Social Investment & Funding
Posted: 14 September 2021, in News
We keep this page updated with new and current funding opportunities.
Last update – 14th September 2021
Funding Guides
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SCVO Funding Hub
Funding Scotland – Funding Scotland is a service provided by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to provide access to up to date, high-quality information on funding opportunities that is vital to third sector organisations in Scotland.
New Funding Opportunities
The National Lottery: Together for Our Planet – up to £10,000 to support communities across the UK to take action on climate change. Applications close 18th November.
Inspiring Scotland – Rural Communities Ideas Into Action Fund – Projects funded will contribute positively to local people and local priorities, helping rural communities to thrive through community-led initiatives. Applications close 8th October.
MSE Charity, Life Changing Transitions – support for not-for-profits grant round which focus on building financial capability skills and assisting groups who support bereavement, redundancy, retirement, relationship breakdown, homelessness, offenders and resettlement. Applications close 30th September.
The Nature Save Trust – up to £5,000 for environmental projects in the UK. Applications close 31st December 2021.
Garfield Weston Foundation – supports a broad range of organisations and activities that share a commitment to making a positive impact to the lives of the communities in which they work, and that are driven by a desire to achieve excellence.
BBC Children In Need – Small Grants – grants for organisations supporting disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. Applications close 6th October.
Closing Soon
The Smiles Fund – up to £300,000 for proposals which use participation in the arts and comedy to challenge stigma and provide community-based support for people who are experiencing emerging symptoms of poor mental wellbeing at an early stage. Applications close 15th September.
The Meikle Foundation – provide grants to charitable bodies in Scotland, primarily to charities concerned with the young and the elderly, and have been doing so since 1972. Applications close 15th September.
Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust – funding projects that help combat homelessness, and work with refugees and asylum seekers. Applications close 30th September.
Firstport Build It- Up to £25,000 if you have tried and tested a social enterprise idea and want to turn it into your full-time job. Next deadline is 29th September.
Enabling Neighbourhoods and Communities Fund – up to £5,000 for groups that are rooted in their community, require a small amount of money, and have received little/or no emergency funding during the pandemic. Applications close 30th September.
Scotland Loves Local – grants of £10,000-£50,000 for community businesses and organisations. Applications close 1st October.
COVID-19 Funding
Alpkit Grassroots Support – Awards of up £50-500 for projects that demonstrate an immediate impact on those effected by the Covid-19 virus crisis.
National Lottery Community Fund – All National Lottery Community Fund funding decisions in the next six months will be devoted to responding to the COVID-19 crisis. The NLCF will prioritise existing grant holders and applicants with activities specifically geared to supporting communities through this crisis, and helping organisations overcome liquidity issues caused by COVID-19.
St Nicholas Care Fund Covid 19 – Grants of up to £5,000 to organistaions that support disadvantaged communities based in the Archdiocese of Glasgow. Available on a rolling basis.
Common Good Fund, Dundee – funding of up to £25,000 for organisations that deliver services for the common good of Dundee city, particularly during the coronavirus crisis. Recommend applying as soon a possible to avoid funds running out.
Growing our digital economy – Grants available to support economic recovery – A £25 million fund will help businesses utilise digital technologies and enhance workforce skills.
General Funding Opportunities
The Robertson Trust Funds – a variety of funds for Scotland’s charities and community organisations which work to alleviate the effects of poverty and trauma. Applications available on a rolling basis.
Firstport’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund
- Pounds for Purpose – £500 awards if you are aged 16-26 and want to put an idea that creates a positive impact into action.
- Start It – Up to £5000 towards the start-up costs of your social enterprise idea.
- Build It- Up to £25,000 if you have tried and tested a social enterprise idea and want to turn it into your full-time job. Next deadline is 29th September.
The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation – grant applications have re-opened for community projects in the North East of Scotland and the Highlands & Islands.
Morrisons Foundation – grants up to £25,000 to fund charity projects which improve people’s lives.
The Gannochy Trust – funding for community groups across Scotland. Next round of applications close 5th November.
Visit Scotland funding – a range of funds to support the tourism industry.
Energy Saving Trust – Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme – Minimum grant of £20,000 for charities that help reduce fuel poverty.
Persimmon Community Champions – Each of their 31 businesses and their PLC head office are giving away up to £2000 every month.
SEN Bridging Loan Fund – The Social Enterprise Network (SEN) Bridging Loan is a small fund that is capitalised by the investment of people and organisations within the Scottish Third Sector, via the purchase of Community Bonds. Due to COVID-19, the loan is currently ‘interest free’ and ‘fee free’.
The Yapp Charitable Trust – Grants to registered charities with a total annual expenditure of less than £40,000. Up to £3,000.
Creative Scotland Open Fund -Sustaining Creative Development – This fund focuses on helping individuals and organisations in the creative industries to sustain themselves. Up to £50,000. Open on a rolling basis.
Inverclyde Community Fund – Coronavirus Response – ICF is a charitable trust which makes small grants to voluntary organisations across the Inverclyde area. Up to £500. Applications accepted all year round.
Foyle Foundation Small Grants Scheme – up to £10,000 for charities working at a grassroots and local community level for core costs, equipment or project funding.
Foundation Scotland Investing in Enterprise Fund – up to £500,000 of blended finance for social enterprises in Scotland.
The Turtleton Charitable Trust – up to £25,000 grants are made to charities which advance the arts, culture and heritage, particularly heritage and the visual arts. They also consider a small number of grants each year that support the disadvantaged and the advance education. Applications close 31st December.
Grant Charitable Trust – provides grants to Associations and Charities involved in work for the relief of poverty or suffering of any kind, for the preservation of wildlife and improvement of the environment. The Trust favours applications from the Dundee area. Applicants must apply in writing to the above address and included a copy of their latest accounts: enquiries@blackadders.co.uk.
Magic Little Grants – up to £500 for organisations delivering across a variety of themes including improving mental wellbeing and responding to the climate emergency. Applications close 31st October.