Irish American Partnership

What Irish American Partnership does

The Irish American Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts, that channels philanthropic contributions from the Irish American community into educational programs across the island of Ireland. It operates a portfolio of approximately ten distinct grant and program areas spanning primary-school grants (O'Neill Primary School Grants), university access scholarships (at Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University, University of Limerick, UCC, UCD, RCSI, TU Dublin, Maynooth, and others), digital-skills training (FIT, SparkStart Digital), peace and reconciliation initiatives, STEAM education, integrated education in Northern Ireland, empathy education, community development, arts and cultural heritage, and education centers for homeless youth. Since inception it has raised more than $63 million and supported over 650 schools and organizations across all 32 counties of Ireland.

The Partnership generates revenue through a diversified donation-based model with no technology product or proprietary platform. Streams include individual one-time and recurring monthly gifts ($25-$500+ tiers), an annual calendar of in-person events in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Chicago, and Ireland (St. Patrick's Day celebrations, the Irish Invitational Golf Tournament, business leadership breakfasts, women's leadership events, and Young Partners networking events), corporate patronage and matching gifts, and planned giving through the Irish Legacy Society. Disclosed cost allocation is 87% to programs, 8% to management, and 5% to fundraising. Distribution occurs through a direct grant application process, university scholarship partnerships, and grants to established partner organizations (Children in Crossfire, Youth Link, Peter McVerry Trust, Integrated Education Fund, Druid Theatre, Gaelic Players Association, and others).

Governance is provided by a 15-person Board of Directors chaired by Michael T. Clune, with Mary Sugrue serving as President & CEO since 2016. The organization is supported by high-profile patrons and ambassadors including golfer Pádraig Harrington, professional golfer Leona Maguire, and writer Lisa McGee, and has received endorsements from the Irish and Northern Irish Departments of Education and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Day-to-day operations are run by a small staff of approximately five employees, supplemented by board members, ambassadors, and contracted program managers.

Name

Irish American Partnership

Legal name

Irish American Partnership

Website

https://irishap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Irish American Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 that channels Irish American donor funds into educational programs across Ireland and Northern Ireland, supporting 650+ schools, universities, and community organizations through grants, scholarships, and partnership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Educational philanthropy
• Charitable grantmaking
• Diaspora fundraising
• Nonprofit education grants
• Community development giving

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donor gifts from Irish Americans and supporters. One-time and recurring monthly donation options ranging from $25 to $500 and above.
2. Event Revenue: Annual calendar of events including golf tournaments, St. Patrick's Day celebrations, women's leadership events, business leader breakfasts, and Young Partners networking events.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate patronage from businesses supporting Partnership events and programs.
4. Planned Giving: Irish Legacy Society accepts planned gifts including bequests, trusts, and other estate planning vehicles.
5. Corporate Matching Gifts: Employee giving programs with corporate matching gift partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Irish American Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises charitable funds from individuals, corporations, and planned-giving donors and distributes them as grants and scholarships to schools, universities, and community organizations across Ireland (North and South). Its core offerings include primary school grants (O'Neill School Grants, Outdoor Play & Learning Initiative), university access scholarships at ten-plus Irish universities, digital skills training through FIT and SparkStart Digital, and thematic programs covering peace and reconciliation, integrated education, STEAM, empathy education, community development, and education for homeless youth.

