Scotland-wide grants programmes

The Foundation currently operates a small number of different programmes offering awards at different levels up to £10,000 to eligible charities and not-for-profit community groups across Scotland.

To apply to any of these programmes, your organisation will need to have a constitution, its own bank account and produce its own accounts. Its total income in its last financial year must have been no more than £250,000. Your organisation does not need to be a registered charity to apply.

Express Grants are available up to £2,000. These awards are made up of money from the many different funds we distribute on behalf of companies, individuals and charitable trusts (see A-Z of funds). Because of the wide range of funds we manage we are able to award Express Grants to support the activities of many different kinds of community groups and charities across Scotland. You will receive a decision on your application within six weeks.

Comic Relief Local Communities Grants up to £10,000 are available to empower local people, enabling them to create lasting change in their communities. Projects should be run by people directly affected by the issues they are dealing with and priority will be given to small, locally based groups or organisations in areas of disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their community. This can also include “Communities of Interest” which cover a wider geographical area.

The Women’s Fund for Scotland makes grants of up to £5,000 to projects run by or for women with funds from the Scottish Government and The VOLANT Charitable Trust. We are also able to make a limited number of larger grants of up to £10K per year for up to 3 years to projects supporting disadvantaged women and their children from The VOLANT Charitable Trust Fund.