Donegal Giving is a county-wide, not-for-profit initiative that celebrates and strengthens the spirit of giving in all its forms. It's about more than money. It's about giving time, knowledge, kindness, skills, experience, opportunity and support.
We believe everyone has something valuable to give and together, those small acts create a stronger, kinder Donegal. Join us in recognising, connecting and inspiring a culture of giving that benefits us all.
Following a hugely successful first year, Footprints of Giving returns for another county-wide celebration of giving in all its forms.
Join people from business, education, community and the not-for-profit sector for inspiring speakers, personal stories and meaningful conversations about sharing time, skills, knowledge, kindness, connections and opportunities.
Reserve your place here
Donegal Giving is delighted to welcome Efficient Renewables as our Environmental Partner.
Based in Donegal, Efficient Renewables provides solar PV, heat pumps, ventilation and energy-efficient heating solutions for homes and businesses.
Together, we will encourage more conversations about environmental giving and the everyday choices individuals, families, communities and businesses can make to protect Donegal for the future.
Read more in our latest storySince launching, Donegal Giving has grown from an idea into a county-wide initiative supported by people, businesses, schools and organisations across Donegal.
We are proud of what has been achieved and grateful to everyone who has given their time, expertise and support. This November, we will bring people together again at An Grianán Theatre for Footprints of Giving 2026, the next chapter in our story.
Here are just some of the highlights from our first year:
Attended the launch of Donegal Giving at An Grianán Theatre.
A new structure, with Donegal Giving becoming a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG).
Gave us the opportunity to develop the organisation and look at where we go next.
A lovely moment of recognition for everyone involved in our first year.
Taking the conversation about giving into the classroom and bringing young and older generations together.
Exploring attitudes to giving in Donegal and what giving means to people today.
Generously given by people and organisations who believed in the idea and wanted to help make it happen.
Bringing businesses, community groups, schools, organisations and individuals into the Donegal Giving story.
An Grianán Theatre for Arts & Culture, Crintus & Co for Innovation & Technology and Efficient Renewables for the Environment.
Our first journal, capturing the people who shaped us and the footprints we leave for others. Launching this November.
The next generation becoming part of the story, with plans to develop our work with young people further.
Education and community projects taking shape, building on what we learned during our first year.
See the gathering that started the Donegal Giving story, watch the launch highlights and browse photos from An Grianán Theatre.
Explore the 2025 launchSince our launch in November 2025, Donegal Giving has been featured across local media, sharing stories of kindness, connection, and community spirit. Here's what they've been saying about the movement that's shining a light on giving across the county.
This Irish Independent article by Kathy Donaghy features the launch of Donegal Giving, a county-wide initiative founded by Evelyn McGlynn to build a culture of giving across Donegal. Inspired by her mother's community spirit, McGlynn created this movement where people share time, skills and knowledge rather than money. The article emphasises that small everyday acts
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Highland Radio broadcast live from An Grianán Theatre during our launch event, capturing the conversations, stories, and spirit of the day. Listen to the full show to hear from founder Evelyn McGlynn, keynote speakers, and community voices sharing what giving means across Donegal.
Read More >Get a glimpse of the energy and warmth from our launch event at An Grianán Theatre. This short video captures the moment hundreds came together to celebrate giving across Donegal, featuring speakers, stories, and the community spirit that makes this initiative special.
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Donegal Live reported on the launch event at An Grianán Theatre, where hundreds gathered to celebrate Evelyn McGlynn's Donegal Giving initiative. The publication highlighted how the event brought together people of all ages to recognise that giving lifts others and ourselves, featuring stories from across business, community and education sectors.
Read More >
Hundreds gathered at An Grianán Theatre for the launch of Donegal Giving, a unique project by marketing consultant Evelyn McGlynn in collaboration with ATU's CLYP programme. The event celebrated how giving lifts others and ourselves, showcasing stories from business, not-for-profit sectors, and young people across the county.
Read More >
The official launch of Donegal Giving brought together charities, businesses, educators and community leaders at An Grianán Theatre. Founder Evelyn Mc Glynn explained the initiative isn't asking people to give more, but to recognise and celebrate the giving already happening throughout the county every day.
