Known as Google Grants Ireland, the beta programme supports organisations who share the search engine's attitude towards community service, and offers support to charities that are operating in areas such as science and technology, global public health, education, environmental, arts and youth advocacy. It is a unique, free advertising programme and utilises the power of the Google advertising product, Google AdWords, in order to offer advertising space to non-profit organisations who are seeking an outlet to inform potential online donors.Recipients of a Google grant will use their award of free advertising in order to raise awareness of their cause, as well as to increase web traffic to their websites. Each participating organisation in the Google Grants Ireland scheme is entitled to receive at least three months of free advertising on the search giant's Ireland portal.
The programme has provided Google AdWords advertising to hundreds of groups and organisations who have met the qualifying criteria for the programme, and whose missions range across a wide spectrum of goals, from animal welfare and the support of homeless children to HIV and AIDS awareness.
The Google Grants Ireland programme has already helped several organisations towards achieving an upturn in web traffic and gaining new sponsors and volunteers, factors which have led to increased sales.
The Google Grants Ireland programme is open to non-profit organisations based in Ireland who meet the qualification criteria. However, eligible charitable organisations based in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the USA may also be eligible to qualify for the programme.
Additionally, eligible organisations who already participate in the Google AdWords programme can apply to the Google Grants programme. However, participants in the Google Adsense programme are not eligible to apply.
