A Culture of Giving - The Story of Donegal Giving
Donegal Giving is a seed.
With the support of people, communities, and businesses,
it can grow into something even more powerful.
Donegal is a county known for its landscape and its people, with around 180,000 people living there (Central Statistics Office, April 2025), making it one of the most rural parts of Ireland.
Towns and villages are scattered across the county, where neighbours depend on each other, and have done so for generations. In the larger built-up urban areas some of this connection may have been lost, but there’s still a warmth and friendliness in Donegal that deserves to be celebrated and encouraged.
This sense of closeness has fostered a strong spirit of helping, sharing, and looking out for one another - values that inspired the creation of Donegal Giving, to celebrate and strengthen that culture.
Donegal Giving didn’t start with a big budget or a set plan. It started with conversations, with people offering their time, their skills, and their ideas. When students like Chloe and Keira became interns, they helped shape Donegal Giving from an idea into something real. At the same time, they gained experience and confidence. That’s what giving looks like - where both sides benefit.
The idea is simple. People in Donegal already give in many ways. Businesses can offer internships or share their knowledge. Retired people can pass on their wisdom, or give a few hours a month to a local group. Community organisations can connect with others, sharing what they do and asking for support when needed.
Donegal Giving is not about money. It’s a not-for-profit project that belongs to everyone and no one. If support or funding ever comes in, it will go straight back into the initiative. What it really runs on is goodwill.
The future will depend on what people make of it. Maybe all schools throughout Donegal will one day receive the Transition Year Donegal Giving programme. Maybe government bodies will see value in it. Or maybe Donegal Giving will simply remain a space where people can share their stories and celebrate the kindness that already exists in Donegal.
Donegal’s motto is Mutuam Habeatis Caritatem which means “Have Love For One Another”. This is at the heart of Donegal Giving.
Meet Our Board Members
Donegal Giving is guided by a voluntary Board whose members share their time, experience and connections to help shape the organisation.
Evelyn Mc GlynnFounder & Board Member
Evelyn bought the Donegal Giving domain almost nine years before finally bringing the idea to life in November 2025. With a long history of involvement in voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, she believes strongly in community, connection and the difference people can make for each other. Her vision is to build Donegal Giving into something that will continue to make a difference for generations to come.
Trish McGinleySecretary
Trish brings experience in communications, marketing, editing and administration, along with many years of involvement in community organisations. She is passionate about bringing people together and believes good communication, teamwork and strong governance are key to building an organisation that can make a lasting difference.
Assumpta GunningBoard Member
Assumpta has worked in financial services for over 30 years and is a Qualified Financial Advisor, with experience across banking, customer service and financial crime. She brings strong analytical and practical skills to the Board and has a keen interest in community initiatives, self-development and wellbeing.
Caitríona SinnottBoard Member
Caitríona has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector and is Community Alert Development Officer with Muintir na Tíre. Having lived in Donegal for over 20 years, she has seen first-hand what can happen when communities work together and is passionate about connecting people and building strong, caring communities.
Paul LogueBoard Member
Paul has worked in retail for over 35 years and is currently an In-Store Trainer with McElhinneys. He is passionate about customer experience, investing in people and sharing knowledge. A lifelong Donegal resident, Paul is proud of his county and keen to use his experience to help make a positive difference.
What is Donegal Giving?
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.
So, what exactly is Donegal Giving?
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.
Who is behind Donegal Giving?
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.
What happens to the money Donegal Giving raises?
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.
What has happened since Donegal Giving started?
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.
Is Donegal Giving about volunteering?
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?
Who can get involved?
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.
Does giving always mean giving to someone else?
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.
What's next?
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.