Launch of the Federation of Irish Sport 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards

Olympian Sarah Lavin champions the launch of the Federation of Irish Sport 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards

Double Olympic hurdler Sarah Lavin was on hand to lend her voice to the launch of the 2024 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 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 2024 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. Nominations are now open and the awards celebration will take place in Dublin in February 2025.

Ambassador for the 2024 Awards Track and field star and double Olympian Sarah Lavin commented:

“High performance sport in Ireland as well as grassroots relies so heavily on volunteers. We cannot take for granted the time and dedication of people who step up and volunteer on a weekly basis. They deserve to be celebrated for the positive change they bring to communities across Ireland. It’s truly an honour to support this celebration of the people who make sport possible for all of us at every level.”

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*. 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**.

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.”

The Volunteers in Sport Awards is a vital opportunity to recognise their efforts and to shine a light on the invaluable contribution they make to Irish sport and society.

A National Network of Support

Supporting the awards is the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. Limerick Sports Partnership Coordinator Phelim Macken remarked:

“The event is proudly supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), which work to increase participation in sport and physical activity by breaking down barriers and encouraging inclusivity. Through the work of the partnerships, more people across Ireland are getting active, and the Volunteers in Sport Awards is a fitting tribute to those who help make this possible”.

Nomination Process

Nominations for the 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards are open from Tuesday, 12th November 2024, until Tuesday, 17th December 2024. 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 – Economic Value of Sport Report 2021

Federation of Irish Sport

Federation of Irish Sport Launches Pre-Budget Submission for Budget 2025

Double Olympic gold medallist Fintan McCarthy joined our partners, Federation of Ireland Sport, along with National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships from across Ireland in urgently calling for greater investment in Irish sport in Budget 2025. McCarthy was the special guest of the Federation of Irish Sport at the launch of its Pre-Budget Submission for Budget 2025, an event attended by elected representatives of Dáil Éireann, Senators, and members of the Federation, which represents 81 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and 29 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs).

The Federation has put forward three key “Asks” of the government, with the primary request being for a multi-annual increase in core funding for NGBs and LSPs. Core funding is the heart sporting bodies in Ireland, enabling the creation of programmes and pathways that identify, nurture, and support the sporting heroes of tomorrow. Additional calls for taxation reform and an increase in the betting levy comprise the two other key Asks.

 

Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, emphasised the significance of this funding: “Our overall ask in relation to the upcoming budget is for government to increase funding for the core activities which build the base of sport and physical activity in Ireland. We realise that there is much to be financed across many areas in relation to Budget2025, we would however respectfully suggest that additional funding for sport might be found through the proposed changes to taxation under Action 3.7 and an increase in the betting levy for Sport.”

Since the launch of the National Sports Policy in 2018, significant progress has been made in high performance and sports capital funding. However, core funding for NGBs and LSPs, which is critical for the long-term development of grassroots sport, has lagged behind/not matched/has been eroded by inflation and rising costs. This funding is essential for building programmes, retaining key personnel, and attracting quality coaches and staff.

By adopting a multi-annual funding model, the Federation argues, the government would provide the certainty needed to plan strategically and deliver meaningful long-term outcomes. “Core funding is used not only to maintain the foundation of these organisations but to strengthen it,” O’Connor added. “All sport in this country starts with the NGBs and LSPs. They build the programmes and nurture the participants who go on to perform at the highest levels on the world stage.”

Mary O’Connor further highlighted the potential of taxation reform: “As we have mentioned previously in our submissions, we believe that changes could be made in existing legislation to the benefit of sport. We also believe that a 1% rise in the betting tax could produce up to €40 million, which could beneficially invest in sport and in programmes aimed at tackling the problems of gambling addiction.”

About the Federation of Irish Sport

The Federation of Irish Sport was established in April 2002 by Ireland’s national sporting organisations to provide leadership, coordination, and advocacy on key issues, representing their interests to the government and relevant agencies. Now in its 21st year, the Federation represents over 110 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), representing more than 13,000 sports clubs across Ireland.

