Impact & Innovation Fund 2025
Grant applications now closed Supporting priority projects for patients in the Mater Hospital
The Impact & Innovation Fund, the Mater Hospital Foundation’s grant round for 2025, is now closed for applications.
With €400,000 in grant funding available, the programme will support MMUH staff in delivering innovative & impactful projects that enhance patient care, improve hospital services, and drive meaningful change.
Meet your Grants Specialist
Ciara McConnell
Find Out More
Impact & Innovation Fund 2025 FAQs
No, there is no minimum or maximum funding thresholds applied to applications to the Impact & Innovation Fund. It is important to note that given there is a pool of €400,000 available to be awarded, we expect to receive a large number of applications and for it to be a competitive review process. The amount requested will be assessed to ensure that it represents value for money, in terms of potential impact.
Previous grant examples can be found under Your Impact and showcase the wide variety of funding amounts awarded in the Mater Hospital Foundation’s last open-call grant round in 2023 and beyond.
No, all applications will be reviewed based on their merit and the individual funding pillar will not be considered in the decision to award funding. However, an application must fall under one of the Mater Hospital Foundation’s four pillars of funding in order to be considered eligible:
– New Services & Hospital Redevelopment;
– Advancing Medical Equipment;
– Patient, Family & Staff Support;
– Research.
You can find a breakdown of the allocation of grants and funding amounts across the four pillars of funding from the Mater Hospital Foundation’s last grant round in 2023.
No, the Mater Hospital Foundation cannot provide a grant to hire a permanent member of staff. This is due to the fact that any grant awarded through the Impact & Innovation Fund will be a once off and will have a specified funding timeline. The grant will not be available for renewal and therefore, there will not be funding available for the subsequent ongoing costs of this staff member.
However, it is important to flag that you can apply for funding of a temporary, fixed term staff position. It will be important to show that the funding amount requested covers the duration of the proposed employment contract and that the application demonstrates why this staff position is needed in order to deliver the project. You will also need to confirm that MMUH HR has been consulted in relation to this staffing requirement.
No, the Impact & Innovation Fund will not provide grants for ongoing, operational costs. The fund is designed to support either once-off projects, or support with a pilot project and provide initial seed funding. Any subsequent ongoing costs for the continuation of a project will need to be sought from MMUH.
Firstly, you will need to request approval to submit from the Department Head that you work with. Secondly, if your application includes requests for any of the following specific costs, we would ask that you contact the corresponding Department to inform them that you are applying for funding and to alert them to your project:
| Equipment | Purchasing (request a supplier quote to support your application form) Clinical Engineering |
| Staffing Costs If planning to hire additional staff member |
HR |
| IT Equipment & Technologies | Information Management Services |
| Research | Clinical Research Support Office |
| Ongoing Costs Associated with the proposed project |
Finance |
| Redevelopment | Estates & Facilities |
Yes, we ask that you provide an up-to-date quote for any equipment or services for which you are applying. This is to allow us to be able to understand the total amount requested and the individual cost breakdown. These should be submitted at the same time as your application.
If you are applying for funding to support any type of cost (which might include equipment) as part of an overall research project, you must submit your application using the research grant form.
Yes, you can still submit a research grant application if you have not yet received ethics approval for the project. We are conscious that the approval timeline for ethics may not correspond with the application window for the Impact & Innovation Fund and want to ensure that these applications can still be considered and reviewed.
However, it is important to flag that evidence of ethics approval is essential in order for grant funding to be drawn down. If your application is successful, it will only be approved in principle and is dependent on you receiving ethics approval before any funding can be accessed. If you do not successfully receive ethics approval, the grant will be withdrawn.
No, applications will not be accepted after 5pm on Monday, 6th October. This is a hard deadline and any applications received after this will not be included in the next stage of review.
All applicants to the Impact & Innovation Fund will be notified of the outcome of their application, whether successful or unsuccessful.
We expect that you will hear from us the week of the 16th December.