Product overview

Irish American Partnership operates as a charitable organization offering a portfolio of grant programs and educational initiatives rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include O'Neill Primary School Grants for literacy, numeracy, and science materials; University Scholarships providing access to Irish higher education; Employment Learning programs through FIT and SparkStart Digital for digital skills training; Peace & Reconciliation initiatives; STEAM Education support including RDS Science Blast; Integrated Education funding; Empathy Education programming; and Community Development grants. The organization connects donors with schools and organizations across Ireland through direct giving programs and does not function as a technology platform or software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• O'Neill Primary School Grant Program A hallmark grant program named in memory of a friend of Ireland that provides critical, targeted funding to primary schools across Ireland for literacy, numeracy, science materials, and outdoor resources promoting outdoor play and physical activity.
• University Scholarships Program Access scholarship programs supporting socioeconomically disadvantaged and historically excluded communities across Irish universities including Dublin City University, Queen's University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, Ulster University, RCSI, Technological University Dublin, UCC, University of Limerick, UCD, and Maynooth University.
• Employment Learning (FIT - Fastrack Into IT) Job training initiative supporting programs such as FIT (Fastrack Into Information Technology), providing digital skills training for unemployed and marginalized young people to access technology careers.
• SparkStart Digital Digital skills training program supporting 350 participants in Belfast with career pathways for marginalized young people, job seekers, and those with special educational needs. Launched in May 2024 in partnership with FIT and named in honor of U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Joseph P. Kennedy III.
• Peace & Reconciliation Program Support for peace-building initiatives including Children in Crossfire's global citizenship education, SCoTENS cross-border teacher exchange programs, 174 Trust, Unite Against Hate, and the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building, promoting reconciliation and shared humanity across communities in Northern Ireland.
• STEAM Education Program Support for science education including RDS Science Blast, ESB Science Blast primary school science fairs, the Western Seaboard Science Program for rural teacher training, and science continuing professional development for teachers in partnership with Mary Immaculate College and the Royal Dublin Society.
• Integrated Education Support Financial support for the Integrated Education Fund, which promotes integrated schools in Northern Ireland, enabling children from different religious and cultural traditions to learn together and building a more inclusive society.
• Empathy Education Program Support for the Activating Social Empathy program developed by Professor Pat Dolan and Dr. Ciara Boylan at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre (University of Galway), promoting social and emotional learning in post-primary schools to decrease bullying, discrimination, and violence.
• Irish Arts, Sports & Cultural Heritage Program Cultural initiatives supporting Irish heritage through strategic collaborations with institutions including Druid Theatre Company's FUEL young artist residency, Gaelic Players Association scholarships, Kylemore Abbey, the Metropolitan Arts Centre, National Museums Northern Ireland, National Concert Hall, Poetry Ireland, Pieta House, Leader Kicking, the Pushkin Trust, and the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation.
• Education Centers for Homeless Youth Support for Peter McVerry Trust learning centers in South Inner City Dublin and Lucan that provide educational support for homeless youth and those expelled from mainstream education, including academic support and social services.
• Community Development Program Support for cultural preservation and societal advancement initiatives including partnerships with the GAA, theaters, museums, sports organizations, Fighting Words NI, and other community organizations across Ireland, connecting cultural heritage with social progress.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of participants reported improved science skills at RDS Science Fairs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

