Racial Equality & Ethnic Minorities Grants in Northern Ireland

Demonstrate lived experience leadership prominently in your application. Funders in this space prioritise organisations led by people from the communities they serve — show that people from ethnic minority backgrounds hold meaningful decision-making roles across your board, senior leadership, and delivery team rather than serving only in advisory or frontline positions. Describe how your services are culturally appropriate, explaining specific adaptations in language, format, location, or approach that make your work accessible and relevant to the communities you serve. Frame your analysis around structural and institutional racism rather than individual prejudice, showing that your project addresses systemic barriers in employment, education, health, housing, or criminal justice. Present community-defined outcomes — explain how the people you work with have shaped what success looks like rather than imposing external metrics. Address equity in your own governance and operations, including how you ensure fair representation, address power imbalances, and create inclusive organisational cultures. If your work involves coalition building across different ethnic minority communities, describe how you navigate diverse needs and avoid homogenising distinct experiences. Strong applications in this space balance the urgency of addressing racial inequality with long-term strategies for structural change, demonstrating both immediate community benefit and systemic impact.