US house votes to double IFI funding
Howard Lake | 20 June 2019 | News
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that doubles funding for the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) from $750,000 to $1.5 million.
The IFI has funded a wide range of community and business projects since it was established in the 1980s. Its priority is to support economic regeneration and social development projects in areas most affected by the decades of violence in Northern Ireland.
The increased funding was proposed by Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle, whose parents are from Ireland. According to the Irish American Business Chamber & Network, he said the work of the IFI had become increasingly important.
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“Brexit will have significant consequences for the island of Ireland,” Congressman Boyle said.
“The border is in danger of, once again, becoming a significant barrier, physically and psychologically, to harmonious relationships that have been delicately fostered over the past few decades,” he said. The bill increasing funding for the IFI will now be considered by the US Senate. In the past the IFI has been criticised by some US elected representatives.
The IFI was established as an independent organisation by the British and Irish Governments in 1986 with financial contributions from the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The total resources committed to the Fund to date amount to £728m / €914m, supporting over 6,000 projects across the island of Ireland. The Fund aims to promote economic and social advance as well as encourage contact and dialogue between nationalists and unionists throughout Ireland.
The IFI currently funds a number of peace initiatives, youth projects and integrated education work across Northern Ireland and border counties.
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.