The Integrated Education Fund is both a fundraising body and a financial foundation for the development and growth of Integrated Education in Northern Ireland. Between 1998 and 2007, over £10 million has been raised and given out in grants to schools and groups.

The IEF has operated various grant making programmes over this period, designed to support schools and groups which give equal recognition to and promote equal expression of the two main traditions in Northern Ireland, encouraging the development of understanding and respect. Some grant making programmes are open to any school in Northern Ireland while others are solely for integrated schools.

The IEF has been supported in its grant making role by other Trusts and Foundations, as well as individuals and businesses.

In 1998 the IEF launched a 10 Year Development Plan to increase the number of places available in integrated schools from 4% to 10% by 2008 - the Going for Growth Campaign. In our efforts to meet this target the IEF is currently operating a grant making programme that is actively 'Supporting And Developing Integrated Education' (SADIE).

The SADIE programme, launched in September 2005, offers grants to address immediate funding needs within the integrated sector. The over-arching aim of the programme is to encourage and support the positive development of the integrated sector and, ultimately, increase the number of integrated school places in Northern Ireland.

The ninth round of another IEF grant making programme, ‘Promoting A Culture of Trust’ (PACT), was launched on 11 February 2008.

The PACT programme is for schools actively working to contribute to a society where people of different cultures and traditions understand and respect their differences and recognise and appreciate what they hold in common. The PACT programme is open to all schools in Northern Ireland.

The closing date for applications to PACT IX was Friday 18 April 2008.

For information about future allocations of the SADIE or PACT grant making programmes please contact Sarah Turner, Grants Officer, at the IEF by phone or by email – sarah@ief.org.uk

The IEF is grateful to all those whose support make our grant making programmes possible.