Call for Applications for the 2025 Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards
Download the application form here
Submit this completed application form along with supporting documentation to lauradennehy@innercityenterprise.com
The Awards
The Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards aim to support social enterprise creation and development in Dublin City. The awards programme provides grants, mentoring, promotion, and other supports to successful applicants to enable them to further develop their activities, increase their social impact and benefit more individuals and communities.
The Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards were established by Inner City Enterprise (ICE) and Dublin City Council with the support of the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City in 2015. These partner organisations recognised that there was a need for grants to support the creation and / or development of social enterprises in Dublin City. They also recognised the need to increase awareness of social enterprises and the important contribution that they make to local communities and economies.
Each year, a fund of approximately €60,000 is distributed among innovative social enterprises. (Further information about the awards and previous awardees is available in the Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards – Impact Report ). The awards are funded and supported by Dublin City Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development. Inner City Enterprise is responsible for managing the awards programme and providing mentoring to awardees. The awards align with the policy objectives of the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2024-2027.
The Application & Awards Process
- Open call for submission of application forms.
- Information Session online and in-person – A Guide to Completing the DCSEA Application Form.
- Support and guidance is offered to all applicants during the application process.
- The Short-Listing Committee review, stream into early stage and established and score each application form submitted. This committee creates a short-list of applicants to proceed to the Evaluation Committee.
Early-stage social enterprises may be pre-revenue or generating minimal income but are actively working toward financial sustainability while focusing on social or environmental impact.An established social enterprise is one that has successfully moved beyond the start-up phase, demonstrating financial sustainability, operational stability, and measurable social or environmental impact.
- Short-listed applicants invited to present to the Evaluation Committee.
- The Evaluation Committee review and score the presentations and select the awardees.
- All applicants are notified of the results of the process.
- An Awards Ceremony is held annually and funding is distributed following the ceremony.
Details
Eligible Organisation Types
- Company Limited by Guarantee not having share capital (CLG) and registered with the Companies Registration Office (CRO)
- Designated Activity Company (DAC) Limited by Guarantee
- Co-operatives which can demonstrate a clear social benefit / impact
- Applications will be considered from Private Companies Limited by Shares (LTD) if the shares are 100% owned by a registered Irish charity
Additional Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must:
- Be a Social Enterprise i.e., as defined by the National Social Enterprise Policy [1]:
WHAT IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE?
- A social enterprise is an enterprise whose objective is to achieve a social or environmental impact, rather than maximising profit for its owners or shareholders.
- It pursues its objectives by trading on an ongoing basis through the provision of goods and / or services, and by reinvesting surpluses fully or primarily into achieving social objectives.
- It is governed in a fully accountable and transparent manner and is independent of the public sector. If dissolved, it should transfer its assets to another organisation with a similar mission.
- Be located in the Dublin City administrative area or capable of delivering social enterprise projects in this administrative area
- Provide a Tax Clearance Certificate before awarded funds can be drawn down
- Provide evidence that public liability insurance is in place before awarded funds can be drawn down
- The Social Enterprise must have a Business Bank Account
Ineligible Organisation Types
- Public Limited Company (PLC)
- Single Member Company
- Unlimited Company
- Limited Partnership
- Designated Activity Company (DAC) Limited by Shares (unless shares are 100% owned by a registered Irish charity)
- Private Limited Company LTD (unless shares are 100% owned by a registered Irish charity)
- Unincorporated Association / Body
- Sole-Traders or Individuals
Ineligible Enterprises
- Applicants will be deemed ineligible if they are regular commercial businesses whose sole aim is to generate profits for Owners / Directors / Shareholders
- Applicants will be deemed ineligible if they are in substantial debt or if threatened insolvency is an issue
- Enterprises which have been awarded the award previously are deemed ineligible to apply again for a period of 12 months from date of their previous award
Evaluation Process
A competitive process is in place to assist with the selection and evaluation process. Selection of successful candidates will be based on the following criteria:
- Number of direct / indirect jobs to be created
- Quality of proposal
- Viability / sustainability of enterprise
- Quality of promoter
- Social impact / social return on investment
Applicants can nominate themselves for the following award categories:
- Social Enterprise of the Year: demonstrating excellence in impact, innovation, and sustainability.
- Best Newcomer Social Enterprise: showing strong potential for growth and impact.
- Community Impact Award: making a significant difference in their local communities.
- Environmental & Sustainability Award: focused on sustainability, climate action, and environmental impact.
- Employment, Education & Skills Development Award: creating job opportunities, training and educational development for marginalised groups.
- Health & Wellbeing Award: improving mental and physical health outcomes
- Diversity & Inclusion Award – promoting equality and social inclusion.
- Tech for Good Award – using technology to address social or environmental challenges.
The shortlisted candidates will be invited to present on their social enterprise and application to the evaluation committee. This will involve a presentation of approximately 5 minutes and a question-and-answer session of approximately 10 minutes. The committee will score and rank the candidates accordingly.
To Apply
Download the application form here
Submit this completed application form along with supporting documentation to lauradennehy@innercityenterprise.com.
Submission Deadline for Applications: 12 noon on 20th of June 2025
Conditions of Drawdown
- Awardees will be required to submit a copy of the registration documentation for the companies’ registration office (CRO) and a current tax clearance cert.
- Evidence of public liability insurance must be provided.
- Details of a Business Bank Account for the social enterprise must be provided.
- Awardees must agree to work with a mentor.
- Awardees will be included in case study, promotional and media reports
- A letter of offer is sent by Inner City Enterprise to the successful applicants. This must be signed and returned to ICE.
Once the conditions of drawdown have been met, award funds will be paid. ICE CFO audits the claims and submits them to the relevant cheque signatories. The approved grants must be drawn down within a month of the offer being made.
Submission Deadline for Applications:
Submission Deadline for Applications: 12 noon on 20th of June 2025
The Dublin City Social Enterprise Committee reserves the right to extend this deadline. All applicants will be notified regarding the status of their application.
Returning Awardees
Awardees have a wait period of 12 months before they can reapply. Awardees who reapply after the 12 month wait period must demonstrate significant growth as a result of the previous award.
Post-Awards reporting
In order to assess, measure and improve the programme and its impact, periodic reporting on awardees may take place. Awardees must be willing to provide information on the impact of the award on their social enterprise / organisation and participate in surveys.
Reporting may include providing updates on: jobs created (new or reallocated), projects, people supported, sales, exports and / or domestic market expansion, revenue, costs, expected follow on investment etc.
[1] National Social Enterprise Policy – 2024-2027 (pg. 14) https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/7abc2-trading-for-impact-national-social-enterprise-policy-2024-2027/
