ESB: Energy for Generations Fund
Overview
As a leading Irish organisation with deep roots in the community dating back to 1927, we are committed to playing a role in addressing some of the key social issues facing Ireland today.
Corporate Responsibility (CR) is at the heart of this vision. ESB's Energy for Generations Fund sees €1m per year disbursed through a quarterly fund to charities working in the areas of Suicide Prevention, Homelessness and Educational Access and Support.
Aim of ESB's Energy for Generations Fund
The aim with the Energy for Generations Fund is to maximise the impact of their investment by taking a more strategic approach to effect change. Funding is only part of the jigsaw – they also want to leverage the skills and knowledge they have within the company to bring about more sustainable and positive outcomes.
Who is eligible to apply?
- The majority of funding will go to registered charities.
- Organisations just starting up can be funded if the project has merit. However, they may apply more rigorous monitoring than normal.
Funding Themes
Each year the Fund now awards €1m in direct funding through a quarterly fund to charities working in the areas of:
- suicide prevention
- homelessness
- education access and support
What kind of projects are funded?
Suicide Prevention
- They will fund services and projects working to promote positive mental health and to build capacity, skills and training to make effective suicide prevention interventions.
- They have a particular interest in funding programmes with a focus on youth suicide and positive mental health promotion for young people.
Homelessness
- They will fund services and projects benefiting homeless people and those at risk of homelessness.
Education
Proposals are invited from the following:
- Early years and early primary schools projects focusing on literacy and numeracy;
- Secondary level proposals promoting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM);
- Adult education return-to-education programmes aimed at those long-term out of work.
How much is available?
The guideline application amount is c. €15,000. This is neither a minimum nor a maximum, rather an indication of the scale of the resources available. Average funding awards in recent years have been c. €8-12,000.
Other Assistance - Support for Staff Volunteering
- The Energy for Generations Fund provides support to ESB staff who volunteer within their own communities. Staff who volunteer at least 20 hours of their own time per year will be invited to apply for funding of up to €250 for their chosen registered charity.
- Many of their staff are involved in volunteering activities in their spare time, but they have never had any formal structure to support or encourage this in the past. Through this funding, their aim is to demonstrate their support for the work their staff do within their own communities.
ESB Energy for Generations Fund FAQs
ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund launches €100,000 funding round in support of refugees in Ireland
ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund has announced an additional €100,000 funding specifically for projects supporting refugees in Ireland.
Applications are welcome from any charitable organisations across the island of Ireland working to support refugees. Examples include projects that remove barriers to education, skills programmes to prepare refugees to enter employment and housing support schemes are particularly welcome.
The closing date for Applications is 29th July 2022 and applications can be made via our online application form.
Queries relating to this funding round should be directed to efgfund@esb.ie applications for overseas funding should be directed to electricaid@esb.ie.