The Federation’s mission is to empower its members to maximise the impact of sport, recreation, and physical activity for the benefit of society. Sport is not only essential for Ireland’s health and wellbeing but also contributes significantly to the economy, education, tourism, and the nation’s global reputation.

 

For media inquiries, please contact: Clare Louise O’Donoghue, Head of Commercial & Marketing, Federation of Irish Sport clarelouise.odonoghue@irishsport.ie, mobile: 0860437887, website: www.irishsport.ie.

Shannon Barrett 2into3

Welcoming Shannon Barrett as Head of Talent Management Services

We’re delighted to announce that Shannon Barrett has rejoined 2into3 as our new Head of Talent Management Services. Shannon initially joined 2into3 as an Assistant Recruiter on the For Purpose Graduate Programme in 2021, before being promoted to Recruitment Coordinator in 2022 and Recruitment Consultant in 2023. 

In her previous role as Recruitment Consultant, Shannon made significant contributions to our Talent Management team. Shannon actively supported the continuous development of our recruitment process and placed senior leaders in a variety of social impact roles, from Chief Executive Officers to Fundraising, Service Management, Housing Specific roles, IT, Finance, Advocacy and Operational professionals. 

We’re confident that Shannon’s sectoral expertise and leadership will strengthen our commitment to placing successful candidates within a range of social impact organisations.

 

Get in Touch

Our Talent Management team works with organisations to ensure that our carefully selected candidates succeed within their new roles. We believe that when a candidate is successful in their role, it allows the organisation to succeed in its mission.

In the last 12 months, 2into3 successfully filled 31 roles for a range of social impact organisations. For examples of our work, visit here.

If you have any queries, or would like to have a chat with Shannon directly, please contact her at shannon.barrett@2into3.com.

For more information on our Talent Management Services, visit our webpage. 

500th client 2into3 listowel family resource centre frc

Celebrating our 500th Client with Listowel FRC

Today, 2into3 celebrates a significant milestone – welcoming our 500th client! This achievement marks an important landmark and we couldn’t have reached it without the support of our fantastic clients.

“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our 500 clients,” Dennis O’Connor, CEO, 2into3. “Over the last 18 years, we’ve had the pleasure of working with a range of social impact organisations, building their capacity to have a transformative social impact. We look forward to collaborating with you all in future.”

 

 

 

About Listowel FRC

Listowel FRC

Listowel Family Resource Centre (FRC) is a community-based nonprofit that delivers inclusive and empowering supports to individuals, families, migrants and the wider community in North Kerry.

Listowel FRC is one of 121 FRCs nationwide under the FRC National Programme – Ireland’s largest family support programme – core funded by TUSLA.

Listowel FRC works across the life course to deliver a wide range of universal and targeted services. Their services include family supports to parents and children, childcare, social prescribing services, counselling and wellbeing services – including general counselling, gambling supports and play therapy – and support spaces for issue-specific groups.

Listowel FRC is managed by a voluntary Board of Trustees, providing expertise to help Listowel FRC achieve their mission.

 

Developing an Ambitious Strategic Plan for Listowel FRC

Listowel FRC

We’re thrilled to be working with Listowel Family Resource Centre as our 500th client to develop their first Strategic Plan. We look forward to engaging and consulting with the Board of Trustees, staff team, volunteers and service users to develop an ambitious yet achievable Strategic Plan that helps the organisation consolidate its successes to date and grow sustainably in the future.

“We are delighted to be developing our next 5 year strategic plan with the support and leadership of 2into3.” says Jackie Landers, CEO of Listowel FRC.

Our consultants will bring in their experience of developing Strategic Plans with dozens of charities, nonprofits and social enterprises – including Newbridge FRC, Sacred Heart FRC, as well as the national umbrella body of FRCs the National Forum.

See examples of our process and completed Strategic Plans here.

 

Looking Ahead: A Future Focused on Growth

Listowel FRC

Since 2006, 2into3 has been committed to providing transformative social impact. With insight, commitment, collaboration, and ambition at our core, we strive to provide quality for each client. We look forward to continue providing our range of Advisory, Funding and Talent Management services to our clients.