41 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Joseph P. Kennedy III (U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs; SparkStart Digital program designed in his honor to support economic development.
• Ballymun Job Centre (FIT founding partner)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989FIT's journey began in 1989 with Irish American Partnership as first funder at Ballymun Job Centre in North Dublin.
• Department of Education (Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department dedicated to facilitating children and young people to achieve their full potential and contribute to Ireland's social, economic, and cultural development.
• Department of Education (Northern Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevolved Northern Irish government department with overall responsibility for education in Northern Ireland.
• Department of Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish government department promoting Ireland's interests in the European Union and wider world; supports Partnership through Emigrant Support Programme.
• Trinity College DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland's oldest university with reputation as research-intensive center, divided into three faculties comprising 23 schools.
• Dublin City UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity created as National Institute for Higher Education in 1975, elevated to university status in 1989; partner in access scholarship programs.
• Queen's University BelfastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic research university founded in 1845, ninth oldest in UK with rich history of leading change; partner in scholarship programs.
• Ulster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-campus public research university, largest in Northern Ireland and second-largest on island of Ireland.
• University of LimerickcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic research university founded in 1972 as National Institute for Higher Education, became university in 1989.
• University College CorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstituent university of National University of Ireland, Cork, founded in 1845 as one of three Queen's Colleges.
• Technological University DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland's first technological university, established January 1, 2019, history stretches back to 1887.
• Maynooth UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstituent university of National University of Ireland in Maynooth, County Kildare, founded in 1997.
• University College DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic research university with 38,417 students, Ireland's largest university, member of National University of Ireland.
• Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational training body for surgery in Ireland established in 1784; innovative world-leading health sciences university.
• Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership working with government and disadvantaged communities for socio-economic transformation through ICT training.
• Gaelic Players AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficially recognized player representative body for inter-county Gaelic footballers and hurlers; Partnership supports GPA scholarship program.
• Integrated Education FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent charity financially supporting establishment of new integrated schools, growth of existing schools, and transformation process.
• Peter McVerry TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational housing and homeless charity committed to reducing homelessness; Partnership funds education centers for homeless youth.
• Children in CrossfirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization founded in 1996 providing global citizenship education; 'Educating the Heart' program supports educators.
• Youth LinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-church youth service for Northern Ireland established in 1991 by Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.
• Mary Immaculate CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege of Education and Liberal Arts founded in 1898, academically linked with University of Limerick; hosts science week for primary students.
• Royal Dublin Society (RDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization since 1731 dedicated to seeing Ireland thrive culturally and economically; co-sponsors primary science fairs.
• Druid Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland's first professional theater company outside Dublin founded in 1975; Partnership supports FUEL young artist residency.
• Fighting Words NIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative writing charity for children and young people providing over 14,000 writing opportunities since 2015.
• Centre for Democracy and Peace BuildingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization upholding democracy and peace values to support Northern Ireland peace process.
• GAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGaelic Athletic Association promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes including hurling, camogie, and Gaelic football.
• 174 TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization working in peace and reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland.
• Unite Against HateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusive programs promoting reconciliation and fostering communities with shared sense of humanity.
• Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South (SCoTENS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Irish colleges, councils, and trade unions offering programs for cross-border educational collaboration; annual North-South Teacher Exchange program.
• UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre (University of Galway)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic center that developed Activating Social Empathy program for post-primary schools.
• University of GalwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic research university in Galway founded in 1845 as Queen's College, Galway.
• Munster Technological UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-campus technological university contributing to region through academic programs supporting student development.
• Kylemore AbbeyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric Kylemore Abbey one of Ireland's top tourist attractions; owned and run by Benedictine community since 1920.
• National Museums Northern IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum service consisting of Ulster American Folk Park, Ulster Folk Museum, Ulster Transport Museum, and Ulster Museum.
• National Concert HallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland's national cultural institution for music serving the Irish public since 1981.
• Poetry IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization for poets and poetry in both Irish and English on the island of Ireland.
• Pieta HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting people and communities in crisis with professional services; operates 20 locations across Ireland.
• Leader KickingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization introducing Irish athletes to American football as kickers or punters through university scholarships.
• Pushkin TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable organization working to provide holistic model of learning to spark imagination.
• Thomas F. Meagher FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation promoting pride in Irish Flag and active citizenship among young people.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trócaire: Trócaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland, operating global programs but with significant US fundraising and diaspora engagement. It overlaps with the Partnership on Irish identity-based philanthropy and education/peace programming.
• Self Help Africa (formerly Gorta): Self Help Africa is an Irish-founded international development NGO with US operations, focusing on African agriculture and enterprise. It competes for Irish diaspora donor attention in the US and shares a similar donor-engagement and event-fundraising model.
• Concern Worldwide (US): Concern Worldwide is a large Ireland-headquartered international humanitarian NGO with an active US fundraising presence. While its mission is broader (global poverty), it competes for the same Irish American donor demographic and Dublin/Northern Ireland program partnerships.

Regional players

• Irish Network USA: Irish Network USA is a diaspora professional networking organization with chapters in major US cities that fosters engagement between Irish Americans and Ireland. It competes indirectly for Irish American mindshare and event participation in the same cities (Boston, NYC, Chicago).
• Fulbright Ireland: Fulbright Ireland administers US-Ireland educational exchange scholarships and academic partnerships. It is a comparable scholar-sponsorship organization with strong institutional ties to Irish universities and a US-government-funded base.

Others

• University of Notre Dame — Irish Studies / Ireland Programs: Notre Dame runs significant Irish Studies, Dublin MBA, and student-exchange programs and attracts Irish American philanthropic support through its Keough-Naughton Institute. It is comparable as a US institution channeling Irish American philanthropy into Ireland-based educational programming.
• Irish Aid (Department of Foreign Affairs): Irish Aid is the Irish government's official development assistance programme and a direct supporter of the Partnership through the Emigrant Support Programme. It represents the public-sector counterpart to the Partnership's diaspora-funded education philanthropy.

Direct peers

• The Ireland Funds: The Ireland Funds is the largest global diaspora-founded nonprofit supporting Ireland, raising and distributing philanthropic capital across the island. It directly competes with the Irish American Partnership for Irish American donor dollars, event attendance, and high-profile diaspora engagement.

Emerging players

• Children in Crossfire: Children in Crossfire is a smaller Ireland/Northern Ireland-based nonprofit focused on global citizenship education and early childhood development, and is an actual funded partner of the Irish American Partnership. It shares an educational philanthropy focus but operates as a direct service provider rather than grantmaker.
• Integrated Education Fund: The Integrated Education Fund is an independent Northern Ireland charity supporting integrated schools and is a direct grantee of the Irish American Partnership. Its mission closely overlaps with the Partnership's integrated education program and it could evolve into a competing funder in that niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Irishaporg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irish-american-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/irishamericanpartnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Irish American Partnership