The Scottish Community Foundation has been shortlisted for a national Third Sector Excellence Award. The Foundation has earned its place in the Innovation by Trusts and Foundations category for its work supporting communities managing large charitable investments from renewable energy companies.

The Foundation offers a management system that gives communities complete control over how their fund is spent. It takes on the fund administration; vets all applications to the fund and uses its existing grant-making function to make awards to good causes chosen by the community.

In the early days of the fund, the Foundation researches the areas of local need to give communities a grant-making focus. It also helps set up a local advisory panel to take on the responsibility for deciding how funds should be allocated.

The Foundation tries, where possible, to offer a free service to communities by negotiating with private sector developers to cover its costs.

Giles Ruck, chief executive of the Scottish Community Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted in the Innovation by Trusts and Foundations category. This is a growing area of work for the Foundation, and we’re proud that our robust, yet flexible, model has been recognised in this way.

“We believe that the best decisions are made locally, so we aim to motivate and support communities. We have 14 years of grant-making experience so communities can rely on our expertise to help them successfully allocate funds.”

Charitable investments from renewable energy companies tend to be large awards made annually for 25 years. The value of the fund is based on the amount of energy generated, which means communities neighbouring larger wind farms can expect to receive millions of pounds over the lifetime of a development.

The Foundation has quickly become a leader in the field of community benefit fund management in Scotland. In 2009/10 it helped communities distribute £300,000 to good causes in their areas. In 2010/11, through new and existing funds, it expects to help distribute around £700,000.

The Scottish Community Foundation is Scotland’s expert in charitable giving. It specialises in matching its private and corporate clients’ giving to Scotland’s smaller charities and community groups. This year the Scottish Community Foundation will award approximately £6.5M on behalf of its clients to Scottish charities and community groups through its various grant programmes.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The winner of the Innovation by Trusts and Foundations will be announced at an awards dinner in London on 23 September 2010. For more information about the awards, please visit www.thirdsectorexcellenceawards.com

2. The Scottish Community Foundation currently administers the following wind farm community benefit funds:

 *Approximate average value. This does not account for inflation or additional variable sums.