The group or association that is applying for either of these grants must be located within the administrative areas of Cork City Council.
Cork City Council has five local electoral areas, before applying you should ensure your group or association is based in one of these five areas. You can check this
HERE
There are two types of Community Development Grants: Please ensure you read each section carefully to ensure you apply for the correct grant:-
- Cork City Council Small Scale Programme Grant 2025
For Community Groups in the Cork City area this is for once off, small scale programme activities excluding arts, sports activities and estate management including landscaping, tree/flower planting. The maximum grant that can be applied for will be €2,500. However, please note most grants awarded are closer to €500.
Cork City Council's Small Scale Programme Grant 2025
- Small Scale Programme Grants for Community Groups are subject to Cork City Council's approval. Work Funded with Community Development grants in previous years must be completed, fully drawn down and receipted before further funding can be allocated.
- The maximum grant that can be applied for will be €2,500. Please note however, most grants awarded are closer to €500.
- Programmes must be inclusive, non religious, non sectarian and non political.
- All information provided in respect of the application for a grant will be held electronically. Cork City Council reserves the right to publish a list of all grants awarded on its website.
- Cork City Council's contribution must be publicly acknowledged in all materials associated and publicity with the purpose of the grant.
- Sports or arts/music/cultural activity are not eligible as there are other funding streams available for these programmes.
- Programme promoters will be required to have appropriate child protection policies and training and suitable and adequate insurance cover.
- It will be possible to combine funding from other sources. However, this must be transparent and disclosed when applying.
The following types of activities will be considered for programme grant funding:-
Priority will be given to programmes and projects which are of general social or economic benefit to an area-based community and promote inclusion.
The following are examples of programmes or projects which would be considered:-
Drop-in or meeting facilities, age friendly, those seeking employment, young parents, parent and toddler groups, children and young peoples programmes, promotion of positive health (physical, emotion, mental), integration of new communities, traveller community projects etc.
Local participation in the design and development of programmes is desirable.
- Community Associations Capital Grants 2025
For recognised Community Associations in Cork City who own or can get permission to carry out works of a capital or major building maintenance nature. Funding will be awarded towards large scale Capital Grants between a minimum of €5,000 and a maximum of €35,000. Approved grants are usually between €5,000 to €10,000.
Community Associations Capital Grants 2025
- Community Associations Capital Grants are subject to Cork City Council's approval. Work funded with Community Development Grants in previous years must be completed, fully drawn down and receipted before further funding can be allocated.
- Successful applicants must seek competitive tenders or quotations prior to starting works and drawing down the grant.
- Successful applicants must carry out projects by the 1st October 2025.
- It will be possible to combine funding from other sources. However, this must be transparent and disclosed when applying.
- If the funding applications is for one element of the project, applicants will be required to provide documentary evidence of the availability of the balance of funding for that particular element of that project.
- Applicants will be required to submit a copy of the minutes from the Community Associations last AGM and a copy of their audited accounts.
- All information provided in respect of the application for a grant will be held electronically. Cork City Council reserves the right to publish a list of all grants awarded on its website.
General
Freedom of Information Act 2014
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, details contained in applications and supporting documents may, on request, be released to third parties. If there is information contained in your application which is sensitive or confidential in nature, please identify it and provide an explanation as to why it should not be disclosed. If a request to release sensitive information under the legislation is received, you will be consulted before a decision is made whether or not to release the information. However, in the absence of the identification of particular information as sensitive, it could be disclosed without any consultation with you.
Other
- Applicants are free to leverage other funding/match funding for projects (e.g., with LEADER, Tidy Towns, Town and Village Enhancement funding, etc.) although that is not a requirement of the programme.
- It is the responsibility of the administrators of/body responsible for any other funding scheme or programme to ensure that using this Programme to co-fund a project does not contradict the rules of that other scheme/programme.
- VAT will only be paid where it is included in the application amount. No further requests for VAT payments or repayments will be accepted.
How to Apply
Application Form
The application form is detailed and is designed to ensure that it has the necessary information to evaluate each proposal accurately and fairly. Please ensure that you complete the application form in full and that any documentation in support of your application is submitted with your application.
Only projects that meet the criteria outlined above will be considered eligible.
PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS OR LATE APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED.
Submission of false or misleading information at any stage is treated very seriously. Any organisation that does not comply with the terms and conditions of the Programme may be subject to inspection, have their grant withdrawn, be required to repay all or part of a grant and/or be barred from making applications for a period of time. All serious breaches of the terms and conditions of the Programme will be notified to An Garda Síochána.