From Idea to Social Enterprise: Donegal Giving’s First Year

When Donegal Giving hosted its launch event in November 2025, few people could have predicted how much would happen in such a short space of time.

What started as an idea to recognise, celebrate and encourage giving in all its forms across County Donegal is now a registered social enterprise with a growing list of achievements, partnerships and plans.

In June 2026 the initiative reached a significant milestone when it formally became Donegal Giving CLG, a not-for-profit social enterprise. Momentum has kept building since. The organisation recently picked up its first award at the Donegal Volunteer Awards, in recognition of the work being done by its volunteer board and supporters.

What’s Happened So Far

Since launch, Donegal Giving has:

Hosted an oversubscribed launch event attended by almost 300 people from the business, community, education and voluntary sectors
Formally established itself as a social enterprise and CLG
Appointed a diverse and experienced board of directors
Been accepted onto the RiSE Programme
Delivered its first Transition Year pilot programme at Gairmscoil Chú Uladh
Begun exploring a new programme for 5th and 6th class pupils
Collaborated with Atlantic Technological University, where final-year marketing students researched attitudes towards giving and opportunities for the organisation to grow
Received national media coverage, including in the Irish Independent
Started developing its first product
Begun preparing to welcome its first corporate sponsor and partner
Started planning Footprints of Giving 2026 at An Grianán Theatre on 12 November

Not bad for an organisation that’s not yet a year old.

The Board Behind It

Much of that progress comes back to a board of directors that brings together expertise from business, community development, governance, education, retail, customer service and financial services.

Founder Evelyn Mc Glynn is quick to point to their contribution, describing their support, experience and commitment as critical to how far the organisation has come.

Paul Logue brings creativity, vision and more than 35 years of retail experience, which have helped shape strategic thinking and customer engagement. Through his career and his current role as an In-Store Trainer with McElhinneys, he brings real insight into people, communication and customer experience.

Assumpta Gunning contributes knowledge built across financial services, retail banking, customer service and, most recently, Financial Crime. Her analytical approach and strong communication skills have offered valuable perspective as the organisation develops.

Caitríona Sinnott brings significant community development expertise through her work with Muintir na Tíre. Her experience in building networks, supporting volunteers and strengthening communities has helped Donegal Giving form meaningful connections across the county.

Trish McGinley has played a key role in supporting governance and development. Her practical guidance helped put strong foundations in place as Donegal Giving moved from an idea to a formal organisation.

The wider board adds a broad range of experience, perspectives and skills. Between them, they provide the expertise, challenge, support and encouragement a young social enterprise needs in its early stages.

An Idea That Waited Almost a Decade

The foundations were quietly forming long before the launch.

Evelyn Mc Glynn bought the Donegal Giving domain almost ten years ago, believing the right moment would come. In the meantime, through her business Evelyn Mc Marketing and her time as PRO of the Donegal Women in Business Network, she built relationships with businesses, community organisations, social enterprises and individuals across the county and beyond.

Giving ran through that work all along. Evelyn regularly encouraged clients and organisations to think about how they could support their communities, share their expertise, create opportunities for others and contribute beyond their day-to-day business.

Many of the partnerships, introductions and supports behind Donegal Giving’s growth can be traced back to those relationships. That network of friends, colleagues, businesses and community leaders became one of the organisation’s greatest early assets, turning an idea that had been waiting patiently into a social enterprise capable of county-wide impact.

Almost €27,000 in Giving in Kind

One of the most striking parts of the story is how much support has come from the wider community.

Donegal Giving estimates it has received close to €27,000 worth of giving in kind. That’s professional expertise, website development, design, mentoring, venue hire, volunteer time, refreshments, practical support and backing from media outlets across the county.

All of it has come from businesses, organisations and individuals who chose to contribute their skills, knowledge, time and resources to help the initiative grow.

The support of Carla Roets and Johan du Plessis of Crintus & Co has been particularly noteworthy. Through creating and maintaining the Donegal Giving website, along with ongoing advice and technical support, they’ve played a significant part in establishing the organisation’s digital presence.

Support From RiSE and ATU

Acceptance onto the RiSE Programme has been an important source of support in these early stages. Through mentoring, guidance and networking, the programme has helped validate the organisation’s approach while offering practical help as it develops longer-term plans.

The collaboration with Atlantic Technological University has been another milestone. Marketing students carried out a research project examining awareness, perceptions and attitudes towards giving across Donegal, and the insights will feed directly into future programmes and initiatives.

Bringing Giving Into Schools

Education is a key focus.

After the success of the Transition Year pilot at Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, Donegal Giving is now looking at a programme for 5th and 6th class pupils. The aim is to open up conversations around kindness, community, legacy and the impact one person can have on the people around them.

What Comes Next

The focus now is on building partnerships, expanding the education programmes and developing revenue streams that can sustain the social mission over time.

The first product is in development, and the organisation is preparing to welcome its first corporate sponsor and partner. Both are important steps towards long-term sustainability.

For an organisation that’s achieved this much in under a year, this still feels like the beginning.

If the first chapter has shown anything, it’s the power of collaboration, community support and people’s willingness to share their time, talents, knowledge, skills and opportunities for the benefit of others. In many ways, Donegal Giving has become a living example of the thing it set out to celebrate.

Join Us at Footprints of Giving 2026

Footprints of Giving 2026 takes place at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, on 12 November. It’ll bring together representatives from the community, voluntary, education and business sectors for a day of inspiration, learning and connection, exploring the role giving plays in strengthening communities and shaping future generations.

Tickets are free and will be available soon.

If you’re a charity, non-profit or social enterprise interested in taking part in the event, send us a message through the contact form at www.donegalgiving.com.

You’ll also find more about Donegal Giving, its programmes and upcoming initiatives there.