Read More >Eight years in the making, Evelyn Mc Glynn's vision for Donegal Giving is taking flight. This county-wide movement celebrates everyday acts of giving across Donegal, from volunteering to helping neighbours. It's about building a culture of kindness through giving.
Read More >This is the heart of it. Donegal Giving isn’t about downloadable apps or polished campaigns. It’s about people. It’s about acknowledging what’s already here, and building something together that celebrates giving in all its forms, for everyone in our community.
Donegal Giving is about something that already happens every day across our county. People helping people, sharing what they know, opening doors, giving their time and looking out for each other.
We want to recognise that, celebrate it and encourage more of it.
Because giving isn't just about money. We all have something to give.
Donegal Giving started with an idea and has grown from there.
Today we are a not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG), supported by a voluntary Board who bring their own experience, knowledge and, importantly, their time to help us build something that can last.
This one is simple. It goes back into Donegal Giving and the work we want to do across Donegal.
That could be a programme for young people, a community project, an event that brings people together, research, resources or a completely new idea that helps us encourage more giving.
As Donegal Giving grows, we want what we can give back to Donegal to grow with it.
A lot in a very short space of time!
Since launching in November 2025, hundreds of people have joined us, our first Transition Year programme has been delivered, we've worked with ATU on research, taken part in the RiSE Social Enterprise Programme, welcomed new partners and received recognition at the Donegal Volunteer Awards.
We've also become a CLG, formed our voluntary Board and created Footprints of Giving, our first journal.
And we're only one year in.
Giving your time can certainly be part of it, but Donegal Giving is much wider than volunteering.
Maybe you know something that could help someone else. You could make an introduction, offer a young person their first opportunity, share a skill, encourage someone who's having a difficult day or simply make time for someone.
Sometimes the smallest thing to you can make a very big difference to somebody else.
That's why we keep coming back to one question:
What do you have that you could give?
Anyone.
You could be 8 or 80. You could be a student, a parent, a business owner, part of a community group or someone who simply likes the idea.
You could live in Donegal or be part of the Donegal community somewhere else in the world.
There's no particular type of person we're looking for. If you have something to give, you're already part of the idea.
Not at all.
Giving to yourself matters too. So does giving to our environment and looking after the places we will leave to the next generation.
Donegal Giving is about looking at giving in all its forms, including some we might never have thought of as giving before.
More of it!
More stories. More young people, more intergenerational gatherings and sharing of knowledge. More conversations. More opportunities. More partnerships. And, we hope, lots more people asking themselves what they could give.
Our next big gathering is Footprints of Giving 2026 at An Grianán Theatre this November, and we'll also launch our first Footprints of Giving journal.
We're still building Donegal Giving and learning as we go. But one thing hasn't changed since the very beginning:
We all have something to give.
This is our vision for a county where sharing what you know and giving what you can becomes second nature. Here's how different parts of our community can be part of it.
Share leadership experience, offer mentorship and internships, and create pathways for emerging talent while strengthening your community impact.
This might look like inviting a student in for work experience, speaking at a careers day, or mentoring someone starting out in your field. Whatever time and knowledge you can give helps bridge the gap between learning and real-world opportunity.
Bridge academic learning with real-world application, connect students with opportunities, and promote lifelong learning across all generations.
You might bring local business people into the classroom, arrange site visits that show students what's possible in Donegal, or create projects where different generations learn from each other. You're already making these connections. Donegal Giving helps make them easier.
Connect with like-minded organisations, share what works, and discover new partnerships that amplify your impact in the community.
You might share a programme that's working well, collaborate on events, or simply compare notes with other groups. When community organisations support each other, everyone's work goes further and reaches more people.
Share lived experience, traditional skills, and local wisdom while building the welcoming spaces that make giving natural and sustainable.
You don't need a formal role to give. It might be teaching someone a skill you've picked up over the years, offering advice about a career change, or simply being present in your community. The wisdom that comes from living has real value.
If you support the idea of giving or would like to learn more get in touch with us today.
