Co-operation Ireland

Co-operation Ireland, established in 1979 as Co-operation North, is an all-island peace-building charity dedicated to fostering reconciliation and positive relationships between communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Its non-political, non-denominational ethos emphasizes respect, inclusion, equality, fairness, accountability, integrity, and transparency, evolving from post-Troubles reconciliation to addressing legacy conflict issues, Brexit challenges, and emerging threats to social cohesion through dialogue, leadership development, and cross-community collaboration. Distinctive for its royal and presidential patronage—Queen Elizabeth II and the Irish President—and four decades of trusted bridge-building, it often delivers programmes directly or partners with others rather than acting solely as a grantmaker.

It prioritizes peace-building, conflict resolution, human rights, equality, diversity, and social cohesion, supporting young people, marginalized communities, ex-prisoners, ethnic minorities, women leaders, and those in violence-affected areas. Funded activities include cross-community youth engagement (e.g., Civic-Link schools projects), leadership programmes (Future Leaders), mental health initiatives (Our Generation), ex-combatant inclusion (Open Doors), and civic pride efforts (Pride of Place), emphasizing practical exchanges, mutual learning, and measurable impacts on relations and interdependence.

Eligible applicants are not-for-profit community groups and grassroots organizations based strictly on the island of Ireland, with a preference for smaller entities focused on cross-border/cross-community work; no religious restrictions or strict income limits apply, though only one application per round is allowed. Typical grants range from €10,000-€100,000 for 1-2 year projects (micro: €10k-€20k rolling; mid/large up to €100k), excluding core costs and capital. Applications via online portal (e.g., JEMS/Submittable) are accepted unsolicited for open programmes like PEACEPLUS Change Maker (rolling Tier 1; next Tier deadlines TBA) and Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme (closes 4 April 2025); decisions in 2-4 months.