 

Get in Touch

If you’re also currently considering developing a new Strategic Plan, contact our Director of Advisory Services, Sheena Horgan at sheena.horgan@2into3.com. For more information on our broader range of services, visit our webpage here.

Good Governance Awards 2024

Good Governance Awards 2024 Entries Open

The Good Governance Awards 2024 are are now open for entries, recognising and encouraging adherence to good governance practice by Irish nonprofits.

Any nonprofit organisation in Ireland, whether a charity, company, sports club or community association, can enter its annual report and financial statements into the Awards for free and it will receive individual feedback to help improve future annual reports. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in November.

Nonprofits with an annual income of less than €100,000 win 1 free place on a training course of their choice for entering the awards and win 2 additional training places if they are shortlisted to win.

Enter your annual report at The Good Governance Awards here. Entries must be submitted by 11th September.

 

2into3 Sponsors Good Governance Awards 2024

We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Good Governance Awards 2024. Our Associate Consultant, Catriona Hogan, will be joining the judging panel at the Good Governance Awards in November. The Good Governance Awards seek to:

  • Acknowledge, encourage and promote good governance practice in the area of annual reports and others areas of good governance practice.
  • Support and encourage the nonprofit sector to use their annual reports and financial statements to showcase their embracement of and adherence to good governance.
  • Provide practical examples to other organisations as to what an excellent or very good director’s report and financial statements look like.

If you have further queries regarding this years submission, contact roisin@carmichaelireland.ie.

The Wheel Summit

The Wheel Summit 2024 Recap

We had a fantastic day at The Wheel’s annual Summit as lead partners on Wednesday 29th May. The event kicked off with an opening address from Emily Bourke, Campaigns Manager at The Wheel, followed by Ivan Cooper, CEO of The Wheel.

Joe O’Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, also joined us to introduce this years Summit, acknowledging the work of the charitable sector and celebrating 25 years of The Wheel.

 

Dennis O’Connor Keynote Speech “An island of 10 million people”

Dennis O'Connor CEO 2into3 keynote speech The Wheel Summit lead partner

At the end of the first plenary session, our CEO, Dennis O’Connor, gave a keynote speech on “An island of 10 million people”, highlighting both the challenges and the positive effects of a strongly growing population.

His closing remarks reminded our attendees of the importance of ambition within the sector, “Funding follows Ambition, Ambition comes first.”

 

Parallel Session: ‘Sustaining Your Funding: From Funding Potholes to Smooth Roads’

2into3 Funding Grants Fundraising Partnerships The Wheel Summit 2024

In the afternoon, we hosted a parallel session on ‘Sustaining Your Funding: From Funding Potholes to Smooth Roads’. This session was MC’d by Michael Smyth, CEO of Cope Galway who joined our panellists, Patricia Keenan, Director of Grants & Economic Services, Rob Foley, Head of Fundraising Advisory Practice and Denise Cranston, Head of Partnerships Advisory Practice.

Our session covered two main discussion points, including our team’s observations looking back on the funding landscape in Ireland and providing recommendations moving forward.

 

Some key takeaways included:

  • “In future, we hope to see longer-term, more impactful corporate charity partnerships. Collaborating over five, or ten years will create a much greater impact for both corporates and charities.”
  • “As contributors to the state, we are entitled to apply for grants… it’s important to build your case around how such grants will positively impact your community.”
  • “Diversifying your fundraising channels offers advantages, but remember to factor in the investment required such as opportunity cost, time and capacity.”

Towards the end of the session, we had an extremely engaging Q&A session, where our team answered a range of funding questions from attendees.

2into3, Lead Partners of The Wheel Summit

The Wheel Summit presents an opportunity for sector leaders to reflect on the past and look to the future of the sector through member-led sessions, networking and collaborating. We were delighted to celebrate 25 years of The Wheel at this year’s Summit, acknowledging the third sector and the impact of their work in Ireland.

