Everything you need to know.

The Coca‑Cola Company and its bottling partner Coca‑Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland are once again coming together this year through the Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund (“The Fund”), which will be operated by The Irish Youth Foundation, in partnership with Youth Action Northern Ireland, making €200,000 / £171,000 (sterling figure based on conversion rates at the time) of grants available for projects that empower young people through learning and sustainable development.

This money will be granted to not-for-profit voluntary and charitable organisations operating within communities throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund was launched in 2011 to mark The Coca‑Cola Company’s 125^th anniversary and has run every year since. To date €1,565,000 has been given to 164 non-profit organisations across the island of Ireland.

The Fund’s application form facilitates entrants in selecting which funding amount is most suitable for their project.

In 2024, the Fund will focus on cultivating inclusive communities by empowering young people to become skilled and engaged citizens under the pillars of learning and sustainable development.

For the purposes of the Fund, young people are defined as those aged between 16 and 25 years of age.

The aim is to distribute €200,000 / £171,000 (sterling figure based on conversion rates at the time) in total (as specified in the terms and conditions below) amongst eligible organisations that are implementing projects focused on engaging young people in models of innovative and inclusive practise under the two pillars.

Applications will only be accepted online as we aim for this to be a paperless and environmentally friendly scheme. Applications must strictly comply with the terms and conditions of the Fund.

Terms and Conditions for The Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund 2024

1. Eligibility

Entry is open to registered not-for-profit and charitable youth-focused organisations working with young people across Ireland and Northern Ireland aged between 16 – 25 years. Entries must seek to support those young people under one of the following two categories:

1. Empowering Learning

Help us understand how your work is empowering young people who may otherwise be at risk of early school leaving or low education attainment, through inclusive practices. Show us how you are engaging these young people to access supportive interventions that will empower and equip them to become active members of their communities by successfully transitioning into skills-based opportunities, engaging in mentorship opportunities or further learning and employment opportunities.

Specific emphasis will be place on supporting one of the following three areas:

-        Education support – e.g. projects working with young people from underserved areas to access additional education opportunities such as grinds, internships, mentoring and soft skills such as interview preparation, CV development and management of your online profile*.

-        Upskilling opportunities – e.g. programmes offering targeted skills training for young people*.

-        Personal development opportunities – e.g. programmes designed to build resilience and help participants develop positive coping strategies to overcome challenges in their lives*.

1. Empowering Sustainable Development

Help us understand how your work is creating inclusive communities through projects designed to empower young people to address the theme of sustainability in their lives. We are looking to support projects and programmes that are focused on education, action and / or awareness building, with specific emphasis on one of the following three areas:

-        Climate Action e.g. Projects equipping individuals, SMEs or communities with knowledge and skills to develop solutions to the environmental and climate crises.  This can encompass nature restoration and water stewardship.

-        Supporting the journey  towards a Circular Economy e.g projects focused on designs or concepts that move away from take-make-waste models. These can be focused on eliminating pollution or waste, recycling or reuse of products or materials, or regenerating nature. This can include education and awareness initiatives around the new Deposit Return Scheme.

-        Food insecurity e.g. projects in the community that are designed to support reduction of food waste, combating the issue of food insecurity and hunger and education around such initiatives.

(i) The organisation must be a not-for-profit, voluntary, or charitable organisation classified under one or more of the following headings:
- Charitable organisation with a registered charity number working within a community
- Voluntary organisation working within a community
- Not-for-profit community organisation
- A foundation or a trust for the benefit of a community

(ii) The organisation must submit details of a proposal which it will put in place if successful, which demonstrates targeted supports that help young people (16 - 25 years) through empowering learning and sustainable development. 

(iii) The organisation must be registered in the Republic of Ireland and / or Northern Ireland and have been in operation for a minimum of 12 months prior to the date of submission of this application.

(iv) The organisation must have a bank account set-up in the name of the organisation.

(v) Proof of organisation’s operations must be made available to Coca‑Cola Ireland, if requested.

(vi) Any individual applying on behalf of an organisation must be aged 18 years or older and have the agreement of the organisation to submit an application on its behalf.

(vii) The proposed project must exclusively benefit people aged over sixteen years of age and under twenty-five, and activities using money received from the Fund must be based in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

(ix) The organisation must have a child protection or safeguarding policy in place.  

