New philanthropy service launched in N Ireland

Howard Lake | 13 September 2018 | News

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has launched a new and independent service to promote, profile and grow philanthropy in Northern Ireland.

Building on the Foundation’s experience of advising high net worth individuals, corporates and institutional donors on effective and strategic giving, the Foundation is taking ownership of the work previously undertaken by Giving NI, which it has always worked closely with to promote philanthropy.

The service will ensure that people and organisations giving strategically in Northern Ireland, have access to independent advice, good guidance and options around flexible ways to give.

Fundraising Everywhere's Community Fundraising Conference 17 June 2026

Creating a centre of expertise for the promotion and practice of giving, the Foundation expects to encourage more funding into the sector and will also convene networks and forums for peer learning and conduct further research into strategic giving locally.

Welcoming the development, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Chair Maeve Monaghan said:

“We know that there is room for growth in strategic giving in Northern Ireland and as a local community foundation we are well placed to lead and facilitate this. Working closely with partners such as professional advisors, sister organisations and government, the new donor service division will encourage and advocate for a better environment and appetite to support strategic giving in our mixed economy.”

Giving NI was set up with support from Atlantic Philanthropies to encourage a more resilient and sustainable voluntary sector in NI and the new service will build on this work, providing guidance and encouragement for those seeking to support the charitable and voluntary sector.

Commenting, Gary Mills, Chair of Giving NI said:

“The Community Foundation has a long track record of encouraging generosity in Northern Ireland and the board of Giving NI are pleased that our concept and work will live on and thrive under the umbrella of the Foundation”.

Under the new arrangement, Giving NI will no longer operate as a separate entity and a new donor services team at the Foundation will be led by Siofra Healy, Director of Philanthropy.

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.