 

If you’re interested in finding out more about our funding expertise, contact our team:

Patricia Keenan, Director of Grants & Economic Services: patricia.keenan@2into3.com

Rob Foley, Head of Fundraising Advisory Practice at rob.foley@2into3.com

Denise Cranston, Head of Partnerships Advisory Services denise.cranston@2into3.com

 

2into3 are lead partners of The Wheel Summit, 2022-2024.

Irish Sport Industry Awards

2024 Irish Sport Industry Awards Reward Excellence in Sport

Our partners at Federation of Irish Sport celebrated the 7th Irish Sport Industry Awards on Tuesday 28th May. The awards are a celebration of the financial contribution of Sport to the Irish economy, recognising enterprise, inclusivity, good governance in Sport. Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath TD, gave the keynote address reaffirming the Government’s ongoing investment in sport through the Sports Capital Grants, Major Sports Infrastructure under LSSIF and the record funding available recently announced under the latest round of Sports Equipment Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (‘SCEP’).

 

The 11 award categories recognise a cross section of the work being done by new and innovative sports tech enterprises, the significant sports sponsorship market, media campaigns in sport, alongside the important work being done by National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships. In addition to this the awards honour standout individuals making a difference in Sport. For the full list of winners see below.

The much-anticipated award for National Governing Body of the Year 2024 went to Canoeing Ireland. Canoeing Ireland has had the challenging task of continuing the organisational growth achieved in recent years with the passion and ambition which is endemic within Canoeing Ireland. Earlier this year they set out a new strategic plan (2024 – 2027) with an ambitious path for the organisation and its members, continuing the growth seen in over the last four years while maintaining and enhancing their excellence in the areas of governance and leadership.

The recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Irish Sport for 2024 is John Trainor (1972-2024). Widely regarded as the ‘father’ of the sponsorship industry in Ireland and, in particular, the professionalisation of the discipline. John was the Founder and CEO of ONSIDE. As well as being the first Irish Board Director of the European Sponsorship Association, he was a fellow of the Marketing Institute of Ireland where his championing of the sponsorship discipline helped give senior marketing decision-makers more confidence to invest in partnerships.

The recipient of the Women in Business in Sport Award, in partnership with KPMG for 2024 is Sarah Keane, CEO of Swim Ireland. This is a milestone year for Keane as it marks 20 years at the helm on Swim Ireland and her final Olympic Games as President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland. Sarah has international experience in Governance and Gender Equality Issues as well as extensive experience in Corporate Management and Governance.

The Jimmy Magee FIS/ASJI Sports Coverage of the Year Award, was presented to Mark Gallagher of the Irish Daily Mail. Mark Gallagher has been a sports journalist with the Irish Mail on Sunday, the Irish Daily Mail since August 2005, covering a wide variety of sports from Gaelic games to boxing to soccer.

Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport said, “The Federation is delighted to celebrate all the nominees and award winners this evening. It is hugely important to not to underestimate the collective power of sport and the positive impact it has on us as individuals but also to our communities and our economy. The Federation believes that by continuing to invest in sport at a regional and national level, we can ensure that everyone has access to quality facilities, coaching, and opportunities to get involved, regardless of their background or socio-economic status. This not only benefits individual participants but also contributes to the overall health and well-being of our communities, fostering social cohesion and a sense of belonging. Congratulations to all those honoured this evening.”

Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath TD, said, “I wish to commend the Federation of Irish Sport on the 7th hosting of the Irish Sport Industry Awards and I want to congratulate all the award winners and all those that have been shortlisted. These awards play a huge part in recognising the depth and quality of the many programmes and initiatives being carried out across the country to promote participation and inclusivity in sport and physical activity.”

For more information on these awards, contact Clare Louise O’Donoghue on 086 0437887 or clarelouise.odonoghue@irishsport.ie. For all awards news, visit: www.irishsportindustryawards.ie.

