The James Kane Foundation has opened its 2026 Expression of Interest process for organisations seeking funding for projects that improve access to education, STEM opportunities, career development, work experience, training and pathways into employment across Northern Ireland.

Established in 2016 through the legacy of the late James “Jim” Walker Kane, owner of JW Kane Precision Engineering Limited, the Foundation supports initiatives designed to help people develop the education, skills, competencies and career opportunities needed to progress into employment, further study or professional life.

For the 2026 funding round, the Foundation expects to allocate approximately:

£400,000 per year

across its grantmaking programme.

Funding may include both:

• Large grants
• Small grants below £25,000

The Foundation indicates that approximately:

• 75% of its annual budget will be allocated to large grants
• 25% will be allocated to small grants of under £25,000

Multi-year funding may also be considered.

The current application process begins with a mandatory Expression of Interest, commonly referred to as an EOI. Organisations whose EOIs are assessed positively may then be invited to submit a full application during Stage 2.

The deadline for the 2026 Expression of Interest round is:

Friday, 16 October 2026 at 12:00 noon

Applicants should note carefully that the closing time is midday, not midnight.

Projects funded through this round will normally be expected to commence from:

June 2027

The Foundation particularly welcomes projects aligned with two priority themes:

1. Enabling STEM-related education and career opportunities
2. Helping students make informed choices between employment, career and higher-level education pathways

Applications are open to eligible organisations including:

• Schools
• Colleges
• Third-level institutions
• Employers
• Private-sector companies
• Charities
• Social enterprises

Priority may be given to projects benefiting people living in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council areas, although the Foundation’s broader area of benefit extends across Northern Ireland.

About the James Kane Foundation

The James Kane Foundation was established in 2016.

Its funding comes from the legacy of the late James Walker Kane, also known as Jim Kane, who owned JW Kane Precision Engineering Limited.

The Foundation was created with a strong connection to:

• Education
• Skills
• Employment
• Engineering
• Career development
• Training
• Economic opportunity

Its charitable objects focus on advancing education for public benefit, particularly in Portadown and surrounding areas, while also allowing support for projects elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

The Foundation may support people and organisations through activities connected with:

• Work experience
• Employment opportunities
• Training
• Career preparation
• Skills development
• Professional development
• Preparation for entry into occupations, trades or professions

However, the Foundation does not intend to replace funding for services that schools, colleges, government bodies or other public authorities already have a legal obligation to provide.

Who Governs the James Kane Foundation?

The Foundation is governed by a:

Board of Trustees

with experience across:

• Business
• Education

The Trustees collectively make decisions concerning:

• Grant awards
• Funding priorities
• Project support
• Strategic direction

The Foundation is administered by:

Belfast Charitable Society

which supports the Trustees in delivering the Foundation’s aims and charitable objectives.

This governance structure means applicants should prepare proposals that are not only socially valuable but also:

• Clearly structured
• Financially credible
• Educationally relevant
• Deliverable
• Capable of demonstrating measurable outcomes

Purpose of the 2026 Funding Round

The Foundation’s core mission is to:

Progress and facilitate education and career opportunities.

Projects seeking support must clearly demonstrate how they contribute to this mission.

Applications that fall outside education, career development, STEM access or transitions into employment are unlikely to be competitive.

The Foundation has identified two principal themes for eligible projects.

Theme 1: Enabling STEM-Related Education and Career Opportunities

The first funding theme focuses on improving access to opportunities connected with:

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

or:

STEM

Projects under this theme may seek to help participants:

• Discover STEM careers
• Develop technical skills
• Gain practical experience
• Engage with employers
• Access engineering opportunities
• Understand pathways into STEM education
• Build confidence in science and technology
• Prepare for technical employment
• Access skills training
• Participate in work experience

The Foundation’s origins in the legacy of a precision engineering business make STEM and employment development particularly relevant to its charitable objectives.

What Could a STEM Project Look Like?

The Foundation does not provide an exhaustive list of eligible activities, but qualifying projects might potentially include initiatives such as:

• Engineering outreach
• STEM career programmes
• Employer engagement
• Robotics programmes
• Coding opportunities
• Technology workshops
• Practical engineering experience
• STEM mentoring
• Career fairs
• Skills development programmes
• STEM-related work placements
• Technical training

The important consideration is not simply whether a project uses the label “STEM.”

Applicants need to show how their activity creates additional and meaningful education or career opportunities.

Theme 2: Helping Students Make Informed Education and Career Choices

The second priority theme concerns helping students make informed decisions between:

• Employment
• Career pathways
• Higher-level education

Many young people face uncertainty when deciding what to do after:

• School
• College
• Training
• Further education

The Foundation is interested in projects that help students better understand the options available to them.

