Guinness for good

Payday came, and then came beer. If Rudyard Kipling were alive today, and been a social entrepreneur, he is sure to have amended his famous quote to read: “beer came, and then came payday”.

The Arthur Guinness Fund (AGF), the charitable arm of Ireland’s most famous company has announced that it will invest 6 million pounds (7.3 million euros) in social enterprises over the course of the next two years. Applications open on September 28.

The Fund was set up last year to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the lease for the Guinness brewery at St James’ Gate and with the aim of supporting and stimulating social enterprise. It has just signed a three year partnership with Ashoka and together they will select the social entrepreneurs to support. It is believed that around 30 candidates will be chosen but the figures of individual grants have not yet been disclosed. Aside from financial resources, grant recipients can expect practical and strategic support for their social change projects.

In the past AGF has funded enterprises in the UK, Ireland, Africa, Indonesia and the USA. The criteria for selecting projects? According to its website “the fund picks candidates who are fiercely committed to their idea and dedicated to refining, testing and spreading their vision”.

The senior vice-president of Ashoka said: “With the support of the AGF, Ashoka will be able to welcome even more … social entrepreneurs into our community and demonstrate the world over that everyone, not just an elite few, can create positive and lasting change”.

www.guinnessforgood.com