Charities Institute Ireland

Name

Charities Institute Ireland

Legal name

Charities Institute Ireland

Website

https://charitiesinstituteireland.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Charities Institute Ireland generates revenue through organizational membership fees. Charities become members to gain access to professional standards, training, networking, and the Triple Lock accreditation program.
2. Professional Education (Academy): The Cii Academy generates revenue through professional education programs including the Certificate in Fundraising, Certificate in Charities SORP, Certificate in Best Practice, and various short courses such as Corporate Partnerships, AI in Action for Charities, Direct Marketing Campaigns, and Fundraising Labs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Charities Institute Ireland is a membership organisation that delivers professional education, accreditation, and sector standards to Irish charities. Its core offerings include the Cii Academy (Certificates in Fundraising, Charities SORP, and Best Practice, plus short courses and EFA Certification), the Triple Lock Standard accreditation combining governance, transparent reporting, and ethical fundraising codes, and a portfolio of standards frameworks (Governance Code, Charities SORP, Fundraising Codes). Members also access member networks, sector events including Charity Excellence Awards and Charity Hack, the Charity Leader Magazine, and a Supplier Directory.

Product overview

Charities Institute Ireland (Cii) is a membership organisation supporting Irish charities through professional education, standards frameworks, and events. The core offerings include the Cii Academy delivering professional qualifications (Certificates in Fundraising, Charities SORP, Best Practice, and EFA Certification), the Triple Lock Standard accreditation programme, and standards frameworks (Governance Code, Charities SORP, Fundraising Codes). Additional services encompass the Charity Excellence Awards, Charity Hack innovation events, Fundraising Labs, Member Networks, and the Charity Leader Magazine publication. The Supplier Directory provides vetted service providers to members. The portfolio is structured around three pillars: professional development, standards and compliance, and sector community and resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Thrive MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCii partnered with Thrive Marketing as social media management partner for 2025 to enhance digital presence and amplify the work of Irish charities.
• ToucanTechcoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite platform provider powering the membership management system, event registration, and member communications.
• Premier Lotteries IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerValued partner supporting the charity sector.
• iDonateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital fundraising platform partner.
• Department of Community & Rural AffairsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment department partner supporting community and rural charities.
• EcclesiasticalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecialist insurer for charities and churches, strategic partner hosting events including Dublin Fundraising Forum.
• Forvis MazarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm and strategic partner of Cii, sponsoring athletes and charity events.
• Free Wills NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing free will writing services for charity donors.
• CCI Executive SearchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity careers recruitment partner.
• PayPal Giving Fund IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital giving platform partner for charities.
• iRaiserminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraising technology partner.
• Mason Hayes & Curran LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLegal services partner specializing in charities.
• Praesto ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConsulting partner for charities.
• gofundmeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCrowdfunding platform partner.
• Ask DirectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital fundraising and communications partner.
• AppcominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraising partner.
• EnthuseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraising platform partner.
• OKCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConsulting partner.
• MercerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHR and talent consulting partner.
• Character Print SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrint services partner.
• Insight HRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHR services partner.
• Giving TuesdayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal giving campaign partner operating in Ireland.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): UK membership body for charities and voluntary organisations providing training, standards, research, and policy voice — a larger incumbent operating an analogous membership-and-accreditation model that Cii effectively mirrors at Irish scale.
• Charities Aid Foundation (CAF): International charity providing charity banking, fundraising tools, donor-advised funds, and research — a much larger incumbent operating similar membership, payroll-giving, and standards-adjacent services that compete for the same charity-sector budget.
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP): Global professional association for fundraisers offering credentialing (CFRE), ethics standards, and education — directly comparable to Cii's Academy and Fundraising Codes functions and a reference for professionalising fundraising in Ireland.
• Fundraising Regulator: UK self-regulatory body for charitable fundraising that sets and enforces the Fundraising Code of Practice — directly comparable to Cii's Fundraising Codes and EFA Certification functions, and a potential cross-border standards reference point.

Regional players

• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO): Scotland's national membership body for charities and voluntary organisations, offering training, policy, and standards support analogous to Cii's portfolio, and a useful comparator for cross-jurisdiction expansion potential.
• NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action): Membership and umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland, with overlapping training, policy, and member-service offerings and direct relevance to Cii's Shared Island Forum activity.

Direct peers

• Philanthropy Ireland: Irish membership organisation representing philanthropic foundations, families, and social-investment vehicles — a focused peer for Cii's higher-end donor, foundation, and governance work within the same Irish charity ecosystem.
• Community Foundation Ireland: Irish grantmaking foundation operating across the island of Ireland, comparable to Cii in scale and Irish scope, and an overlapping partner/competitor for governance, fundraising, and member-engagement initiatives.
• The Wheel: Ireland's national support and representative body for community, voluntary, and charitable organisations — the most directly comparable peer to Cii, offering training, resources, and policy advocacy to a similar Irish charity member base.

Emerging players

• Boardmatch Ireland: Irish charity that connects skilled professionals with nonprofit boards — overlapping with Cii's governance training and Governance Code work, and a partial competitor in board-effectiveness services for the same Irish charity market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charities Institute Ireland