Official GAA Charity Partners announced for 2026

The GAA has announced its list of official charity partners for 2026. The causes selected for support in the coming year are Simon Communities Ireland, Cancer Fund for Children, Engaging Dementia and the Autism charity, AsIAm.

Each year the GAA selects a group of charitable causes to receive a financial donation and support through the Community and Health Department at Croke Park.

Announcing the list of worthy causes for 2026, Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “A sense of community and a commitment to people is at the heart of what the GAA strives to achieve, and each year we are proud to partner with charitable causes who through their work and services make a life changing difference for people in all our communities.”

Ber Grogan, Executive Director, Simon Communities of Ireland said: “We are deeply honoured that the GAA has chosen Simon Communities of Ireland as one of its charity partners for 2026. At Simon, our focus is not only on responding to homelessness, but on ending long-term homelessness across the country. The GAA is at the heart of communities across Ireland, and this partnership represents a powerful opportunity to raise awareness of the realities of homelessness and to stand alongside people who are facing some of the most difficult moments in their lives. Together, we can harness the strength, compassion and reach of the GAA community to drive meaningful change, challenge stigma, and ensure that more people have access to the support they need to find a place to call home. We look forward to working closely with the GAA, its clubs, members and supporters to make a lasting difference."

Simon Communities of Ireland (SCI) is a leading campaigner nationally in putting forward solutions for tackling homelessness. They engage in advocacy, policy and communications work that is grounded in the experiences of their local services. They campaign for effective policies and legislation locally, nationally and at a European level, and campaign for practical and sustainable solutions that tackle homelessness head on. Their advocacy and solutions are based on evidence, best practice, and the experiences of the people who access their services across Ireland

Phil Alexander, Cancer Fund for Children CEO states: “We are delighted to be chosen as charity partner by the GAA. Every week across the island of Ireland, approximately 10 children and young people (aged 0-24) are diagnosed with cancer. The funds raised through this partnership will help us ensure these children and their families don’t face this experience alone, providing emotional, social and therapeutic support when they need it most.

Our support is provided in hospital, in the family home and at our therapeutic short break centre, Daisy Lodge in Co. Down. This partnership is coming at an especially exciting time as we are progressing with the build of a second Daisy Lodge, on the shores of Lough Corrib in Cong, Co. Mayo. Due to open in Spring 2027, this purpose built facility will provide families impacted by cancer with a safe space where they can focus on spending time together and reconnecting.”

Cancer Fund for Children aim to ensure that no child or young person faces cancer alone, regardless of where they live on the island of Ireland. Cancer Fund for Children provides practical, emotional, and therapeutic support to children, young people, and their families impacted by cancer, helping them cope with the challenges it brings to family life.

Kim Tully, Engaging Dementia CEO, stated: “In the same way the GAA creates a space where everyone has a sense of belonging, Engaging Dementia, through its Irish Dementia Cafe Network, is committed to ensuring that every community is a place where people living with dementia, and their families, feel recognised, supported, and understood.

Through this partnership, we look forward to expanding the Irish Dementia Cafe Network and working towards bringing Dementia Cafes to communities right across Ireland.”

Engaging Dementia was established to benefit the community by providing support and assistance to people affected by dementia and other conditions involving cognitive or communication impairment through the provision of resources, education, training and support designed to improve their quality of life and wellbeing.

Adam Harris, CEO and founder of AsIAm – Ireland’s Autism Charity stated: “AsIAm is honoured to have been selected as a charity partner for the GAA for 2026. Our organisation works to remove barriers in communities across Ireland so that Autistic people have the same chance to live, learn, work and play in their locality. The GAA is the beating heart of community life in villages, towns and cities across the country and in partnering with AsIAm is providing a powerful platform for us to educate the public, promote inclusion and drive access to our support programme.”

Since 2014, AsIAm has been a powerful movement for change for the Autism community in Ireland. What started as an online platform designed to share information and experiences, has evolved into Ireland’s Autism Charity.

AsIAm is Autistic-led and dedicated to transforming society, working for Autistic people and their families. Their work focuses on representing, connecting, coordinating and unifying the Autism community in Ireland. They empower and support Autistic people to reach their full potential, while simultaneously challenging society to be fully accepting and accessible to every Autistic person.