New Solutions Social Innovation Fund: Pobal – application support webinar 16th June 10.30am
Core focus of this fund
The core focus of this fund is to support the development of a Social Innovation Hub to further develop the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland and provide capacity building supports to social innovation projects.
The fund will also provide grant funding and, in collaboration with the Hub, non-financial supports to innovative projects at different stages of the social innovation development curve including pilots and scaling projects. The scaling up grant application process will be managed by Pobal and launched in June. The pilot grants phase will be launched in early 2026 by the Hub.
Social Innovation Hub
Pobal, on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has published a Request for Tender seeking a service provider to establish a Social Innovation Hub, along with other key activities designed to support social innovation initiatives in Ireland. This RFT is now live on e-Tenders and will be open to single entity or consortium bidders. The latest date to submit queries on the tender is 6 June 2025. It will close on 23 June 2025. All queries on this aspect should be submitted via e-Tenders and not to the fund’s general email address below.
Scaling up Grants
Pobal held an information event on the Scaling Up Grant on 21 May in the F2 Centre in Rialto, Dublin. A copy of the presentation from the event can be found here.
Application Process:
Step 1: Register, onboard your organisation and complete Primary Authorised User (PAU) Setup on MyPobal portal → ASAP (see the next section below)
Step 2: Complete Eligibility Checks on MyPobal including checklist & supporting documents (Evidence of Match Funding & De Minimis Declaration)
Step 3: For eligible entities, complete full application form on My Pobal portal, and submit supporting documentation (Budget, Implementation Plan, Scaling Plan, Audited Financial Statements, Governing Documents, Partnership documents & org chart if applicable, VAT not recoverable template if applicable)
Step 4: Online interview for those meeting minimum score at appraisal stage
MyPobal Registration
If you have not yet used MyPobal, you will firstly need to register on the system. We recommend you do this as early as possible, as your organisational details will need to be verified. Please refer to this onboarding guide on requirements and how to register, and review the videos linked below.
If you have an existing account on MyPobal, we recommend that you log in to verify that your details are up to date.
Application Support Webinar
The next Application Support Webinar will take place online on Monday, 16 June from 10.30am to 12.30pm. You can register for this webinar or find more information here.
Key Dates
| Launch Webinar | 16 June 2025 |
| Eligibility Checking Period* | 16 – 27 June |
| Application Period Opens | 23 June |
| Support Webinar | 18 July |
| Application Period Closes | 25 July |
| Interviews | 11 – 22 August |
| Grant Period | 30 months |
*We strongly advise you to complete the Eligibility Checker stage as soon as possible. Should you be deemed eligible, you will receive your application form so will have longer to complete it.
#SocialInnovIRL #EUinmyregion
Video Resources
Onboarding an existing organisation
Contact
For Scaling Up Grant scheme queries only: newsolutions@pobal.ie
Source: https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/new-solutions-social-innovation-fund/
