Following the success of its inaugural year, Lidl Ireland launched the 2026 Lidl Green Fund, with applications now open for community groups, schools and charities across Ireland to enter for their chance to win a share of €100,000 in funding.
The initiative, developed in partnership with Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), provides a €100,000 funding pot aimed at empowering grassroots projects that tackle climate change, promote biodiversity, and support sustainable living. The fund offers a flagship top prize of €25,000 for a standout national project, with a further €75,000 distributed among impactful regional initiatives.
David Gillick, Irish International Track & Field Athlete and Lidl Ireland’s Crivit Ambassador: "As the Lidl Crivit ambassador, I’m a firm believer that to perform at our best, we need a healthy environment to move in. The Lidl Green Fund 2026 is a fantastic initiative that empowers local communities to protect their ‘home ground,’ ensuring we have vibrant, sustainable green spaces for generations to come. It’s about taking an active lead in sustainability, and I’m proud to support a project that invests so directly in the health and future of our local Irish neighborhoods."
The call for new entries follows the crowning of the inaugural national winner, Clonakilty’s "Kids’ Food Revolution." The project was awarded €25,000 to scale its "Grow, Cook, Eat" programme, which provides primary school children with hands-on horticulture and culinary skills.
While the "Kids’ Food Revolution" took the top national prize, the impact of the inaugural Green Fund was felt in every corner of the country. The remaining €75,000 was distributed across all 26 counties, ensuring that every county in Ireland benefited from localised sustainability grants.
These grants supported a diverse range of grassroots action, including local repair cafés dedicated to the circular economy, accessible community gardens in Mayo and Roscommon, biodiversity support for therapeutic autism units in Meath, and nurture clubs providing nutritional support in Dublin schools.
Gillian Hegarty and Melissa Byrne, Co founders of Clonakilty Kids food revolution said:
“We have been blown away by the impact the Kids’ Food Revolution has had in our community. We are really excited to move into this next phase, because we’ve seen the power that hands-on learning has on children; how excited they are to try new things when they’re together having fun.”
Elaine O’Connor, Head of Sustainability at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland, commented: "The Lidl Green Fund was created to prove that small, community-led steps can lead to a better tomorrow. Seeing the 'Kids’ Food Revolution' translate their funding into real-world workshops for West Cork schools has been incredibly rewarding. As we open applications today, we are looking for the next wave of innovators—those who have a vision for a greener, more circular, and more inclusive Ireland."
Lidl Ireland invites applications from:
- Registered Charities
- Primary and Secondary Schools
- Community & Youth Groups
Projects should focus on key environmental pillars, including Climate and Biodiversity, Circular Economy (waste reduction), and Sustainable Living.
Lidl Ireland’s commitment to sustainability was recently reaffirmed by its ranking as the Most Sustainable Retailer in the Ireland RepTrak® Sustainability Index 2025 and receiving the Repak Resource Awards Overall Award for leadership in circular design and recycling.
For more information on the application process and eligibility, please visit: greenfund.abettertomorrow-lidl.ie
