Good things come to social enterprises in Ireland thanks to Guinness’s 250th anniversary

Good things come to social enterprises in Ireland thanks to Guinness’s 250th anniversary

News

Up to €2.5m (£2.26m) is on offer to social entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland over the next two years, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of drinks company Guinness.

The grants will be awarded to up to 25 social entrepreneurs who run projects and initiatives that are innovative, impactful and sustainable, and make a real difference to Irish society. They will each receive up to €100,000 (£89,000).

The money has been raised by the Arthur Guinness Fund as part of its signature campaign which invites drinkers in pubs and bars to sign their name next to that of founder Arthur Guinness. For every signature collected in Ireland, up to a total of one million, Guinness & Co will donate €2.50 (£2.26) to the Fund. Since the campaign was launched last May over 850,000 people have signed.

The Fund will be administered by Guinness’s parent company, Diageo Ireland, and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. The first round closes for applications on 31 October 2009, and the first batch of successful applicants will be announced in March or April 2010. A second round of funding opens in late 2010.

Peter O’Brien, corporate relations director of Diageo Ireland, said, “The establishment of the Arthur Guinness Fund is our way of ensuring that our founders’ social philanthropy is celebrated and continued in a truly unique way.”

More information is available on the Guinness website.