Full List of Award Winners

Best Sports Sponsorship: Olympic Federation of Ireland & PTSB, Dare to Believe
Best Use of Communications Platforms in Sport: FAI, FAI Connect
Best New Sports Business of the Year, in partnership with Sport Ireland: Precision Sports Technology
Best Sports Business of the Year, in partnership with Technology Ireland DIGITAL Skillnet: SportsKey
Best Initiative to Promote Women in Sport & Physical Activity: LGFA Sports Direct G4MAO (Gaelic4Mothers&Others)
Best Initiative to Promote Inclusivity in Sport & Physical Activity: Field Of Vision
Local Sports Partnership of the Year: Clare Local Sports Partnership
Governing Body of the Year: Canoeing Ireland
Jimmy Magee FIS/ASJI Sports Coverage of the Year: Mark Gallagher
Women in Business in Sport Award, in partnership with KPMG: Sarah Keane
Outstanding Contribution to Irish Sport Award: John Trainor

 

About the Federation of Irish Sport (FIS)

Now in its 22nd year, the Federation’s membership comprises of 110 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) from every corner of the country, representing over 13,000 sports clubs nationwide. Its purpose is “to support and advocate collectively for our members, empowering them to maximise the impact of sport, recreation, and physical activity for society.” The Sport industry in Ireland supports 64,000 jobs, stimulates €3.3 billion in household spending, and generates €3.7 billion gross value added (GVA) to the Irish economy.

The Summit 2024 lead partners 2into3

Lead Partners at The Wheel Summit 2024

It’s less than one week to The Wheel Summit and we’re delighted to be lead partners again this year. Join us on Wednesday 29th May at Croke Park as we come together to explore the big topics for the community, voluntary and charity sector, including the drivers of social change, the role of the sector in making that change, and what lessons we can take from our successes to address present and future challenges.

You can look forward to:

  • Over 30 Speakers: wide-ranging discussions and debates on the issues affecting your organisation, featuring experts and leaders.
  • 12 Member-led  Sessions: These parallel sessions will cover topics as varied as sustainable funding, volunteering, integration, social enterprise, policy, community development and climate action.
  • Over 40 Exhibitors: Meet the leading service providers for the sector.
  • Three Floors: To facilitate more networking and breakout sessions, we have extended the floorspace of the event.

View the full programme here.

Lead Sponsor Address, Dennis O’Connor, CEO

Join our CEO, Dennis O’Connor for his Lead Sponsor Address at 11.15am. Dennis will be speaking to this year’s theme ‘Looking back, Looking forward’ and sharing his insights on the sector.

Sustaining your Funding Model

We’re leading our own parallel session from 2.30 pm – 3.40 pm on ‘Sustaining Your Funding: From Funding Potholes to Smooth Roads’. This session will be led by our team: Patricia Keenan, Director of Grants & Economic Services, Rob Foley, Head of Fundraising Advisory Practice and Denise Cranston, Head of Partnerships Advisory Practice. We will also be joined by Michael Smyth, CEO of Cope Galway, who will MC the session.

It’s necessary for nonprofit organisations to have a sustainable funding model. Looking back, many nonprofits relied too heavily on small streams of fundraised income. Diversifying your funding model to ensure it is strategic, sustainable and diverse will ensure the sustainability of your nonprofit organisation.

In this session, our team will share their funding observations from the past and recommendations for the future, followed by a Q&A session. With our team’s funding expertise, it will be an informative and engaging session. Join us on the day at 2.30pm!

 

Get in Touch

If you have any queries on this year’s Summit, contact our Marketing Manager, Eilís O’Boyle at eilis.oboyle@2into3.com or on 086 076 0833.

Federation of Irish Sport Sport Industry Awards 2024

Irish Sport Industry Awards Announce 2024 Nominees

Our partners at The Federation of Irish Sport announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2024 Irish Sport Industry Awards, which will take place at Dublin’s College Green Hotel on Tuesday 28th May, with keynote speaker Minister for Finance Michael McGrath TD.
The 11 award categories celebrated represent a cross-section of enterprise, sporting organisations and individuals that fuel and drive the promotion, management, growth, and sustainability of sport in Ireland. The 8 open category nominees were revealed today, see below for the list of nominees.

