Philanthropy in Ireland

Abstract

This paper, which will form part of the forthcoming Philanthropy in Europe Report (ERNOP, 2025) provides an overview of the most recent available data on philanthropic giving in Ireland. It highlights key research contributions since 2015, the last year documented in the previous ERNOP, Giving in Europe Report. Research on philanthropic giving in Ireland has been driven by a small cohort of dedicated academics and an active practitioner community. Notwithstanding continuing gaps in our knowledge, the practice of philanthropy in Ireland has been given a significant impetus by the 2023 publication of the Irish Government’s first National Policy on Philanthropy. This pivotal policy recognises the State’s enabling role in advancing philanthropic research and promoting strategic philanthropy. Mapping philanthropy across the ERNOP classifications of inter vivos giving by households, charitable legacies and bequests, corporate philanthropy, giving by philanthropic institutions and good cause funding under the National Lottery, Philanthropy in Ireland provides an important baseline for future research in this area. 

Keywords: Philanthropy, Ireland, Europe, ERNOP, Giving, Policy, Charity