A guide to Irish nonprofit organisations
There are over 34,000 non-profit organisations in Ireland working to raise awareness and funds for a variety of important causes. Of that 34,000, about 10,225 nonprofits are incorporated as companies, 3,965 are primary or secondary schools, 731 more are incorporated as friendly societies, cooperatives, industrial societies, political parties or charter bodies. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the nonprofit organisations in Ireland.
The size of the nonprofit sector in Ireland
The nonprofit sector in Ireland is relatively large and is mainly made up of smaller organisations and a few larger ones. The sector gets the main portion of its funding from the government. In 2019, the government was the biggest single source of funding to the nonprofit sector, providing €6.2bn. According to Benefacts Legacy, from 2020 to 2021 the number of registered charities in Ireland increased by 998 and the number of nonprofit companies grew with 465 new incorporations and 214 wind-ups bringing the total number of nonprofit organisations to 34,331.
The impact of nonprofits in Ireland
In Ireland, the overall social impact of nonprofits is significant. In 2022, Total Direct Expenditure had reached €18.6bn and employment stood at 209,000. The sector is made up of a large number of relatively small public service type charities who have a big economic impact. According to the Amarach Survey, a fifth of Irish people had volunteered for a nonprofit in 2022 in some capacity. A total of 76,000 people volunteered as charity trustees specifically and were key figures in overseeing the operation of the organisations. For more information on the impact that nonprofits have had on Ireland you can visit the Charities Regulator website.
The difference between nonprofits and charities
What is the difference between a charity and a nonprofit? The answer is complex. All charities are a type of ‘not-for-profit’ organisation but not all ‘not-for-profit’ organisations are charities. In order to be considered a charity, an organisation must be established for an exclusively charitable purpose or purposes and provide a public benefit.
What do nonprofit organisations do?
Nonprofit organisations in Ireland carry out hugely important work. From humanitarian aid overseas to offering help at home in Ireland, they support swathes of people in their darkest hour. They can also step in to complement the support available from the government to help vulnerable people and often will lobby the government to implement change. They also carry out important research and advocate for communities that may otherwise not have their voices heard.
Typical structure of a nonprofit
The typical structure of a nonprofit doesn’t differ massively from the structure of many other organisations. They’re commonly led by a board of directors, with layers of management beneath them, along with specialists responsible for the operations of the nonprofit, and volunteers that assist in a range of capacities.
How nonprofits are regulated
Nonprofit organisations are regulated by an independent body called The Charities Regulatory Authority. Its primarily responsibility is to ensure that charitable organisations are compliant with the Charities Act 2009. It also maintains the public register of the charitable organisations operating in Ireland. All charities operating in Ireland must be included in the register as stated in the Charities Act 2009. Each year charities are mandatorily required to submit a report to the regulator which details their finances and their activities.
The Charities Act 2009 actually came into effect in 2014 and it aimed to reform the law on charities in Ireland to ensure greater accountability and transparency. It also aimed to ensure that charitable status is not abused.
Transparency and reporting
Charities are required to report to the Charities Regulator on an annual basis. This report is made public which serves to provide the regulators aim to provide transparency. Charities are required to provide some guidance on where to access financial reporting, which can often be via the charity’s website or the register of charities. When searching for a charity on the register the public should be able to access comprehensive details about a charity, including their charitable purpose and objectives, trustees (also known as board or committee members), number of employees, annual reports filed and compliance with the Charities Governance Code. To find out more information about what information charities are required to provide you can visit the Charities Regulator website.
Types of nonprofit organisations
There are three different types of nonprofit organisations in Ireland: unincorporated associations, trusts and companies limited by guarantee. Here is a breakdown of the differences between them.
- Unincorporated associations: An unincorporated association is a club, society, or other type of organisation governed by its members. From a legal standpoint, the members of the association are personally liable for it – the organisation itself is not a legal entity.
- Trusts – A charitable trust is a way to hold and protect assets (money, property, etc) for charitable purposes. The trust must be created with charity purposes in mind and all assets are managed according to an agreed set of rules established when the trust was created.
- Companies Limited by Guarantee – A company limited by guarantee means the company has limited liability but does not have a share capital. The company must have two directors and they must be over the age of 18. The company must have a constitution document which includes a memorandum and articles of association.
For more information on the different types of nonprofit organisations, visit the Citizens Information Board website.
How GoFundMe works with nonprofits in Ireland
You can find Irish charities to fundraise for or donate to on GoFundMe in a matter of minutes. All money raised will be delivered directly to the charity without it ever touching your bank account so you can fundraise hassle free.
You can donate directly to charity through GoFundMe
When you donate directly to charity on GoFundMe, all donations go straight to the charity through our partnership with the Paypal Giving Fund and charities receive 100% of gift aid.This means you can be safe in the knowledge that your donation will go straight to the people who need it most.
You can fundraise on behalf of a charity listed in GoFundMe’s directory
GoFundMe sends money to charities through Paypal Giving. This means that you can fundraise for any registered charity in Ireland so long as they are registered with paypal giving fund. You can easily establish if you can fundraise for your chosen charity on GoFundMe by searching our charity database. Once you have set up your fundraiser you can easily start collecting donations from your network by sharing the link with them. 100% of gift aid goes to the charity. For more information on GoFundMe website
How to find a charity to fundraise for
According to a 2021 survey by the Charities Regulator, approximately 90% of Irish people donated to a charity in the past year. If you would like to donate to charity fundraiser, head to the website and search for your favourite charity and you will find a variety of fundraisers all raising money for your chosen charity. From taking on marathons to bracing freezing cold water in charity swims, there is no end to the amazing fundraising that people are doing. You can also find charities near you on the GoFundMe website. All donations go straight to your chosen charity and the charity receives 100% of gift aid so you can give with confidence.