BELFAST HARBOUR LAUNCHES NEW £600,000 COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND
Four organisations will each receive up to £50,000 per year for three years to deliver lasting impact.
Belfast Harbour has announced a major new Community Impact Fund, committing up to £600,000 over the next three years to support organisations delivering sustained, long-term impact across Greater Belfast and beyond.
The fund will provide four awards of up to £50,000 per annum, creating an annual investment of £200,000 each year. This structured funding model is designed to support organisations with the ambition and capability to deliver meaningful outcomes at scale.
It builds on Belfast Harbour’s existing community investment, which has supported more than 60 organisations and over 75 projects bringing total funding to more than £3.5 million over the past decade, demonstrating a strong and ongoing commitment to communities across the region.
Developed following an independent review of Belfast Harbour’s community engagement activity, the new fund represents a commitment to prioritising long-term impact over one-off interventions and replaces the previous approach of annual partnerships.
The new fund is in addition to Belfast Harbour’s Community Awards programme, which supports a wide range of grassroots initiatives with one-off grants, and is designed to support organisations through larger, multi-year funding. The aim is to provide high-performing organisations with the stability, certainty and resources required to deepen their reach and deliver lasting change.
Joe O’Neill, Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour, said:
“This is not a traditional community funding programme. Our new Community Impact Fund is about backing organisations that can demonstrate real, tangible progress over time.
“By committing up to £600,000 over the next three years, we are making one of the most significant long-term investments in community impact locally. We want to support organisations with the ambition, capability and track record to deliver meaningful outcomes across Belfast and beyond.”
The fund will support projects aligned to three key themes: work readiness and opportunity; homelessness prevention and housing stability; and community connection.
Eligible organisations must be registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs) or constituted not-for-profits, with strong governance and safeguarding arrangements, and a clear ability to evidence impact. Applicants must demonstrate how their work delivers robust outcomes and supports communities most in need.
Belfast Harbour’s Community Impact Fund marks the next chapter in its community investment, reflecting a clear ambition to focus resources where they can deliver the most meaningful and enduring impact for people and communities who need it most.
Applications for the Community Impact Fund open on 26 June and close on 11 September. Full details, including application guidance and criteria, are available HERE
