What kind of funding is available?

We have three categories of funding available:

1) The Explore Award - This is an award to enable an applicant to explore an idea for social enterprise which addresses a social issue. The award amount is up to €1,000.

2) The Get Started Grant - This is a grant to develop a new social enterprise idea towards full start-up. The grant amount is up to €5,000.

3) The Scale Up Grant - This is a grant for an established social enterprise or entrepreneur to scale up and/or develop their enterprise. The grant amount is up to €10,000. More information in the Social Enterprise Funding section. (link to ‘Social Enterprise Funding’)

When does the fund open?

For Explore Award applications, we accept applications throughout the year.

For ‘Get Started’ and ‘Scale Up’ applications, we open roughly twice a year, and applications stay open for two months. The next two application windows are detailed below. Please note they are strict deadlines, and no late applications will be accepted. If you are late applying, you must wait until the next application window to be assessed.

2023 Application Windows:

1. Thursday 30th March – Friday 12th May.
2. Date to be announced.

How does the application process work?

Stage 1.
Submit your application online to introduce your social enterprise or your idea. If your application is eligible, after the closing date it will move to Stage 2.

Stage 2.
After the closing date all applications will be assessed. We will either let you know of our decision or ask for more information.

Stage 3.
If you are unsuccessful, we will let you know ASAP by email. If your application is successful, we will email you the amount of funding you are approved for and inform you of any conditions that need to be satisfied to draw down the funds.

If I am successful in getting through the first stage of the application process, what extra information or documentation will I need to provide?

We will be in touch about this, but in simple terms general: For the Explore Award, we will need:

• Proof of Bank Account
• Two nominations / references
• Feasibility and market research of your idea

For the Get Started Grant, we will need:

• Proof of Bank Account
• Two nominations / references
• Acceptable viability and potential social impact
• All Oakfield social enterprise criteria and values met
• Full Business Plan, Feasibility, and market research

For the Scale Up Grant, we will need:

• Proof of Bank Account
• Two nominations / references
• Acceptable viability and potential social impact
• All Oakfield social enterprise criteria and values met
• Full Business Plan, Feasibility, Cashflow Forecast and market research

How Long Does It Take to Hear Back?

We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible but it will be roughly 3 – 6 weeks before we can let you know if you have been successful in getting past Stage 1 or if we need more information from you. This timescale may vary on our current workload, staff availability, public holidays or anything else which may affect our ability to process the application.

Do you support Community Organisations or Projects?

We only consider social enterprises that have income from trading goods or services. For more details check out the What is social enterprise section.

Where do I need to be based to be eligible?

We accept applications from anywhere in the Republic of Ireland. Your beneficiaries or social impact must also be in the Republic of Ireland.

Where does my social enterprise I have to be based?

We support social enterprises based in the Republic of Ireland

Do you support private companies or sole traders?

We generally will not support private companies or sole traders. We support trading social enterprises. Setting up as a sole trader or private company limited by shares is more common in traditional commercial organisations as both models allow profits and assets to be paid out of the business to private individuals or bodies.

A key feature of a social enterprise is that it does not allow this, and instead reinvests profits back into achieving its social aims. Even if it needs to close, any remaining assets (after debts are paid) must be passed on to another social enterprise or charitable organisation – usually with similar aims. This feature is usually reflected in its choice of legal model.

If it is important to you that your organisation can continue to distribute profits or assets, then your idea is unlikely to receive Get Started or Scale Up funding and we would be more likely to point you towards support on setting up a standard commercial business.

However, we are aware that many new social entrepreneurs initially register as sole traders or private companies limited by shares for other reasons – perhaps this is the model that seems easiest, or most familiar – or they want to claim their social enterprise name. If this is the case, but you are committed to setting up a social enterprise, we might be able to provide some guidance on changing to a more appropriate model (and may even be able to fund costs associated with this if your application is successful). In such cases, an offer of funding might be conditional on you making this change.

In any event, we would always strongly encourage applicants to base their choice of legal structure on what is best for the business, as opposed to being influenced by eligibility criteria for any particular funding stream – via Oakfield Trust or any other source. Please contact us if you would like further advice on this subject.

For more details check out What is social enterprise?

What expenses are allowable to spend award/grant monies on?

For eligible and ineligible expenses in each of the funding categories, check out the Guide documents which are available for download at the bottom of the various grant category sections of the website.

My idea is part of a college/university project. Is this eligible?

No. We cannot fund anyone applying on behalf of a pre-existing, established organisation like a college or university.

I don’t have a personal bank account. Can I use someone else’s?

No. The award must be paid into the personal bank account of the applicant. We cannot make the award to another person or company bank account.

I am currently on a student visa. Does this mean I’m ineligible?

Not necessarily, but we will consider this on a case-by-case basis depending on your personal residency circumstances. Please bear in mind, however, that priority will be given to those applications that have the potential to develop into social enterprises.

What type of enterprise typically requires premises to start trading?

Most bricks-and-mortar retail enterprises, community cafés, or any community-focused enterprise which requires a permanent base of operations as part of their commercial/social strategy.

I have identified a suitable property, but I haven’t approached the owner yet. Does this count as an agreement in principle?

No. You must be able to confirm that the property is available, and that the landlord/agency has agreed in principle to lease the property to you and provide us with details of any costs associated with leasing the property (deposit, rent etc.).

I haven’t chosen a legal structure for the enterprise yet. Do I still need to put in legal/incorporation fees in the request before I apply for Get Started funding?

You don’t necessarily need to know which legal structure you want to go for at this stage, but there should still be an intention to incorporate at some point within the span of the award. It is up to you whether you seek professional advice to help you with this, and whether you want to apply for funding to cover this cost.

I need to pay someone to design my website/branding – does this count as wages?

No, unless you would be looking to contract that person as an employee. Paying someone to provide services to the enterprise – such as design – would be eligible. Paying someone to work for the enterprise and help deliver its services would not.

I have already set up the social enterprise and all I need is equipment. Will this be eligible?

Some social enterprises have already sourced start-up funds from elsewhere but have a larger initial funding requirement. We will assess this on a case-by-case basis.

If I submit a budget and need to change it later, is that possible?

We understand that requirements may change between the submission of the application and the assessment, so there will be opportunities to amend your budget later.

What happens if my application is unsuccessful? Is that it?

No. Sometimes it can be a competitive environment and it might not be possible to fund everybody. Other times great ideas may be unsuccessful because they require further development. In these cases, we would provide feedback and, where possible, further business support with a view to reapplication once the feedback has been addressed.

I have received Get Started funding in the past for another idea. Can I apply for a new idea?

We would generally try to prioritise new applicants, but we review this on a case-by-case basis.

My enterprise is still relatively new. How much evidence of income generation and social impact is required?

We would usually expect to see a track record of around a year, especially if the enterprise has a seasonal business model. However, this is assessed on a case-by-case basis. It might be possible in some circumstances to award funding based on potential and proof of concept with a shorter track record of trading and social impact.

I already have a detailed business plan that I would like to submit as part of my application. Can I do this?

Yes, as long as it covers all of points detailed in the guidance documentation and it is a similar format.

I already have a detailed cashflow projection that I would like to submit as part of my application. Can I do this?

No. You must use the template provided and submit as an Excel spreadsheet.

What’s the difference between an Executive Summary and a Pitch Document?

An Executive Summary is usually the first-page summary of a business plan and therefore relates to information contained in that business plan. Your Pitch Document should be a summary of the application as a whole and be understandable to a reader who will not have access to your application form, business plan, or cashflow projection.