Fundraising Everywhere Supporter Experience Conference 21 May 2026

Irish college launches major fundraising campaign

The Campanile - Trinity College, Dublin, by Mariano Colantoni on Flickr
The Campanile – Trinity College, Dublin, by Mariano Colantoni on Flickr under

Trinity College Dublin has launched the public phase of its €400 million fundraising campaign.

While Trinity College Dublin has been fundraising for many years, it says ‘Inspiring Generations’ is its first major philanthropic campaign in its more than 400-year history and the largest ever undertaken in education on the island of Ireland. The public launch of ‘Inspiring Generations’ commences with €272mn already raised, which represents 42,933 donations by 10,244 donors from 68 countries.

Flagship projects that will benefit from philanthropic funding include:

Advertisement

Priority will also be given to student scholarships and new academic posts that will enable expansion and innovation across education and research.

Speaking at the public launch of ‘Inspiring Generations’, Dr Patrick Prendergast, Trinity College Dublin’s Provost said: “‘Inspiring Generations’ will enable Trinity to achieve these ambitions and inspire generations to come. Our vision is by no means wholly dependent on philanthropy but Trinity would not be the place it is today without support from alumni and friends of the University.”

Dr Prendergast added that campaign goals are €400mn in donations and 150,000 volunteer hours. “‘Inspiring Generations’ will advance Trinity into the next decade and lay the groundwork for us to inspire generations to come”, he said.

“At Trinity, our history inspires and informs our future. Trinity was founded on lands granted by Dublin Corporation in 1592, and since then our College has helped to shape a better-informed and more equal society – in Ireland and around the world. We’ve achieved this by producing exceptional research, delivering a transformative education and inspiring Trinity alumni to make a positive contribution to the world.”

WATCH: Inspiring Generations – The Campaign for Trinity | Dublin Launch

youtube placeholder image


Inspiring Generations is designed to “support transformative educational experiences across the University that will attract the most innovative academics, and the most talented students from all backgrounds, from the world over”. 

In 2017 TCD’s fundraising arm raised €16.3 million. In 2015 they received the ‘largest charitable pledge in Irish history’ from Atlantic Philanthropies which is recorded as €59 million. The funding was for a joint dementia research project.

WATCH: Inspiring Generations – a piece by Joe Caslin

youtube placeholder image



 
Photo: Trinity College Dublin by Marianone on Flickr.com

Loading

Loading

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.

Mastodon