Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation

Charity Number: CUSTOM_DDE3F36E

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £200,000+
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Reviewed at three annual cycles (typically 2-3 months per cycle)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £20,000 (with most recent grants £7,000-£15,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Scottish Highlands and Islands (Argyll and Bute, Highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkney, Shetland)

Contact Details

Website: https://hief.scot

Email:

  • Sally McNaught (Executive Director): sally@hief.scot, +44 794 185 1589
  • Louis MacMillan (Project Coordinator, pre-application discussions): louis@hief.scot

Pre-application Support: Informal discussions strongly encouraged before submitting Expression of Interest

Overview

The Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation (HIEF) was established in late 2020, having previously operated as the West Highland Coastal Trust from 2012-2020. Registered as a Scottish charity (SC043026), HIEF has raised almost £1.5 million since launch, supporting 62+ community-led environmental projects. The foundation joined the Conservation Collective in 2020, becoming part of a global network of 18 local environmental funds across four continents. HIEF's mission is to protect and restore the natural beauty, biodiversity, and ecosystems of the Scottish Highlands and Islands through partnership with local communities on sustainable and regenerative projects. The foundation pools donations from founding and active donors to maximize impact, using expert advisors to ensure projects deliver strong returns for nature.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: £5,000 - £20,000 (typical range £5,000-£15,000)

  • Rolling applications accepted in three annual cycles (February/March, May/June, September/October)
  • Two-stage application process: Expression of Interest followed by detailed application
  • Exact deadlines announced on website from early January each year

Crowdfunder Match-Funding Programme: Up to £10,000

  • Grants used as matched-funding in Crowdfunding campaigns
  • Separate application process

Priority Areas

Four Main Ecological Spheres:

  • Fresh Water: River restoration, peatland conservation, aquatic habitat protection
  • Montane/Mountainous: Highland species monitoring, mountain ecosystem restoration
  • Coastal and Marine: Seagrass restoration, sustainable fishing practices, marine mammal rescue, inshore reserves
  • Forest and Woodland: Native woodland management, Scotland's rainforest protection, tree nurseries

Key Themes Across Projects:

  • Community-led conservation and capacity building
  • Evidence-based policy development and research
  • Species reintroduction and monitoring (amphibians, reptiles, birds, bats)
  • Invasive species removal
  • Sustainable economic alternatives to destructive practices
  • Biodiversity enhancement with measurable impact

What They Don't Fund

  • Larger projects where HIEF funding would constitute less than 10% of overall budget (preference for substantial HIEF contribution to project)
  • Projects outside the Scottish Highlands and Islands electoral region (some flexibility for nearby areas with strong regional connection)
  • Projects without clear, measurable environmental impact as primary objective
  • Non-local applicants without proven capacity-building and community engagement plans
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Governance and Leadership

Steering Committee

The foundation is directed by a Steering Committee of founding and actively involved donors who analyze and approve grants and use personal networks to broaden the supporter base:

Hugh Raven (Co-Founder) - Runs family business in Argyll. Quote: “When faced with environmental problems...One of the things I love about HIEF is that our funding is especially directed towards local people”

Bill Carman (Chair) - Medically trained virologist who founded Carman Family Foundation

Stuart Housden OBE - Former RSPB Scotland Director

David Stewart - Argyll Fisheries Trust director and farmer

Caroline Younger - Artist and environmental advocate

Laura Maxwell-Stuart, Laura Pigott, Kendra Walsh - Additional steering committee members

Staff Team

Sally McNaught, Executive Director - Over 25 years' experience in charity work with backgrounds in fundraising and marketing. Based in Edinburgh with focus on partnership with local communities and volunteers.

Louis MacMillan, Project Coordinator - Recent Geography graduate from University of Edinburgh with background in environmental and social research across Scotland, Spain, and Iceland. Passionate about environmental justice and community involvement. Visits projects across the Highlands and Islands.

