a philanthropic organisation that acts as a bridge between donors and nonprofit organisations by managing and distributing funds on behalf of donors. These foundations often provide expertise in grantmaking, due diligence, and impact assessment, helping donors make informed decisions about their charitable giving. Intermediary foundations streamline the grantmaking process, reduce administrative burdens for donors, and ensure that donations are effectively utilised to support worthy causes and projects. By serving as a trusted intermediary, these foundations play a vital role in fostering collaboration, efficiency, and accountability in the philanthropic sector.
Social Finance
Social finance refers to the use of financial tools and mechanisms to generate positive social or environmental impact alongside financial returns. This model of philanthropy leverages investment capital to address pressing social issues, support sustainable development, and drive positive change in communities. Social finance encompasses a range of approaches, such as impact investing, social impact bonds, and community development finance, that aim to mobilize private capital for public good while seeking both financial and social returns on investment. By blending financial innovation with social purpose, social finance offers a new way to tackle complex social challenges and create shared value for investors, communities, and society as a whole.
Community Foundation
Community foundations act as a center for philanthropic efforts, pooling together resources from individuals, families, and businesses to support a wide range of charitable causes in a specific geographic area. By building permanent endowments, community foundations ensure sustainable support for local initiatives now and in the future.
Corporate Foundation
A corporate foundation is a philanthropic arm of a company that supports charitable causes and community initiatives. It operates separately from the corporation, focusing on areas aligned with the company's values. Through grants, donations, and partnerships, corporate foundations contribute to social good and enhance the company's reputation for corporate social responsibility.
Direct Donation
A direct donation is a simple and straightforward model of philanthropy where an individual or organisation gives money or resources directly to a charitable cause or a nonprofit organisation. This form of giving allows donors to have a direct and immediate impact on the cause they care about. Direct donations are often used to support specific projects, provide emergency relief, or fund ongoing programs.
Family Foundation
A family foundation is a philanthropic organisation established and funded by a family, typically using the family's wealth to support charitable causes and make a positive impact on society. Family foundations are governed and managed primarliy by family members, who set the foundation's mission, make funding decisions, and oversee its operations. These foundations often focus on causes that are important to the family, such as education, healthcare, the arts, or social services. By pooling their resources and expertise, families can create a lasting legacy of giving and support initiatives that reflect their values and goals for social change.
Giving Circle
A giving circle is a collaborative approach to philanthropy where individuals pool their financial resources and expertise to make collective decisions on charitable giving. Members of a giving circle typically contribute a set amount of money or time to a shared fund, which is then used to support nonprofit organisations or causes chosen by the group. Giving circles promote democratic decision-making, engagement, and learning among members, who work together to maximise the impact of their donations and address social issues in a targeted and effective way. Through shared values, shared goals, and shared resources, giving circles empower individuals to amplify their philanthropic efforts and create meaningful change in their communities.
Independent Grant Making Foundation
An independent grantmaking organisation can take various forms, including for example a corporate or family foundation. It is a philanthropic entity that provides financial support to nonprofits through grants. They focus on specific areas of interest and play a key role in funding and advancing the work of nonprofits.
Intermediary Foundation
An intermediary foundation is a philanthropic organisation that acts as a bridge between donors and nonprofit organisations by managing and distributing funds on behalf of donors. These foundations often provide expertise in grantmaking, due diligence, and impact assessment, helping donors make informed decisions about their charitable giving. Intermediary foundations streamline the grantmaking process, reduce administrative burdens for donors, and ensure that donations are effectively utilised to support worthy causes and projects. By serving as a trusted intermediary, these foundations play a vital role in fostering collaboration, efficiency, and accountability in the philanthropic sector.
Social Finance
Social finance refers to the use of financial tools and mechanisms to generate positive social or environmental impact alongside financial returns. This model of philanthropy leverages investment capital to address pressing social issues, support sustainable development, and drive positive change in communities. Social finance encompasses a range of approaches, such as impact investing, social impact bonds, and community development finance, that aim to mobilize private capital for public good while seeking both financial and social returns on investment. By blending financial innovation with social purpose, social finance offers a new way to tackle complex social challenges and create shared value for investors, communities, and society as a whole.
Community Foundation
Community foundations act as a center for philanthropic efforts, pooling together resources from individuals, families, and businesses to support a wide range of charitable causes in a specific geographic area. By building permanent endowments, community foundations ensure sustainable support for local initiatives now and in the future.
Corporate Foundation
A corporate foundation is a philanthropic arm of a company that supports charitable causes and community initiatives. It operates separately from the corporation, focusing on areas aligned with the company's values. Through grants, donations, and partnerships, corporate foundations contribute to social good and enhance the company's reputation for corporate social responsibility.
Direct Donation
A direct donation is a simple and straightforward model of philanthropy where an individual or organisation gives money or resources directly to a charitable cause or a nonprofit organisation. This form of giving allows donors to have a direct and immediate impact on the cause they care about. Direct donations are often used to support specific projects, provide emergency relief, or fund ongoing programs.
Family Foundation
A family foundation is a philanthropic organisation established and funded by a family, typically using the family's wealth to support charitable causes and make a positive impact on society. Family foundations are governed and managed primarliy by family members, who set the foundation's mission, make funding decisions, and oversee its operations. These foundations often focus on causes that are important to the family, such as education, healthcare, the arts, or social services. By pooling their resources and expertise, families can create a lasting legacy of giving and support initiatives that reflect their values and goals for social change.
