a theorybased evaluation of a communitybased funding scheme in a disadvantaged suburban city area communitydriven development cdd initiatives frequently involve funding schemes which are aimed at channelling financial investment into local need and fostering community participation and engagement this exploratory study examined through a program theory approach the design and implementation of a smallscale communitybased fund in ireland observations documentary analysis interviews and group discussions with 19 participants were utilized to develop a detailed understanding of the program mechanisms activities and processes as well as the experiences of key stakeholders engaged with the funding scheme and its implementation the findings showed that there were positive perceptions of the scheme and its function within the community overall the availability of funding was perceived by key stakeholders as being beneficial however there were concerns over the accessibility of the scheme for more marginalized members of the community as well as dissatisfaction with the openness and transparency surrounding funding eligibility lessons for the implementation of smallscale cdd funds are elaborated and the utility of program theory approaches for evaluators and planners working with programs that fund communitybased initiatives is outlined