Foundation Philosophy: “EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK THERE ARE BRILLIANT, PASSIONATE PEOPLE WORKING TO CREATE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. SMALL AMOUNTS OF FUNDING, STRATEGICALLY DIRECTED, CAN SUPERCHARGE THIS WORK”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Stage 1: Complete and submit Expression of Interest (EoI) form

  • Available as downloadable Word document on HIEF website
  • Pre-application informal discussion with Louis MacMillan strongly encouraged

Stage 2: Invited applicants complete detailed application form

  • Only those approved at EoI stage proceed
  • Online application form system

Stage 3: Successful applicants sign Grant Agreement

  • Specifies terms and conditions of collaboration

Decision Timeline

Application Cycles: Three rounds annually

  • Round 1: February/March
  • Round 2: May/June
  • Round 3: September/October

Decision Process: Applications reviewed by Steering Committee following each deadline. Based on recent grants (announced December 2024 for September/October round), typical timeframe appears to be 2-3 months from deadline to decision announcement.

Success Rates

Success rates not publicly available. Since October 2020 launch, HIEF has funded 62+ projects from cumulative £1.5 million raised, suggesting selective but active grant-making.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified. Applicants encouraged to contact Louis MacMillan to discuss unsuccessful applications before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

What HIEF Values (Direct Guidance)

Essential Requirements:

  • “Strong and effective leadership”
  • “Bottom-up approach” consulting with and mobilising local communities
  • “Clear, measurable environmental impact” as primary aim
  • Projects that are “clear and compelling”
  • “Sustainable long-term results”
  • Community participation and capacity building
  • Demonstrated positive community impact

Prioritised Elements:

  • Visibility of project outcomes
  • Replicability to amplify impact
  • Evidence-based approaches
  • Integration with local knowledge and expertise

Recent Successful Projects

Fish Legal (£15,000): Scoping National Network of Inshore Static Gear Reserves - designing reserves for low-impact creel fishing as alternative to bottom-trawling

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (£8,952): Creating management guide with crofters for amphibian and reptile habitat maintenance

British Divers and Marine Life Rescue Skye & Lochalsh (£7,000): Emergency response operations for marine animals with community outreach

Lunan Burn Wildlife Cluster (£7,128): Baseline data collection and conservation measures for swifts and bats using bio-acoustic monitoring

The Open Seas Trust (£15,000): Economic assessment comparing hand-dived versus dredged scallop harvesting

Patterns in Successful Applications:

  • Combine conservation with economic/social benefits for communities
  • Strong evidence-gathering and monitoring components
  • Address specific species or habitats with clear methodology
  • Partnership with local communities and stakeholders
  • Practical, actionable outcomes that influence practice or policy

Standing Out

  • Contact Louis MacMillan before applying to ensure project fit
  • Emphasise local community involvement from project conception through delivery
  • Demonstrate how HIEF funding will be substantial enough to make real difference (avoid applications where HIEF is <10% of budget)
  • Show how project aligns with one or more of the four ecological spheres
  • Include clear metrics for measuring environmental impact
  • Explain how project results can be shared/replicated
  • Build in capacity-building elements for local organisations/volunteers

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application contact is crucial: The foundation strongly encourages informal discussions before submitting - use this to refine your proposal and ensure alignment
  • Community-led is non-negotiable: Bottom-up approaches with genuine community consultation and involvement are essential; top-down projects will not succeed
  • Think local, act local: HIEF values local organisations and people leading conservation in their own areas; demonstrate deep local knowledge and connections
  • Size matters: Applications should position HIEF as a significant funder (>10% of project budget); small contributions to large projects are unlikely to be funded
  • Measurability is mandatory: Vague environmental benefits won't cut it; specify exactly what will be measured and how success will be demonstrated
  • Join the network: As part of Conservation Collective, HIEF values connections between environmental projects; show awareness of similar work and potential for knowledge sharing
  • Timing flexibility: Three annual rounds give multiple opportunities to apply; use an unsuccessful round to strengthen your application with feedback before next cycle

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References