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Ciste Fhuinneamh na nGlún

ESB ​and Corporate Responsibility

As a leading Irish organisation with deep roots in the community dating back to 1927, we are committed to playing a role in addressing some of the key social issues facing Ireland today.

Corporate Responsibility (CR) is at the heart of this vision. Through our Energy for Generations Fund, we have three main pillars of focus:

  • Suicide Prevention
  • Homelessness
  • Education Access and Support

Energy for Generations Fund

 

ESB's Energy for Generations Fund sees over €2m per year disbursed across a range of community and issues-based initiatives.

Each year the Fund awards €1m in direct funding through a quarterly fund to charities working in the areas of suicide prevention, homelessness and education access and support.  

ESB has been supporting initiatives in the areas of suicide prevention and homelessness since 2005. The Energy for Generations Fund introduced a new focus on education in 2014, which recognises the need for educational supports at all levels to ensure that Ireland has the skills it needs to compete effectively in the future.

The remainder is allocated across a range of initiatives including support for ElectricAid, wind farm community funds, fuel poverty programmes and support for staff volunteering.

Aim of the Energy for Generations Fund

Our aim with the Energy for Generations Fund is to maximise the impact of our investment by taking a more strategic approach to effect change. Funding is only part of the jigsaw – we also want to leverage the skills and knowledge we have within the company to bring about more sustainable and positive outcomes.

Support for Staff Volunteering

The Energy for Generations Fund provides support to ESB staff who volunteer within their own communities. Staff who volunteer at least 20 hours of their own time per year will be invited to apply for funding of up to €250 for their chosen registered charity.

Many of our staff are involved in volunteering activities in their spare time, but we have never had any formal structure to support or encourage this in the past. Through this funding, our aim is to demonstrate our support for the work our staff do within their own communities.

Charities working in the areas of suicide prevention, homelessness and education access and support can apply to the Fund for project specific funding. 

Every quarter ESB allocates an amount from the Fund for disbursement. The amount may vary because of the volume of applications received or seasonal considerations - wintertime and Christmas may require more funding than summer.

Applications submitted during each quarter are appraised at the end of the quarter and funding allocated accordingly.

2017 closing dates for applications are:

Q1 - 20 March
Q2 - 2 June 
Q3 - 4 September 
Q4 - 13 November

ESB has been involved in formal funding since we established our then Electric Aid Ireland Fund in July 2005. In 2014, the Electric Aid Ireland Fund was rebranded to the Energy for Generations Fund.

Download an application form online (below).  Completed application forms should be submitted by email to james.foley@esb.ie

Each year the Fund awards €1 million in direct funding through a quarterly fund to charities working in the areas of suicide prevention, alleviation of homelessness and education access and support. 

The Fund awards a further €1 million a year through support for staff volunteering, in-kind support and other CSR initiatives. 

Suicide Prevention
We will fund services and projects working to promote positive mental health and to build capacity, skills and training to make effective suicide prevention interventions. 

We have a particular interest in funding programmes with a focus on youth suicide and positive mental health promotion for young people. 

Homelessness
We will fund services and projects benefiting homeless people and those at risk of homelessness. 

Education
Proposals are invited from the following:

  • Early years and early primary schools projects focusing on literacy and numeracy;
  • Secondary level proposals promoting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM);
  • Adult education return-to-education programmes aimed at those long-term out of work.

Single school applications and school completion projects are not eligible for funding.

Funding is not awarded to / for:

  • Individuals and individual fundraisers
  • Administrative or operating costs
  • Salary expenses
  • Third party fundraising (e.g. fundraising events)
  • High risk ventures.
  • Retrospective funding
  • Overseas Work

Funding must be used exclusively for the purpose of implementing the project as stated in the application form. 


The guideline application amount is c. €10,000. This is neither a minimum nor a maximum, rather an indication of the scale of the resources available.  Average funding awards in recent years have been c. €6-7,000    

You can apply as often as you wish.  If you are consistently being turned down you should speak to the Fund Administrator.  If you have been frequently funded, we may wish to spread the funding and you may not be considered.  It is important to note that each project will be considered on its own merits and will be considered for funding if it is worthy.

Yes.  You can contact the Fund Administrator -

James Foley
T: 01 702 7732
M: 087 790 4395
E: james.foley@esb.ie

A set of criteria will be applied against applications. "Informed by evidence", "focused on outcomes", "impact" and "opportunity for staff engagement" are areas for assessment as is "local contribution."

Yes. You can contact the Fund Administrator. However, generally if your application wasn't successful it will be because of competition from other proposals or more impactful projects have been approved for this period. You can apply again during the next quarter.

Fund Administrator:
James Foley
T: 01 702 7732
M: 087 7904 395
E: james.foley@esb.ie

​

Yes.

Organisations are encouraged to secure independent local funding as well as applying to the Energy for Generations Fund to maximise the level of local contribution to projects, and should indicate the level of the organisation's own resources that are being invested into the project. 

The majority of fundings will be to registered charities.