New Year, New Budget – What About Your Ambition?
As you turn your attention to annual budgets and work plans, it’s worth pausing to ask a bigger question – are you also making space for your ambition?
Building Philanthropy into Your Sport’s Funding Model
Philanthropy has long played a transformative role in sport internationally, enabling investment in athlete development, grassroots participation, and infrastructure that public funding alone cannot sustain. In Ireland, while our community support for sport runs deep, formalised philanthropic giving has been slower to develop. That is now changing. Recent tax incentives are creating the conditions for philanthropy to become a meaningful and sustainable income stream for Irish sport.
Earlier this month marked a significant moment in Irish sport’s pathway to philanthropy. The Irish Sailing Foundation revealed that 2025 saw it support the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway with €500,000 in philanthropic donations – representing 30% of the Pathway’s 2025 budget. The Foundation is now targeting €1 million in 2026, a success that has been a decade in the making. This was followed by the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s launch of the Team Ireland Foundation, with a view to securing philanthropic donations for Los Angeles 2028 and beyond. The Football Association of Ireland also announced the establishment of the Global Ireland Football Foundation, complete with an independent Chair and an experienced Director of Development.
Three sporting bodies. Three foundations. A clear focus on philanthropy.
At the Federation of Irish Sport Leaders Forum, 2into3 CEO Dennis O’Connor moderated a panel discussion on ‘Foundations as a Path to Structural Resilience’, exploring the practicalities and learnings from those who have already embarked on this journey.
James O’Callaghan, representing the Irish Sailing Foundation – established ten years ago – was emphatic about the value of independence. “Having a separate entity is best practice,” he explained. An independent entity allows the NGB to focus on its core work while the foundation builds long-term donor relationships. The Foundation initially had private support for specific campaigns, which ended once those campaigns concluded. Recognising this, they invested in a dedicated fundraiser who could nurture ongoing relationships with donors. Through their patron programme – seeking €50,000 per annum over five years – they targeted twelve supporters in year one and secured eight. “Spend the money to hire the right person,” O’Callaghan emphasised. Fundraising requires a particular skillset, and foundation boards are increasingly providing seed funding to invest in this capability, seeing it as essential to achieving returns on their philanthropic ambitions.
Currently, Type B and C NGBs, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, and Paralympics Ireland are already eligible for tax incentives that benefit donors. The Federation of Irish Sport is advocating for sport foundations to also be made eligible – a move that would recognise their role as independent entities that improve governance while unlocking new sources of philanthropic support.
Looking Ahead
With €1.82 billion in fundraised income across the Irish nonprofit sector in 2022, and per capita giving of €354, the philanthropic opportunity for sport is significant. The Giving Ireland 2024 research highlights Ireland’s strong culture of generosity – and the potential to channel more of that giving towards sporting development.
If your sport has an ambition to secure ongoing philanthropic donations, we welcome the opportunity to discuss how philanthropy could work for your organisation. Get in touch with Dennis O’Connor at dennis@2into3.com to explore this pathway in detail.
What Crises Teaches Us About Governance
Effective governance is not just a box-ticking exercise. It is the foundation for trust and, critically, for funding, which ultimately supports long-term success.
2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards with the Federation of Irish Sport
Ireland Women’s International Footballer, Amber Barrett was on hand to lend her voice to the launch of the 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards, a national celebration of the extraordinary individuals who contribute to the vibrant fabric of Irish sports.
Hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport and supported by the Sport Ireland National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships these prestigious awards recognise the selfless volunteers who dedicate their time, skills, and passion to support sports clubs and community organisations across Ireland.
The 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards will bring together individuals from all 32 counties to celebrate their commitment to fostering participation and ensuring that sport is accessible to all. Their contributions not only inspire communities but also enable clubs and organisations to thrive, supporting social cohesion and well-being across Ireland. Without their dedication, many sporting opportunities simply would not exist.