Applications will not be considered from the following:

- Individuals
- An organisation that discriminates based on race, gender, marital status, family status, religion, sexual orientation, membership of the travelling community, age, or disability
- Religious endeavours
- Political, legislative, or lobbying organisations
- An organisation whose proposal is to:

• make a movie, film, or television documentary.
• hold a concert or other entertainment event.
• promote travel
• promote a high-risk activity including but not limited to parachuting or bungee jumping,
• benefit schools or early education settings
• run activities or programmes based in schools, or in partnership with schools.

Note on Costs eligible for funding:

• The fund will cover costs associated with running programmes, such as buying materials, venue hire, facilitator costs, staff time etc
• The fund will not cover new salary costs, but funding may be used to enhance the hours of existing employees
• The fund will not support research costs

2. Application Process and Decision Making

A) Applications will be accepted online only as we aim for this to be a paperless and environmentally friendly scheme.

B) Applications will be accepted from Monday 22nd April until Friday 24^th May at 5pm. Applications received after 5pm on Friday 24^th May 2024 will not be considered.

C) Entry is open to organisations based in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland only and benefits projects located in these areas.

D) Applications must be made online via www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou which will bring applicants to the Irish Youth Foundation grants platform. 

E) Irish Youth Foundation will assess all applications received using a scoring sheet to determine their suitability against the fund criteria.

F) A shortlist of applications that meet all the below listed criteria will be prepared by the Irish Youth Foundation and YouthAction Northern Ireland, and presented to the Coca‑Cola’s Social Impact committee for evaluation. This committee will include representatives from the Coca‑Cola Company, Coca‑Cola BC Ireland and Northern Ireland, Irish Youth Foundation and Youth Action Northern Ireland.     

G) An application is not deemed to be eligible until it is validated by the Irish Youth Foundation considering the requirements set out in eligibility section above. The Coca‑Cola Social Impact committee reserves the right to make the final decision on eligibility and no reasons will be furnished.

H) All decisions are based on the information received on the application form and therefore quality and accuracy are important as no further correspondence will be entered into. Coca‑Cola Ireland and Coca‑Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland reserves the right to verify all information on the application form.

I) Organisations applying for funding will have to show how their proposed project will show and measure impact in one of the following two themes:

1. Empowering Learning – Projects designed to create more inclusive communities that empower young people at risk of low education attainment to access learning pathways to meaningful opportunities for the future, by either:

-        Gaining a new technical skill

-        Increasing employment knowledge base and enhancing personal development

OR

1. Empowering Sustainable Development – Projects designed to create more inclusive communities that empower young people to challenge how they are currently engaging with the theme of sustainability in their lives through one of the following lenses;

-        Climate Action

-        Packaging & Circularity

-        Food insecurity

J) Criteria used to assess projects will include:

1.     An assessment of impact type and impact depth, both in terms of the measurable outcomes for young people highlighted above and the numbers of young people reached.

2.    The capacity of the project to continue to generate benefits beyond the funded programme.

3.    Any opportunities the funding might unleash e.g. leverage other funding opportunities or pro bono support from other stakeholders.

K) Recipients will be announced no later than July 2024.

L) Winning programmes will receive funding in amounts determined by the Coca‑Cola Social Impact committee panel.

M) The decision of the Coca‑Cola Social Impact committee is final, and no further correspondence will be entered into.

N) Should Coca‑Cola Ireland find that any application is in breach of the terms and conditions at any stage of the scheme then Coca‑Cola Ireland reserves the right to remove that application from the process and terminate any contractual obligations that may have been entered into with the relevant organisation.

O) Coca‑Cola Ireland may in its absolute discretion disqualify any participant found to be tampering with the entry process or operation of the website or to be acting in any manner disruptive to the promotion.

P) The Fund is not open to employees of Coca‑Cola Ireland, Coca‑Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland or their spouses, partners, children or anyone connected with the Fund. Coca‑Cola Ireland reserves the right to declare the scheme void if it believes the integrity of the competition has been breached in any way.

Q) In the event of circumstances outside the reasonable control of Coca‑Cola Ireland, or otherwise where fraud, abuse, and/or an error (human, mobile or computer) affects or could affect the proper operation of this promotion or the awarding of offers, and only where circumstances make this unavoidable, Coca‑Cola Ireland reserves the right to cancel or amend the promotion or these terms and conditions , at any stage, but will always endeavour to minimize the effect to participants in order to avoid undue disappointment.

3.Funding

A) The organisation must spend the full grant amount, or the sterling equivalent, on the project as outlined in their application form before 31^st July 2025. If, for some reason, the organisation requires to use the money in an alternative way, prior written permission from Coca‑Cola Ireland must be obtained.

