As Ireland’s nonprofit sector continues to adapt to new challenges and growing societal needs, values-based leadership is fundamental to fostering organisational resilience, effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
2into3 continues to grow its team with the appointment of sector stalwart Ivan Cooper, adding Policy and Advocacy to its Advisory Services.
Our thoughts are with our colleague, Denise Cranston and her family following the recent passing of her husband, George Swift. The entire 2into3 team extends our deepest sympathies during this difficult time.
The Annual Report is the perfect medium to showcase your strategy & operations. When done right can be a crucial & high-impact communication tool.
The Charity Regulator’s new Strategy 2025–2027 sets out a vision for a “thriving, trusted charity sector in Ireland”. Shaped by the Charities (Amendment) Act and sector-wide consultation the Strategy signals significant changes in governance, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
Key lessons that National Governing Bodies (NGBs) can take from the events surrounding the Camogie shorts versus skorts debate, highlighting the importance of listening, transparency, and adaptability.
Change is the only constant, and with the rise of AI, Irish nonprofits are increasingly focusing on soft skills developed through life and work experience.
A New Ice Age:
2into3 Client, Prime Arena Holdings Ltd today announces reaching agreement for the acquisition of an 8.14 acre site in Cherrywood, South Dublin for the development of Ireland’s first dedicated winter sports and entertainment arena – a major new venue that will transform Ireland’s sporting and cultural landscape.
Planning documentation for the €190m development is scheduled to be submitted by September 2025 for this state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena which will become the home of Dublin’s first professional ice hockey franchise; as well as serve as a national hub for winter sports, major concerts, international exhibitions, and corporate events.
Located within the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone and with seamless transport connectivity via Luas, Dublin Bus, M50, and M11, the venue is projected to generate socio-economic impact of over €230 million annually, becoming a landmark destination for fans, families, and businesses alike.
A Home for Winter Sports – and Dublin’s first Professional Ice Hockey Franchise
For the first time, Ireland will have a permanent base for Olympic-standard winter sports, supported by the Olympic Federation of Ireland. Dublin is currently the only capital city in Northern Europe without a permanent ice sport centre. The facility will include:
● Two full-sized Olympic ice rinks;
● A 5,000-seat (8,000 standing) indoor arena;
● A high-performance training centre for elite athletes; and
● A permanent home for Dublin’s first professional ice hockey franchise, with the exclusive franchise to compete in the UK Elite Ice Hockey League and European competitions – alongside the highly successful Belfast Giants franchise.
Culture, Concerts and Conferences
The Arena is designed for far more than sport. With projected capacity to host between 50-70 events annually in partnership with global promoters, it will provide Ireland with a mid-tier venue tailored to international-scale performances, tours, and exhibitions.
As a conference and gala venue, it will accommodate up to 1,500 seated guests, adding 200,000 hotel bed nights per year, and addressing a long-standing capacity gap from the business events industry, valued at USD 2.8 trillion globally.
A National Asset
The Arena will deliver social, economic, and cultural benefits for Dublin and Ireland:
● Local Jobs & Economic Growth: Nearly 400 direct jobs during construction and over 1,600 jobs supported annually, with 80 full-time positions related to ice-based activities.
● Community Access: Year-round public skating, school and youth group programmes, and adaptive winter sports opportunities, with over 1 million projected annual visits.
● Tourism Magnet for North American and European touring sports: The Arena will open Ireland up for hosting major indoor sporting events including NHL, NBA and ATP / WTA Tennis
● Sustainability: Cutting-edge design with carbon reduction goals and potential for shared district heating
“A defining moment.”
“This is a defining moment for Ireland – a bold statement of what we can achieve when ambition meets collaboration,” said Dermot Rigley, CEO of Prime Arena Holdings. “Since 2021, we’ve been working quietly but relentlessly with an incredible team to bring this vision to life – and today, we’re proud to finally share it with the Irish public. With the support of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Hines, we’re building more than an arena – we’re creating a national landmark that will open up winter sports to every corner of Irish society, empower our athletes, and give Ireland the platform it deserves to host world-class events.”
Tom Kennedy, Chairman of Prime Arena Holdings added, “This isn’t just an investment in infrastructure – it’s a legacy for generations. We are deeply grateful to our incredible investor group and project team, whose belief and commitment have made this moment possible.”
Jim O’Leary, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said, “I am delighted to welcome this announcement for Ireland’s first dedicated winter sports and entertainment arena earmarked for development in our new town of Cherrywood. This transformational arena will contribute significantly to our corporate goals in realising our sports, tourism and cultural ambitions and in supporting further economic growth and opportunities in our County for all who live, work and visit Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the wider region.”