A new addition to the 2025 awards is the launch of a brand-new award – the Club/Community Sport Organisation Award. This award recognises a volunteer led sports club, community organisation, or group that has made an outstanding contribution to promoting sport, physical activity, and community well-being. It celebrates excellence in inclusion, participation, leadership, and positive impact through sport.
In every corner of the country, from city centres and suburbs to rural villages, over 460,000 volunteers work tirelessly each week to bring sport and physical activity to life for people of all ages*. Over 250,000 coaches volunteer 1 million hours a week to Irish Sport**. The impact of their work is profound, providing multi-generational opportunities to engage in sport, build communities, and promote healthy lifestyles. The economic value of their contribution is estimated to be worth €1.5bn to the Irish economy***.
There are also two closed categories of Outstanding Achievement Award and the addition of a Lifetime Achievement Award. These prestigious awards are not open for public nomination. Recipients are selected by the Judging Panel from entries received from the County Volunteers, based on outstanding merit, impact, or long-term contribution.
Ambassador for the 2025 Awards Ireland Women’s International Footballer, Amber Barret commented:
“Volunteers are the unsung heroes of sport in Ireland. They are the ones who connect clubs with communities, who help kids to chase their dreams and fulfil their potential, who bring joy to families and who make a lasting difference in people’s lives. It’s fantastic to have these Awards to recognise those who make such a positive impact as Irish sport simply would not be the same without our volunteers.”
Mary O’Connor CEO Federation of Irish Sport said:
“The goodwill and work of volunteers cannot be taken for granted. These awards are our chance to say thank you and in acknowledging the incredible efforts volunteers make, ensure that we continue to encourage more people to get involved and safeguard the future of sport in the country”
A National Network of Support
Supporting the awards is the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown Sports Partnership Coordinator, Shane McArdle, remarked:
“This is the third year that the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships have come together to enthusiastically support the Federation of Irish Sports in hosting these important awards. In our work to promote participation all across the country, we see the immense value of volunteers in every club and across every sport. These awards provide a great opportunity for these clubs to recognise and celebrate these volunteers who make a difference in so many people’s lives. We encourage all clubs to nominate their invaluable champions.”
Nomination Process
Nominations for the 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards are open from Tuesday, 11th November 2025, until Monday, 15th December 2025. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate deserving volunteers from their club or sporting organisation who have made a significant contribution or impact to their local club or community.
For more information and to submit a nomination, visit www.volunteersinsport.ie or for further queries contact Clare Louise O’Donoghue, Head of Commercial & Marketing, Federation of Irish Sport:
Mobile: 086 0437887, Email: clarelouise.odonoghue@irishsport.ie
*Sport Ireland – Irish Sports Monitor 2023
** Sport Ireland – Spotlight on Coaching Report 2024
*** Sport Ireland – Economic Value of Sport Report 2021
Philanthropy as a Catalyst for Inclusion in Sports
Importance of diversifying income streams for NGBs to ensure long-term sustainability and greater inclusion.
2into3 CEO Featured in The Journal on NGO Funding and Transparency
2into3 CEO Dennis O’Connor highlights transparency gaps in Ireland’s nonprofit sector and the need for better reporting and oversight.
The Board’s Role in Strategy Development
Developing a strategy isn’t just about setting ambitious goals; it’s about how Boards and Executives work together to shape, resource, and oversee them.
2 Key Objectives for the Sector’s New Strategy – Funding and Governance
With the Government set to develop a successor to its current strategy for the sector, it’s timely to identify a few core objectives for inclusion.
Raising the Game: Why Governance Matters in Sport
Effective governance is not just a box-ticking exercise. It is the foundation for trust and, critically, for funding, which ultimately supports long-term success.
2into3 expands team & services with Ivan Cooper appointment
2into3 continues to grow its team with the appointment of sector stalwart Ivan Cooper, adding Policy and Advocacy to its Advisory Services.