B) Notwithstanding whether or not the recipients have been declared, if Coca‑Cola Ireland discovers before the distribution of the grants that, for any reason that a successful organisation is ineligible, or that its application should have been declared invalid, it reserves the right to determine that such organisation is disqualified and to award the grant to another organisation in its place.

C) Once notified the successful organisations will be requested to confirm to Coca‑Cola Ireland, through their partner the Irish Youth Foundation within a period of one week that they agree to receive the funding and will implement their proposal.

D) If a response from a successful organisation is not received within the specified timeframe, Coca‑Cola Ireland reserve the right to award the grant to another organisation in its place.

E) The first tranche of funding will be paid within one month of receipt of the signed funding agreement from the organisation to Coca‑Cola Ireland via Q4 Public Relations.

F) Each recipient of a grant must notify Irish Youth Foundation when its project is complete and provide evidence upon request to show as outlined under 4. Publicity, A) that the amount awarded was spent in the way proposed during the application process. If such evidence is not provided Coca‑Cola Ireland reserves the right to reclaim the amount awarded.

G) In addition to the funding eligibility criteria as outlined above all applicants must meet the following criteria.

• The organisation must provide a copy of their annual audited accounts/end of year accounts
• The organisation must provide a reference where requested
• Successful awardees must be willing to share photos of their project, be willing to do media interviews and speak at events

H) The ultimate decision on the winners is subject to Coca‑Cola Ireland conducting a background check on the winning organisation and principal individual stakeholders in the organisation.

I) To the extent permitted by law, Coca‑Cola Ireland accepts no liability for any damage, loss or injury suffered due to entering this promotion or taking up a grant.

4. Publicity

A) The names of the shortlisted organisations as well as details of the proposed projects may be publicised, e.g., press releases, photocall and video for use across national and local print, broadcast, social media and other online media, as well as www.Coca‑Cola.ie/thankyou, www.coca-colahellenic.com, Irish Youth Foundation and YouthAction Northern Ireland webpages. 

B) By applying for the Fund applicants are agreeing to participate in publicity relating to the promotion of the Fund should they be a shortlisted or winning entry.  

C) Completed application forms will be forwarded to an external public relations agency, Q4PR, managing public relations for this programme on behalf of Coca‑Cola Ireland for this purpose.

5. Evaluation of the project

A) Awardees will be asked to submit two progress reports as part of the contract - one at the halfway stage of the programme and one on completion of the programme. Irish Youth Foundation will provide full progress reports for completion.

B) Applicants will be asked to use multimedia to document the project throughout the year for use by Coca‑Cola on the website Coca‑Cola.ie.

6. GDPR

Irish Youth Foundation will hold the organisation and project details submitted with each application form so that organisations can be informed of future funding application opportunities. Irish Youth Foundation will only share this information with the third parties administering the application and selection process, unless agreed otherwise with the organisation.

7. Miscellaneous

A) Late applications will not be the accepted. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes applications submitted after 5pm on Friday May 24^th 2024.

B) Coca‑Cola Ireland reserves the right to amend, withdraw or terminate the Fund initiative or alter the specification without prior notice.

C) Sometimes, through reasons outside of Coca‑Cola Ireland’s control, the website (as with any website) may not be accessible. Coca‑Cola Ireland cannot guarantee continuous, uninterrupted access to the website. No responsibility will be accepted for any difficulties in entering, claiming or any entries/claims delayed or corrupted. Coca‑Cola Ireland will have no liability for any loss arising out of such an event.

D) Limitations of liability: insofar as permitted by law, Coca‑Cola Ireland does not assume any responsibility or liability for:-

• Any incorrect or inaccurate entry, or for any faulty, incorrect, failed, erroneous or failed electronic data transmissions.
• Communications line failure, regardless of cause, with regard to any equipment, systems, networks, lines, satellites, servers, computers or providers utilized in any aspect of this promotion causing delays or disruption;
• Inaccessibility or unavailability of the internet or the website or any combination thereof; or
• Insofar as permitted by law, any injury or damage to participants or to any other person’s computer which may be related to or resulting from any attempt to participate in the promotion.

E) If any of these clauses should be determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable then it shall be severed and deleted from these terms and conditions and the remaining clauses shall survive and remain in full force and effect.

F) This promotion and these terms and conditions are governed by the law of the Republic of Ireland and the courts of the Republic of Ireland shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of or in connection with this promotion.

G) By sending in an application, the organisation is accepting these terms and conditions. If the organisation does not wish to comply with these terms and conditions, it may be disqualified and may have to return any award granted. In the event that an award is not accepted, or an award is revoked, the Committee may select an alternative awardee.

/  ENDS