Giving Circle
A giving circle is a collaborative approach to philanthropy where individuals pool their financial resources and expertise to make collective decisions on charitable giving. Members of a giving circle typically contribute a set amount of money or time to a shared fund, which is then used to support nonprofit organisations or causes chosen by the group. Giving circles promote democratic decision-making, engagement, and learning among members, who work together to maximise the impact of their donations and address social issues in a targeted and effective way. Through shared values, shared goals, and shared resources, giving circles empower individuals to amplify their philanthropic efforts and create meaningful change in their communities.
Independent Grant Making Foundation
An independent grantmaking organisation can take various forms, including for example a corporate or family foundation. It is a philanthropic entity that provides financial support to nonprofits through grants. They focus on specific areas of interest and play a key role in funding and advancing the work of nonprofits.
Intermediary Foundation
An intermediary foundation is a philanthropic organisation that acts as a bridge between donors and nonprofit organisations by managing and distributing funds on behalf of donors. These foundations often provide expertise in grantmaking, due diligence, and impact assessment, helping donors make informed decisions about their charitable giving. Intermediary foundations streamline the grantmaking process, reduce administrative burdens for donors, and ensure that donations are effectively utilised to support worthy causes and projects. By serving as a trusted intermediary, these foundations play a vital role in fostering collaboration, efficiency, and accountability in the philanthropic sector.
Social Finance
Social finance refers to the use of financial tools and mechanisms to generate positive social or environmental impact alongside financial returns. This model of philanthropy leverages investment capital to address pressing social issues, support sustainable development, and drive positive change in communities. Social finance encompasses a range of approaches, such as impact investing, social impact bonds, and community development finance, that aim to mobilize private capital for public good while seeking both financial and social returns on investment. By blending financial innovation with social purpose, social finance offers a new way to tackle complex social challenges and create shared value for investors, communities, and society as a whole.
Community Foundation
Community foundations act as a center for philanthropic efforts, pooling together resources from individuals, families, and businesses to support a wide range of charitable causes in a specific geographic area. By building permanent endowments, community foundations ensure sustainable support for local initiatives now and in the future.
Corporate Foundation
A corporate foundation is a philanthropic arm of a company that supports charitable causes and community initiatives. It operates separately from the corporation, focusing on areas aligned with the company's values. Through grants, donations, and partnerships, corporate foundations contribute to social good and enhance the company's reputation for corporate social responsibility.
Direct Donation
A direct donation is a simple and straightforward model of philanthropy where an individual or organisation gives money or resources directly to a charitable cause or a nonprofit organisation. This form of giving allows donors to have a direct and immediate impact on the cause they care about. Direct donations are often used to support specific projects, provide emergency relief, or fund ongoing programs.
Family Foundation
A family foundation is a philanthropic organisation established and funded by a family, typically using the family's wealth to support charitable causes and make a positive impact on society. Family foundations are governed and managed primarliy by family members, who set the foundation's mission, make funding decisions, and oversee its operations. These foundations often focus on causes that are important to the family, such as education, healthcare, the arts, or social services. By pooling their resources and expertise, families can create a lasting legacy of giving and support initiatives that reflect their values and goals for social change.
Giving Circle
A giving circle is a collaborative approach to philanthropy where individuals pool their financial resources and expertise to make collective decisions on charitable giving. Members of a giving circle typically contribute a set amount of money or time to a shared fund, which is then used to support nonprofit organisations or causes chosen by the group. Giving circles promote democratic decision-making, engagement, and learning among members, who work together to maximise the impact of their donations and address social issues in a targeted and effective way. Through shared values, shared goals, and shared resources, giving circles empower individuals to amplify their philanthropic efforts and create meaningful change in their communities.
Independent Grant Making Foundation
An independent grantmaking organisation can take various forms, including for example a corporate or family foundation. It is a philanthropic entity that provides financial support to nonprofits through grants. They focus on specific areas of interest and play a key role in funding and advancing the work of nonprofits.
Intermediary Foundation
An intermediary foundation is a philanthropic organisation that acts as a bridge between donors and nonprofit organisations by managing and distributing funds on behalf of donors. These foundations often provide expertise in grantmaking, due diligence, and impact assessment, helping donors make informed decisions about their charitable giving. Intermediary foundations streamline the grantmaking process, reduce administrative burdens for donors, and ensure that donations are effectively utilised to support worthy causes and projects. By serving as a trusted intermediary, these foundations play a vital role in fostering collaboration, efficiency, and accountability in the philanthropic sector.
Social Finance
Social finance refers to the use of financial tools and mechanisms to generate positive social or environmental impact alongside financial returns. This model of philanthropy leverages investment capital to address pressing social issues, support sustainable development, and drive positive change in communities. Social finance encompasses a range of approaches, such as impact investing, social impact bonds, and community development finance, that aim to mobilize private capital for public good while seeking both financial and social returns on investment. By blending financial innovation with social purpose, social finance offers a new way to tackle complex social challenges and create shared value for investors, communities, and society as a whole.
Learn more about Giving Models here
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