Rethink Ireland to build €100m social innovation fund, helped by philanthropists

New €650,000 Ignite Midwest Fund, and plans to fund Ireland’s first dedicated climate justice fund, training for 70,000 people, and engaging 35,000 people in mental health programmes

Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien, and Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland, launch the new €650,000 Ignite Midwest Fund, which is open to projects that empower communities, tackle poverty, and promote social inclusion in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan

Innovators whose ideas can help empower communities, tackle poverty, and promote social inclusion are being sought to propose projects for a new €650,000 Ignite Midwest Fund.

Rethink Ireland also has plans to build a €100m social innovation fund for Ireland over the next three years. Its goal is to raise an annual income of at least €12m every year until 2023, boosting the Social Innovation Fund to a cumulative €100m by 2023.