The Community Foundation for Ireland is seeking applications for the Energia Meenadreen Fund to support non-profit organisations and the local community within the immediate vicinity of the Meenadreen Windfarm.

The Energia Meendareen Fund is now entering its fourth year, having provided 62 grants totaling €142,112 supporting a range of organizations within the immediate vicinity of the Meenadreen Windfarm and extending to Donegal Town on occasion.

The addition of both the scholarship programme and legacy projects to the fund aims to ensure a lasting and meaningful impact on the community of Meenadreen and those who live there.

Following several successful grant rounds between 2015 and 2020 and in light of the difficulties facing communities across Ireland due to Covid-19, Energia has introduced two new elements to the fund:

• a scholarship programme and
• legacy projects, in addition to the funds existing general grants scheme.

Funding Information

• Strand 1: General grants to non-profit organizations within the Meenadreen area: Organizations projects can apply for a maximum of €10,000 in this strand
• Strand 2: Investing in the Future of Meenadreen: Organizations projects can apply for a maximum of €60,000
• Strand 3: The Meenadreen Scholarship Programme:
  • Undergraduate Scholarships will be award to a maximum value of €3,000 per annum

Eligibility Criteria

Strand 1 & 2

• Applications are welcome from non-profit organizations within the immediate vicinity of the Meenadreen Wind Farm
• Applications are also welcome from non-profit organizations up to 14km away from the windfarm, however priority will be given to those located within a 10km radius from the Meenadreen windfarm.

Strand 3

• The Energia Scholarship programme is open to individuals who live within the immediate vicinity of the Meenadreen Wind Farm
• Applications are also welcome from individuals who live up to 14km away from the windfarm, however priority will be given to those who live within a 10km radius from the Meenadreen windfarm.

Applicant Requirements

• Applications must be from community and voluntary groups that possess charitable aims and are not for profit
• Groups must demonstrate capacity and willingness to share their story with Energia’s media team to share internally within the company and as local media opportunities arise.
• Applicant organizations must submit their Annual Accounts or most recent set of Audited Accounts
• Applicant organizations must have an organizational bank account
• A copy of a recent bank statement must be submitted with each application - This is for account verification only and all financial transactions may be redacted before submission
• Proposals must include clear, detailed, realistic costs and timescales
• Applicants must be prepared to evaluate and learn from their work as well as to share project learning and outcomes
• They encourage applicant organizations to consider adopting The Governance Code for charities
• A commitment to equal opportunities must be demonstrated
• Organizations working with cohorts under the age of 18 will be required to produce a copy of their Child Protection Policy

Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants will be expected to:

• Acknowledge the support of The Community Foundation for Ireland and Energia on any materials/coverage associated with the grant
• Submit a progress update 6 months into the implementation period
• When requested, provide imagery/content for use by Energia’s media team in internal company publications and for local media opportunities.

Scholarship Priority Areas

• Priority will be given to students who are currently undertaking or seeking to undertake a course focused on sustainability.
• Priority will also be given to individuals who are/will be undertaking their first degree (either at undergraduate/postgraduate level).

For more information, visit The Community Foundation for Ireland.

Online or distance learning courses will also be considered. 

Priority will be given to individuals undertaking courses related to sustainability.

Postgraduate Scholarships i.e. masters or PhD, will be considered for partial or full funding.