Dublin Airport’s Community Fund Hits €2.5m Milestone

Dublin Airport’s Community Fund has hit the milestone of €2.5 million in funding to clubs and community groups in north Dublin.

That total will soon increase further with the Community Fund back open for another round of funding, which will see a further purse of up to €250,000 being distributed to successful applicants.

The new autumn funding round will remain open until Friday, October 25.

In 2023, the airport shared over €540,000 between 111 different groups operating in communities surrounding Dublin Airport. A further €250,000 was distributed earlier this year to more than 50 projects as part of the Fund’s spring funding round,

Dublin Airport’s Community Fund was launched in 2017 with a total investment of €10 million to be distributed over 25 years.

The Fund makes a call for applications twice a year – normally in Spring and Autumn, with two types of grants available: Minor Grants of less than €5,000; and Major Grants of more than €5,000.

Applications to the fund are invited from 13 eligible areas from Santry, south of the airport to Rolestown in the north, and from Tyrrelstown on the west to Portmarnock on the east.

Dublin Airport’s Community Engagement Manager, Angela Flynn, said: "Dublin Airport is proud to support a large number of fantastic community activities and initiatives. In 2023, the fund gave out more than €540,000 and we followed that up earlier this year with the distribution of around €250,000 to around 50 recipients. We’re excited to open it once again this year and are already seeing lots of great applications flying in. The fund recognises the inter-connected relationship that exists between our local communities and Dublin Airport, which supports more than 20,000 jobs on the airport campus and we want to add more jobs over the coming years.

“We are particularly interested in working with organisations to develop initiatives in areas such as the environment, sustainability, health, wellbeing, and social inclusion. We look forward to another busy round of applications and to supporting more organisations and initiatives in our local community," added Flynn.

About Dublin Airport’s Community Fund

The Dublin Airport Community Fund supports local projects that make a positive contribution to communities around Dublin Airport with applications encouraged across six categories including Environment and Sustainability, Sports and Recreation, Education and Training, Health and Wellbeing, Social Inclusion and Community Development, and Culture and Heritage.

Organisations that have received funding in the past are welcome to submit applications for new projects. Awards from the Community Fund are made by an independent Grant Making Panel.

The Fund also supports up to 20 students per year from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to enable them to attend Dublin City University (DCU) via its Access Programme.

Groups applying for funding can find an easy 'how-to-apply' guide along with an application form on the airport’s website at: https://www.dublinairport.com/corporate/corporate-social-responsibility/community-fund

Anyone with questions regarding the fund should contact: communityfund@daa.ie.