Bank of America for its Mná na hÉireann, Women of Ireland Fund
The Mná na hÉireann, Women of Ireland Fund was a €2.2 million four-year fund created by Bank of America and Rethink Ireland, in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development, which supported a network of charitable and social enterprise organisations focused on providing training, upskilling, work experience, education and other services to disadvantaged women in Ireland, including single-parent women, refugees and women experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.
By 2023, the fund had surpassed its goals and 1,088 women had secured sustainable jobs. A further 747 were supported to enrol in accredited education programmes. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 65+ and represented more than 30 nationalities.
Following the success of the initiative, Bank of America and Rethink Ireland developed the Mná na hÉireann, Women of Ireland Empowerment Fund 2023 – 2026 to continue this work. This fund will run for 3 years with a total $1 million commitment from BofA and the Irish Government, helping women facing intersecting forms of disadvantage and those who are furthest from the labour market in finding long-term employment and educational opportunities. The goal is to promote access into educational or employment pathways for an estimated 800+ migrant women or women experiencing socio-economic disadvantage in Ireland, securing stable employment for at least 260 of these women.