A highlight of the awards evening will include the announcement of the individual award winners for the coveted Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Sport Award, the Women in Business in Sport Award, in partnership with KPMG and the Jimmy Magee Sports Coverage of the Year Award, as determined by the Association of Sports Journalists Ireland, to be presented by the Magee Family.

Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport said, “The Federation is delighted to host the 7th annual Irish Sport Industry Awards which recognise and reward excellence in the business of sport and entrepreneurship. Sport has a unique potential to drive positive change in Irish society, in the areas of public health, education, social integration, tourism and economic growth. These awards provide an important opportunity to recognise the multibillion-euro value of the sport sector to the Irish economy and celebrate the work of the more than 60,000 people employed within the sector.”

Sport for Business Founder and CEO Rob Hartnett, Chair of the Judging Panel commented, “It has been a real privilege to study the record number of nominations and to debate their merits with my fellow judges, each bringing a depth of industry knowledge and expertise to the discussion. The awards are a unique celebration of the intersection between sport and business. Congratulations to all those who have been shortlisted and achieving this accolade.”

 

Full Shortlist of Open Category Nominees

Best Sports Sponsorship
• Certa & Cricket Ireland, Women’s Cricket
• WHPR, Guinness Six Nations, ‘L’Opportunité’
• Olympic Federation of Ireland & PTSB, Dare to Believe
• FAI and SKY, WNT

 

Best Use of Communications Platforms in Sport
• FAI, FAI Connect
• Munster Rugby, Access Munster
•Titan Experience, Her Moves
•FAI & 53 Six, WNT Squad announcement FIFA Women’s World Cup

 

Best Initiative to Promote Women in Sport & Physical Activity
•Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership, Sim 4 STEM Women in Motorsport
•LGFA Sports Direct G4MAO (Gaelic4Mothers&Others)
•Orreco, Fitr Women
•Laois Sports Partnership, MenoWell

 

Best Initiative to Promote Inclusivity in Sport & Physical Activity
•Paralympics Ireland, PTSB NextGen
•Field Of Vision
•Sanctuary Runners
•Liquid Therapy, A Drop in the Ocean

 

Local Sports Partnership of the Year
• Clare Local Sports Partnership
• Carlow Local Sports Partnership
• Sligo Local Sports Partnership
• Laois Local Sports Partnership

 

Governing Body of the Year
• Basketball Ireland
• IRFU
• Irish Squash
• Canoeing Ireland

 

Best New Sports Business of the Year, in partnership with Sport Ireland
• Move Ahead
• Danu
• Precision Sports Technologies
• Sports Impact Technologies

 

Best Sports Business of the Year, in partnership with Technology Ireland DIGITAL Skillnet

• Future Ticketing
• Orreco
• SportsKey
• ClubZap

 

To be announced on the 28th May 2024 at the awards ceremony:
• Jimmy Magee FIS/ASJI Sports Coverage of the Year Award
• Women in Business in Sport Award, in partnership with KPMG
• Outstanding Achievement & Contribution to Sport Award

 

Judging panel

  • Rob Hartnett, (Chair) Founder, CEO Sport for Business
  • Jill Downey, Chief Sustainability & Sponsorship Officer, Core
  • Brian Staunton, NGB Support Unit Manager, Sport Ireland
  • Maeve Buckley, Founder & Managing Director, Leading Sport
  • Ciarán Medlar, Head of Sport Advisory Unit, BDO Ireland
  • Catherine Tiernan, Commercial Director, Olympic Federation of Ireland
  • Stephen Bradshaw, Head of Marketing, Close Brothers Motor Finance
  • Brenda O’Donnell, CEO, Active Disability Ireland
  • Hannah Craig, Women in Sport Manager, Sport Ireland
  • Mary Maguire, Head of Sponsorship, Legacy Communications

 

About the Irish Sport Industry Awards

The 7th annual Irish Sport Industry Awards recognise and reward excellence in the business of sport and entrepreneurship. The categories celebrated highlight several meaningful themes in sport such as inclusivity, women in sport and business, and the excellent work being done in sport by the National Governing Bodies and the national network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. In addition, there the two closed categories celebrating the Jimmy Magee FIS/ASJI Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Irish Sport Award.

