Texaco Support for Sport

Texaco wanted its engagement with communities across Ireland to be more than brand awareness - something that made a genuine difference at a local level. Grassroots sports clubs are central to those communities but often struggle to fund the equipment, facilities and development they need. Brandfire built Texaco Support for Sport to close that gap: a nationwide campaign that funds clubs directly and gives Texaco a real, ongoing role in the communities it serves.

A campaign built for all 26 counties

Texaco Support for Sport was designed as a nationwide programme from the outset, open to sports clubs across all 26 counties of Ireland rather than a limited regional pilot. That nationwide scope is what turns the campaign from a one-off sponsorship into a standing programme clubs can apply to year after year, and it's part of why the campaign has now run for more than five years.

Keeping the application simple enough to scale

A funding campaign only reaches the clubs that need it if applying isn't itself a barrier. Brandfire kept entry to a single application, where a club outlines its role in the community and how funding would support its development. That simplicity is deliberate - a nationwide campaign has to work for a small local club with limited administrative resource just as well as a larger one, and a lighter application process is what keeps the campaign genuinely accessible rather than favouring clubs with more capacity to navigate a complex process.

Reviewing applications through a purpose-built platform

Brandfire built a centralised admin system that lets every application be reviewed, scored and shortlisted through one platform, rather than managed across spreadsheets or email threads. With applications coming in from clubs nationwide, a purpose-built system is what keeps the selection process consistent and gives Texaco a transparent, auditable record of how funding decisions were reached.

Fair scoring through multiple reviewers

No single reviewer decides who gets funded. Every application is assessed by multiple reviewers, which balances out individual judgement and keeps scoring consistent across the full pool of entries. That matters most at nationwide scale, where clubs from very different counties and sports are being judged against the same criteria - a multi-reviewer process is what keeps that comparison fair.

Full visibility through a live dashboard

Texaco doesn't have to wait until a funding round closes to know how the campaign is performing. A live reporting dashboard tracks applications, reviewer progress and funding allocation as the campaign runs, giving Texaco ongoing visibility into the programme rather than a single report at the end.

One partner managing the campaign end to end

Brandfire manages Texaco Support for Sport in full - platform management, application handling, validation, judging, PR and communications - so Texaco isn't coordinating separate suppliers for each part of the campaign. That end-to-end management is part of what has let the campaign run continuously for over five years and award more than €600,000 to grassroots clubs across Ireland.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Texaco Support for Sport?

It is a nationwide community-funding campaign for grassroots sports clubs across all 26 counties of Ireland. Clubs apply for support for equipment, facilities or development through a purpose-built platform, with Brandfire managing the programme end to end.

Why use applications and multiple reviewers instead of a random draw?

The objective is to direct funding to clubs based on their community role and proposed use of the award. A structured application, consistent scoring and assessment by multiple reviewers support a balanced merit-based selection process across a nationwide pool.

What has the programme delivered?

Support for Sport has awarded more than €600,000 to grassroots clubs, reached communities across all 26 counties and generated detailed applications from participating clubs. It has also strengthened Texaco's association with local communities and grassroots sport.

Could this model suit another brand with community-investment objectives?

Yes. It suits brands that want to allocate support through a transparent application programme rather than a chance-based promotion. The cause, geographic structure, award criteria and funding level must be credible for the brand and useful to the communities involved.

What is required to operate a comparable grant campaign?

The programme needs accessible application criteria, a secure submission platform, validation, a documented scoring framework, multiple reviewers, shortlisting and award communications. It also requires coordinated platform management, judging, funding administration, PR and applicant communications.

How is programme success measured?

The live dashboard tracks applications, reviewer progress and funding allocation. Evaluation can also cover county reach, application quality, funded-club outcomes and brand-association measures, giving the sponsor both operational oversight and evidence of community impact.