This could include initiatives helping participants understand:

• University pathways
• Apprenticeships
• Vocational training
• Employment opportunities
• Professional careers
• Technical careers
• Further education
• Skills requirements

Why Career Decision-Making Matters

Students may have limited information about:

• Different industries
• Entry requirements
• Apprenticeships
• Career progression
• Workplace expectations
• Alternative pathways to university

Good career guidance can help individuals make choices aligned with their:

• Skills
• Interests
• Strengths
• Ambitions
• Financial circumstances

Projects under this theme should therefore demonstrate how they improve the quality of information, experience or support available to learners.

Additionality Is a Key Requirement

The James Kane Foundation specifically states that it seeks:

Additionality

in the projects it funds.

This means funding should create something additional to what is already available.

Applicants should demonstrate clearly:

• What currently exists
• What gap remains
• What the proposed project adds
• Why Foundation funding is necessary

A project that simply continues standard activity without adding something new may be less competitive.

What Additionality Could Mean

Additionality may involve:

• Reaching a new group of participants
• Expanding access to an existing opportunity
• Introducing an innovative programme
• Creating a new employer partnership
• Developing a new training pathway
• Providing an opportunity not previously available
• Testing a new model
• Bringing STEM resources to underserved communities

Applicants should explain additionality directly rather than expecting Trustees to infer it.

Projects the Foundation Will Not Fund

The Foundation states that it will not support activities that Trustees believe are the responsibility of:

• Local authorities
• Government
• Public bodies with statutory obligations

This means funding cannot simply substitute for services that should already be delivered through public funding.

The Foundation will also avoid funding projects that:

Duplicate existing provision.

Applicants therefore need to research existing services and demonstrate that their project fills a genuine gap.

Avoiding Duplication

A strong application should explain:

• What similar services currently exist
• How the proposed activity differs
• Which participants are currently underserved
• Why another service is necessary
• Whether the project complements rather than duplicates other organisations

This is particularly important in areas where several organisations are already delivering similar education or employment programmes.

Geographic Priority: Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon

The Foundation may give particular priority to projects benefiting people in the:

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council areas.

This geographic priority reflects the Foundation’s historical connection to:

• Portadown
• Surrounding communities

However, the Foundation’s objects allow activity elsewhere in:

Northern Ireland

Projects outside the priority council area may therefore still be eligible where they fit the wider mission and criteria.

Approximately £400,000 Available Annually

The James Kane Foundation intends to allocate approximately:

£400,000 per year

through its grantmaking.

This does not mean a single organisation can apply for £400,000.

Rather, this is the approximate total annual funding envelope available across funded projects.

Applicants should request only what is justified by:

• Project scope
• Delivery plan
• Outputs
• Outcomes
• Budget

Large and Small Grants

The Foundation plans to divide its annual budget broadly as follows:

Large Grants

Approximately:

75% of the annual budget

will be allocated to larger grants.

The information provided does not specify a single maximum amount for a large grant.

Applicants considering a substantial request should therefore review the detailed guidance carefully rather than assuming a particular upper limit.

Small Grants

Approximately:

25% of the budget

will be allocated to:

Small grants below £25,000

This makes the programme potentially suitable for both:

• Smaller pilot projects
• Larger strategic initiatives

Multi-Year Funding Is Possible

The Foundation states that it will consider:

Multi-year funding

This can be valuable for projects requiring more than one year to:

• Develop
• Recruit participants
• Deliver training
• Measure outcomes
• Establish partnerships

However, multi-year funding should not be assumed automatically.

Applicants should provide a clear case for why several years of funding are necessary.

When Can Projects Begin?

Projects supported through the current round will normally be funded only if they commence from:

June 2027

Applicants should therefore plan:

• Recruitment
• Staffing
• Procurement
• Partnerships
• Programme delivery

around the expected funding commencement date.

Projects requiring funding significantly before June 2027 may not align with the Foundation’s normal timetable.

Match Funding Is Allowed

The James Kane Foundation allows its grants to be combined with:

• Match funding
• Other secured funding sources

This means applicants do not necessarily need the Foundation to finance the entire project.

Indeed, applications that can demonstrate:

Secured match funding

may be viewed more favourably.

Why Match Funding Can Strengthen an Application

Match funding can demonstrate:

• Wider confidence in the project
• Shared commitment
• Financial sustainability
• Partnership
• Lower dependence on one funder
• Stronger leverage of Foundation resources

Applicants should clearly state:

• How much match funding has been secured
• Who is providing it
• What costs it will cover
• Whether it is confirmed or pending

Do not describe unconfirmed funding as secured.

Partnership Funding Is Encouraged

The Foundation states that it is willing to work with:

• Other organisations
• Other funders

where collaboration can:

• Maximise impact
• Increase resources
• Improve project delivery

This may be particularly useful for larger education or STEM initiatives involving:

• Schools
• Universities
• Employers
• Charities
• Industry bodies
• Community organisations

Eligible Project Costs

The Foundation may support several types of direct project costs.

These can include:

Project Costs

Funding may support costs directly required to deliver the proposed programme.

Salary Costs

The Foundation may support salary costs where they are clearly connected to the project.

This could include staff required specifically for:

• Project coordination