The development is made possible through collaboration with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Prime Arena Holdings has worked extensively with national sporting bodies, tourism agencies, industry partners and event promoters, including Fáilte Ireland, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, and the Elite Ice Hockey League.
For more details, please visit: https://www.primearenaholdings.com/
A Talent Pipeline Under Strain
According to a recently published LinkedIn report, fundraising professionals are currently the most in-demand talent in Ireland. In a sector where securing sustainable funding remains a consistent challenge, the competition for skilled fundraisers continues to intensify.
Fundraised income is essential for delivering vital services and advancing meaningful causes. Yet, attracting and retaining top fundraising talent is one of the biggest obstacles to achieving long-term strategic fundraising goals. Our LinkedIn Talent Insights data reveals that the median tenure for senior fundraising professionals is just 1.3 years, with more junior roles averaging slightly longer at 1.7 years.
Solving this talent retention issue is key. It enables organisations to unlock sustainable income streams, reduce crisis-driven decisions, and build long-term resilience into their mission delivery.
Building a Culture of Fundraising
Despite the sector being valued at €1.8 billion in 2022 and becoming increasingly professionalised, many organisations still hesitate to view fundraising investment as a strategic priority. At the Board and senior leadership levels, there is often a lack of understanding about fundraising ROI, risk tolerance, and fear of scrutiny.
Hiring a senior fundraising leader is not just a recruitment decision—it’s a strategic one. The right candidate understands the business of fundraising, donor engagement, and can embed this thinking across the team and wider organisation. The right hire can move your organisation from breaking even to one on a path of high growth and impact.
Three Conflicts Hindering Fundraising Success
At the recent launch of Great Fundraising Organisations, Alan Clayton identified three key conflicts that often impede successful fundraising and contribute to leadership turnover:
Cultural Conflict: Fundraisers are driven by ambition, urgency, and emotion, while service delivery teams tend to prioritise structure, consensus, and evidence. Bridging this divide requires mutual respect and organisational alignment.
Investment Conflict: Boards often prioritise immediate crises, overlooking the importance of future-focused fundraising strategies. Strategic investments may not yield immediate returns, but they are critical for long-term growth and sustainability.
Communications Conflict: Messaging must be tailored. Use emotion and storytelling to engage donors, and highlight impact and outcomes when promoting services. Consistent, purposeful communication builds donor trust and enhances engagement.
Skills-Based Hiring in a Competitive Fundraising Market
We take a consultative and strategic approach to fundraising recruitment—assessing organisational culture, goals, and needs to identify the talent best positioned to drive results.
In a competitive market, skills-based hiring is crucial. Moving beyond traditional career paths opens up opportunities to attract professionals from the private sector who are motivated to transition into purpose-driven roles.
Key transferable fundraising skills to look for include:
Strategic thinking
Negotiation and problem-solving
Relationship-building and community engagement
Commercial acumen and business development
By widening the talent pool and committing to proper onboarding and training, organisations can tap into new sources of talent.
The Ideal Fundraising Candidate Profile
To achieve sustainable growth, nonprofits must invest in top-tier fundraising talent and foster a culture of relationship-driven philanthropy. This unlocks long-term financial sustainability and enables deeper community impact.
The ideal senior candidate will combine strategic vision with authenticity and interpersonal skills—capable of navigating conflict and driving organisational growth. But even the best fundraising professionals cannot succeed in isolation.
Organisations must align around a shared growth mindset. Without Board-level commitment to fundraising as a strategic priority, talent will churn, progress will stall, and impact will suffer. The cost of inaction isn’t just missed opportunity—it’s missed impact.
Recreation and Sports accounted for 7% of all recorded roles in Q1 2025, highlighting an active and expanding subsector within Ireland’s nonprofit landscape. From 2025 onwards, we’ve updated our data collection methods for sporting roles, offering a more accurate and detailed insight into employment trends and strategic priorities shaping the sports industry nationwide.
Together, these findings show that the Sports and Recreation subsector in Ireland is undergoing professionalisation, strategic evolution, and a shift towards inclusion. Career opportunities in sport now extend beyond the field, encompassing areas such as executive leadership, operations, marketing, fundraising, and technology.
Explore Further: Nonprofit Talent Trends Q1 2025
To read our full thematic analysis of nonprofit talent trends in Q1 2025, please visit our website here.
Contact Us
Our Talent Management Team tracks senior nonprofit roles and publishes quarterly trend reports. To explore previous quarterly insights, visit here. For more information or to discuss current opportunities, please contact Shannon Barrett, Head of Talent Services, at shannon.barrett@2into3.com.
