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Help with applying for a grant
Completing a funding application might feel a little daunting but remember, it's time well spent. Thousands of organisations and individuals across Scotland successfully receive funding through Foundation Scotland every year. We want to make the process as easy as possible. It will help to read through this page and follow our guidance to get off to the best start.
Before you start:
- Please check if you’re eligible for funding. Your organisation and your project/activity need to fit our standard eligibility criteria. The fund page might also have a few additional criteria too, especially if it’s a place-based fund.
- Have a clear plan about the project/activity that your funding application is for, why it is needed, and the difference it will make within the community you serve.
- Think about how much it will cost. Some goods or services may require quotes or a tendering process, depending on costs. You can read more about this on our Evidencing value for money page.
A few other things to consider:
- If your application is for a new building or for renovations, or to help with an energy-saving initiative, we require you to have an independent energy assessment carried out. Find out more here.
- We ask all applicants to consider the impact of their project/activity on the environment. We've put together some helpful guidance.
- And finally, there are a few things we cannot fund. Please check this too.
| If you would like to review the questions you will be asked to answer before starting the form you can see the questions related to individuals here and the questions related to organisations here. |
Get ready to apply
If you’re confident you’ve got everything covered, you can get started. The first step is to create an account on our online portal using the ‘apply now’ button on the relevant Fund page. Once you have created an account on the portal, you will be able to complete your application. Don’t worry if you can’t finish it in one go - you can save your work and return to it later.
Make sure you complete all the required fields and remember to attach all the necessary supporting documents, and make sure you meet the application deadline.
Get in touch with us if you have questions about a fund you are applying for, or if you’re experiencing difficulties with the form.
Top tips for applications
What happens next?
If you’ve applied online, you’ll receive an automated confirmation email within a few minutes of submission (if you don’t receive one, check your spam/junk folder just in case). The confirmation email will also include a copy of your completed application for your records. Your application will then be assessed before a decision’s made on funding. For more detail on this process, visit How funding decisions are made. The timescale for decisions is often listed on the fund page.
Once a decision has been made, you will receive an email with confirmation of your grant or feedback if your application has not been successful.
If your plans change or you no longer need a grant, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
Changes to the way we measure impact
If you have applied for funding with us before, you will notice that we have made some changes to our application process to make it easier. Previously, we asked applicants to select up to four impact outcomes and related indicators when applying for funding. Based on your feedback, we’ve reduced this requirement from four to just one outcome, streamlining the process.
Successful applicants will then be invited to share how they achieved their outcome in a simplified End of Grant report.
Additionally, we’ve introduced the option for applicants to identify Fund Priorities, where applicable, to better align project work with fund-specific priorities.
If this is your first time applying, the application form walks you through requirements step by step.
Frequently asked questions
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How long will I have to spend the grant?
Usually, you’ll be expected to spend your grant within 12 months of receipt. Please refer to the conditions of your grant when you accepted.
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Can I apply for extra funding for a project we’ve already had a grant for?
For some of our funds you can, but there’s no hard and fast rule about how successful a repeat application may be. In some instances, if your project is regarded as critical, it may be funded multiple times. In other cases, and where there’s high competition for available funds, your second application may be treated as a lower priority.
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Do we need to be a charity to apply?
No, you don't need to be a registered charity to apply. However, you must have charitable aims. Occasionally a fund might specifically state they only wish to fund registered charities; this would be noted in the criteria on that fund page.