How Sing Ireland Hit the High Notes Through the Fundraising Fellowship

It has been an incredibly rewarding and challenging year for Sing Ireland (SI) as our participation in the Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland programme supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media has brought forth numerous learnings and new opportunities for our organisation. The challenges we faced have ultimately led to the rewards we are currently experiencing. SI's journey of change has been ongoing for over five years as we charted a new strategy for the future of our organisation and the group singing community in Ireland. However, this process, alongside the opportunities presented by the Fellowship, has significantly enhanced the organisation's potential for growth.

Last June, we appointed Cecelia Molumby as our Development Officer, which has transformed our organisation's outlook on development and fundraising. We recognised the need for dedicated attention in this area, involving input from both our team and board members. To achieve success in fundraising and development, we understood the importance of adopting a holistic approach across the entire organisation.

Prior to the Fellowship, in the midst of a busy environment, it was challenging to allocate the necessary resources. Cecelia's appointment provided the essential expertise and drive to push forward in these critical areas. Fortunately, while there is still ample room for further development, we are now firmly on a systematic path toward establishing more diverse income streams for SI. The Fellowship has helped us build momentum and cultivate a professional approach to our partnerships with funders, philanthropists, and other stakeholders. It also became evident that our marketing plans and impact communications required refinement in order to accurately convey the story of the impact we are making. Cecelia's contribution to all of this work has been instrumental in bringing about tangible changes for our organisation, both through her dedicated work on the fellowship and her collaboration with SI.

The Fellowship has established clear key performance indicators (KPIs) for SI's growth and transformational journey. Over the past year, we have already met our overall financial indicator target, with notable success in establishing partnerships with trusts and foundations. This support enables us to fund our Song Seeking programme, which serves migrant communities, as well as our YouthSing programme, which reaches young people in Irish schools. Furthermore, with Cecelia's appointment, we have gained the additional capacity to foster and manage an even greater number of relationships. We have been fortunate to secure partnership funding for community choirs that cater to individuals with additional health or other needs. We express our sincere gratitude to the Community Foundation of Ireland, Rethink Ireland, the Coca-Cola Ireland Thank You Fund, the Ireland Funds, and the Edwards Life Sciences Foundation for their belief in our work.

Another remarkable opportunity we are currently pursuing is partnerships for National Singing Week, a national event owned and organised by SI in October. This presents a significant chance to connect with singers from all corners of the country. During this week, we will celebrate and emphasise the immense value that group singing can bring, working tirelessly towards our goal of fostering widespread participation in collective singing among the Irish population.

Overall, this past year has been both transformative and fulfilling for SI. We have embraced the challenges, learned valuable lessons, and leveraged new opportunities to further our mission of enhancing lives through the power of group singing. The executive and board pledge their strong support to Cecelia in her second year of the Fellowship and we look forward to the further opportunities that lie ahead for both Cecelia and Sing Ireland.

Dermot O’Callaghan, CEO, Sing Ireland