3rd Sector Research Funding

The Developing Charity Strategy through Partnership (DCSP) funding initiative enables universities and research organisations to apply their research knowledge to important issues and problems facing the voluntary, non-profit, and charitable sector.

The DCSP is funded by the TSRP to enable Irish Charities, north and south, to benefit from the wide range of expertise available in research institutes and third-level education institutions throughout Ireland.

At the heart of the DCSP is a relationship between a charity and research staff applying their expertise to a project that is central to the development of their charity partner. In the process, the academic staff enhance the relevance of their work.

The DSCP is designed to help you access this expertise and bring it into your charity by working in partnership with academics or researchers.

How does it work?

Charity :

• Do you need help to develop part of your strategic initiative?
• Do you need help to develop a research agenda?
• Do you have an idea and need to take it forward?

Researcher:

• Do you need to apply your research more productively?
• Do you need a research partner with expertise on the ground?

Preference will be given to DCSP’s that fall into one of the following areas:

• ageing
• disadvantaged children and youth
• population health
• reconciliation and human rights

but this should not exclude applications from partnerships involving charities that have a primary focus outside these areas.

The total funding available is €70,000. There is likely to be a maximum of two awards made.

The DCSP will be launched in early 2006 – please keep an eye on their website www.ria.ie or email tsrp@ria.ie in January for full information. Deadline for receipts of applications on the prescribed application form will be late February 2006, and applicants notified early April 2006.