 

For more on the Irish Sport Industry awards, contact: Clare Louise O’Donoghue, Head of Commercial and Marketing on 086 0437887 or at clarelouise.odonoghue@irishsport.ie.

Artificial Intelligence Nonprofits

How to make the most of AI in your Nonprofit

The use of AI can oftentimes cause scepticism within organisations. With any technological advancement, there will always be concern regarding job security, misuse of new technology and data security.

Despite these concerns, AI is a powerful tool that can be used in our favour. In order to keep up with technological advancements, nonprofit organisations should incorporate AI into their daily operations to improve efficiency. Knowing where to start can be overwhelming, so here are 5 tips for how to make the most of AI in your nonprofit.

 

Where to start with AI?

AI is a popular topic of conversation, particularly over the last few years. According to a recent study, almost half of organisations in the public and private sectors in Ireland use generative AI. However, if you haven’t started using it already, it’s not too late to get started. Two popular AI tools are Chat GPT and Gemini, which are both available as a free subscription.

For day-to-day tasks, the free version on any AI platform will suffice the majority of your needs within a nonprofit organisation. However, for more tailored results, you can upgrade your account to the premium version.

 

Chat GPT vs. Gemini?

ChatGPT is owned by OpenAI, a company that was founded to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI). Gemini is Google’s GenAI model that was built by the Google DeepMind AI research library. The Gemini model powered Google’s Bard GenAI tool that launched in March 2023, and has since become a popular competitor.

Both Chat GPT and Gemini have similar interfaces, but a benefit of Gemini is that it has a microphone feature and the ability to upload images. Encourage your team to try out both and see which works best for your organisation.

There are many benefits of using AI to improve your nonprofit’s efficiency.

For example, your team can use it for:

  • Fundraising
  • Donor Management
  • Content Creation
  • Impact Reporting
  • Internal / External Emails

 

Be specific

Oftentimes, AI can cause frustration with new users if it doesn’t produce the exact information they had in mind. However, AI will only generate results on the information you’ve given. Therefore, try to be as specific as possible. Include descriptions such as your preferred tone of voice, target audience and specific context.

Example 1: Poor Description

“Summarise our board meeting notes from this document *inserts text from document*”

Example 2: Specific Description

“Summarise our board meeting notes from this document in under 500 words, highlighting action points for our Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary. These findings should be written in a formal, descriptive tone with spellings in English (Irish/UK), not USA. *insert text from document*”

 

Draft and redraft

One misconception of AI is that, “AI doesn’t produce a final draft of the content I need”.

Don’t start using AI with the mindset that it will produce an error-free, specific, tailored result. You will most definitely have to re-draft whatever AI produces for you, because it only understands what you’ve told it to produce. It may not pick up any additional complexities such as: human preferences, the sector you work in (unless you tell it), the specific language you typically use and tone of voice.

You will have to redraft much of the content it produces. This shouldn’t be viewed as a hinderance, it is still helping you save time by drafting your first version. It won’t draft your final version, and if you use it as your final version, it will be very obvious.

 

AI is a Tool, Not a Replacement

AI should be used to augment human capabilities, not replace them. Nonprofits still need skilled staff to manage AI tools, interpret results, and make crucial decisions. Just as the smartphone cannot replace face-to-face human interaction and remote working did not entirely replace in-person meetings, AI will not replace our jobs either.

AI should be used in addition to human intelligence, to improve efficiency, particularly on mundane tasks. Artificial intelligence + human intelligence + human experience = improved outcomes.

We can use our human intelligence for things that bring value, such as this blog post, which was not written by AI. As for tasks such as drafting emails, generating ideas, summarising notes, calls, or action points, AI can take care of that.

 

Get in Touch

Does your team want to start using AI, but don’t currently have the bandwidth or resources? If so, an expanded team may help with limited resources – contact Fergal O’Sullivan for Talent Management services.

 

Written by Eilis O’Boyle, Marketing Manager, 2into3.

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