What is the Human Rights and Equality Grants Scheme
Every year, under our Human Rights and Equality Grants Scheme, we provide grants to civil society organisations to carry-out projects to strengthen human rights and equality in Ireland. The themes of the Grants Schemes reflect the strategic priorities set out in the Commission’s Strategy Statement. The Grants Scheme supports human rights and equality projects where the voice, agency and collective action of groups and communities who face inequality and non-fulfilment of rights are engaged in change-making. There is a strong focus on outcomes. Outcomes that can support the advocacy efforts of civil society and the work of the Commission to advance its strategic human rights and equality priorities.
Who can apply for funding?
Our Grants Scheme is open to applications from civil society organisations registered in the Republic of Ireland (it is possible to have a partner in Northern Ireland) that aim to promote human rights and/or equality. This includes national or local community and voluntary organisations, networks, non-governmental organisations, rights-holder groups, area-based community groups, communities of interest groups, and trade unions.
Civil society organisations applying must be non-profit and registered as a Company with the Companies Registration Office (CRO), and/or be a registered charity.
How much funding is available?
Funding of €350,000 is available annually.
We provide funding for:
- Small grants of up to €7,000
- General grants of up to €22,000
Organisations can make one application for either a small or general grant, not both.
When does the scheme open?
The Grants Scheme generally opens in March/April for applications and closes six weeks later.
Awardees are announced in September.
How do I apply?
When the Grants Scheme is announced, we make the guidance and application forms available on our website and promote on social media. We provide online information sessions on the Grants Scheme. The details are also available on our website. Applicants are advised to read the guidance in full before filling out the application form. Send the fully completed application form to us by email by the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.
What types of activity do you fund?
We support a wide range of activity where communities and rights-holders play a leading role, and that are developed from a human rights and equality perspective. This is not a definitive list but the types of activities that could be supported include:
- Carrying out participatory capacity building, training and other activities that support the development of leadership and advocacy skills and/or helps build alliances.
- Transformative education/training activities fostering change of attitudes and behaviours.
- Producing education and training resources in print, digital, accessible or other formats.
- Undertaking qualitative and participatory research – working with and upskilling peer researchers is encouraged;
- Producing legal, policy or strategy analysis or responses;
- Analysing and documenting models of good practice; and
- Carrying out monitoring or developing monitoring mechanisms.
- Organising conferences, seminars and roundtables.
- Developing, publishing and disseminating digital or printed materials.
- Organising awareness campaigns and developing digital tools.
- Generating creative and/or participatory spaces for dialogue and sharing learning.
- Organising conferences, seminars and roundtables.
- Developing, publishing and disseminating digital or printed materials.
- Organising awareness campaigns and developing digital tools.
- Generating creative and/or participatory spaces for dialogue and sharing learning.
Grant Scheme 2025-2026
Our 2025-2026 Grant Scheme is open now.
The purpose of the grants scheme is to support projects by civil society and trade unions that promote human rights and equality.
A total of €350,000 is available for projects.
