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Microsoft launches 2026 Community Fund for south and west Dublin

Minister of State & Dublin South West TD Colm Brophy joins Microsoft at special event in Clondalkin to launch 2026 fund & celebrate achievements of 2025 fund recipients

  • Microsoft 2026 Community Fund for south and west Dublin will provide €100,000 in funding for community changemakers to deliver impactful projects focusing on sustainability and digital skilling initiatives
  • Investment builds on success of previous Microsoft community funds, which assisted more than 103 community projects and engaged nearly 30,000 local people
  • €4.5 million invested by Microsoft in projects supporting local communities near its data centre operations since 2008

Dublin, 26 January 2026 – Minister of State at the Department of Justice with special responsibility for Migration, and Dublin South West TD, Colm Brophy, today joined Microsoft at a community celebration event at Áras Chrónáin in Clondalkin, County Dublin to unveil the Microsoft 2026 Community Fund.

The new fund, managed by non-profit ChangeX, will support individuals, community groups, schools and non-profits across south and west Dublin by providing funding to deliver impactful community projects focused on environmental sustainability and digital skilling.

As part of this year’s €100,000 fund, communities will be able to choose from a portfolio of exciting, proven ideas that have already had a positive impact in other communities around the world, including hands-on STEM workshops to enhance digital skills for students, an initiative to support the development of local biodiversity, a project to encourage sharing goods and resources across the community, and an educational programme to promote knowledge about renewable energy.

The image shows four individuals crouching on a wooden floor in a brightly lit indoor space. The ceiling has wooden beams and triangular shapes. In the foreground, there is a small spherical object, possibly a robotic device, on the floor. Behind the individuals, there are colorful chairs, a basketball hoop, and vibrant wall art. The environment appears to be a recreational or educational space.
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The image shows three individuals standing behind a table. On the table, there is a blue plastic case with a hinged lid open, revealing several spherical objects inside. One of the individuals is holding a transparent sphere with visible internal components. Another person is holding a tablet device. The background features a colorful mural painted on a wall, with pipes and a radiator visible. The lighting is bright, emphasizing the objects and the scene.
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The image shows three individuals standing in front of a brick wall. The person on the left is wearing a burgundy blazer with a chain of office featuring gold medallions and a central decorative piece. They are also wearing a light-colored blouse underneath. The person in the middle is dressed in a mauve blazer over a dark top and has their arms crossed. The individual on the right is wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and a yellow tie. The lighting is warm, and there is a wall-mounted light fixture visible on the left side of the image.
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The image shows a group of people standing on a wooden floor in front of a red curtain backdrop. Behind them, two large screens display the text 'Launch of the 2026 Microsoft Community Fund' alongside the Microsoft logo and another logo. The individuals are holding framed certificates with the Microsoft logo and text on them. The group is dressed in a mix of formal and casual attire. On the left and right sides of the image, there are large black speakers and some stacked chairs visible. The setting appears to be indoors, possibly in a hall or event space.
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The image shows four people standing outdoors on a grassy and gravel-covered area. They are positioned in front of a large geodesic dome structure made of translucent panels, with a wooden entrance attached to it. A green wheelbarrow filled with dirt is in the foreground, held by two of the individuals. The surrounding area includes bare trees, a bench, and a building with windows on the right side. The sky is overcast.
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A special event in the Áras Chrónáin cultural centre in Clondalkin brought together 35 local groups, including schools, local sports clubs, NGOs, and other changemakers who received support from last year’s fund to celebrate their achievements and the positive community impact. Last year’s fund alone engaged more than 11,000 local people near Microsoft’s data centre operations in Clondalkin, supporting the delivery of impactful projects that helped build greener, more connected communities where people and ideas can thrive.

The Community Fund is one of many ways Microsoft is delivering on its Data Centre Community pledge, which aims to ensure that the company is a responsible and supportive neighbour to local communities near its data centre operations. In recent years, successive funds have supported 103 different community projects, focusing on the development of digital skills and empowering local sustainability, and benefitted nearly 30,000 local people. Since 2008, Microsoft has invested €4.5 million in projects supporting local communities near its data centre operations.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice with special responsibility for Migration, Colm Brophy TD, said, “It’s a privilege to stand alongside so many dedicated community leaders today, learning about the transformative projects supported by the Microsoft Community Fund and celebrating their remarkable achievements in creating more sustainable, vibrant communities across south and west Dublin. Building better places to live requires collaboration between Government, industry, and civil society, and today’s launch of the Microsoft 2026 Community Fund is another important step toward this shared goal. The fund will help local changemakers to make a real difference in the community and deliver a lasting, positive impact for local residents across Dublin. I look forward to seeing how future funding is invested and the positive impact it will have in the months ahead.”

Lavinia Morris, General Manager of Microsoft’s EMEA Data Centre Operations, said: “At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person to achieve more. As we invest in and operate data centres across Ireland and globally, we recognise that this comes with both responsibility and opportunity. Last year, we set this out clearly through our Data Centre Community Pledge, which provides three key commitments: to contribute to a sustainable future, advance community prosperity and wellbeing, and operate responsibly as a good neighbour.

“The Community Fund is one of the practical ways we deliver on our Data Centre Pledge locally. It is about backing real projects, led by local people, that make a difference on the ground in the communities closest to our data centre operations. It has been inspiring to hear from the many community leaders and changemakers gathered at our celebration event today about the positive impact that the fund is having. Through the projects pioneered by our changemakers, local communities across South and West Dublin have become greener, more connected, and future ready – directly benefitting nearly 30,000 local people. We look forward to building on this success with the rollout of the 2026 fund and hope to deliver meaningful, lasting impact for communities across Dublin.”

Niamh McKenna, co-founder and head of impact at ChangeX, said: “At ChangeX, we believe that driving lasting impact starts at the local level. By supporting changemakers across Ireland and beyond, ChangeX is helping to build a more resilient and connected world. Our long-term partnership with Microsoft is making a real difference in supporting local changemakers in Dublin to enhance sustainability and community prosperity. We look forward to seeing the transformative projects this fund will kickstart over the coming months.”

Applications for funding are open to individuals, groups, schools and non-profits across the South Dublin and Fingal County Council areas. Funding of up to €5,000 per project is available, with a simple step-by-step application process in place to support groups to secure funding. Applications will be reviewed against eligibility and scoring criteria. Applicants will be asked to complete a number of simple steps, such as sharing a project plan, to unlock their initial funding. The application deadline is March 3.

To find out more and apply, visit this link: https://www.changex.org/ie/funds/microsoft-dublin?utm_source=pr

About Microsoft Ireland

Microsoft Ireland employs over 4,000 people representing more than 90 different nationalities operating out of the company’s campus in Leopardstown, Dublin and our Data Centre in Dublin. From software development, Microsoft International Operations, Finance, HR and Digital Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Ireland Sales and Marketing, we have an ambition to empower every person and organisation to achieve more.

About ChangeX

ChangeX is a community engagement platform designed to get funding and resources directly into the hands of ordinary people to lead impactful projects in their neighbourhoods.

ChangeX was established in 2015. It works with social innovators to scale proven solutions to environmental, economic and social issues and partners with companies and foundations to support local communities with the necessary funding. Its funders include Microsoft, Accenture and the LEGO Foundation, among others.

ChangeX is an international non-profit organisation, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with teams based across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

To date, Microsoft and ChangeX have launched more than 50 community funds across multiple countries, funding more than 850 community projects and impacting about 280,000 people. Microsoft is committed to supporting these projects as a part of their Datacentre Community Pledge to establish a positive and lasting impact in the communities where their data centres are located.

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