The Scottish Government

Charity Number: CUSTOM_F43A6149

Annual Expenditure: £1000.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1+ billion to voluntary sector
  • Success Rate: 47% (Scottish Welfare Fund Community Care Grants)
  • Decision Time: 2 days to 3 months (varies by programme)
  • Grant Range: £59.75 - £200,000+ (varies significantly by programme)
  • Geographic Focus: Scotland-wide, with some programmes targeting disadvantaged/island communities

Contact Details

Website: https://www.gov.scot

Main funding database: https://funding.scot (managed by SCVO)

Scottish Welfare Fund: Contact local council (administered locally)

Pre-application support: Available through SCVO and local council officers depending on the programme

Overview

The Scottish Government is Scotland's devolved government, operating since 1999. It provides over £1 billion annually to the voluntary sector, making it the single most important funder for Scotland's third sector organisations. The government administers numerous grant programmes across diverse policy areas including community empowerment, marine conservation, energy efficiency, social care, education, and poverty reduction. In February 2025, the Scottish Government announced a landmark Fairer Funding pilot providing £61.7 million in 2025-26 and £63.2 million in 2026-27 through multi-year funding agreements to 45 organisations, marking a strategic shift towards providing greater financial stability to charities. The government emphasises clear strategic vision, measurable outcomes, and targeting Scotland's most disadvantaged communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Fairer Funding Pilot

  • £61.7m - £63.2m annually across 45 grants
  • Multi-year funding for organisations working on child poverty, health, education, and culture
  • Application method: Invitation-based pilot
  • Recipients include Scottish Refugee Council, Homeless Network Scotland, Poverty Alliance, MCR Pathways, Dyslexia Scotland, Samaritans

Investing in Communities Fund (ICF)

  • £10,000 - £250,000+ over three years
  • Distributed almost £30m to 276 projects in first round
  • Targets Scotland's most disadvantaged communities
  • Application method: Competitive rounds when open

Aspiring Communities Fund

  • Total fund: £24.8 million
  • Supports community bodies and third sector organisations in deprived and fragile communities
  • Application method: Competitive rounds when open

Volunteering Support Fund

  • Up to £20,000 over two years
  • Requires recruitment of minimum 21 volunteers across both years: 6 in Year One (3 experiencing disadvantage) and 15 in Year Two (10 experiencing disadvantage)
  • For small to medium third sector organisations
  • Application method: Online application

Marine Fund Scotland

  • Grant amounts vary
  • Supports fishing businesses and marine organisations
  • First round typically closes in July
  • Projects must complete by end of financial year
  • Application method: Marine Scotland Funding Portal
  • Quote requirements: 2 quotes for £1,500-£5,000; 3 quotes for £5,000-£50,000

Scottish Welfare Fund

  • Community Care Grants: Variable amounts for household items, moving costs
  • Crisis Grants: Emergency payments, £59.75 Winter Heating Payment
  • Decision time: Crisis Grants within 2 working days; Community Care Grants within 15 working days
  • Application method: Through local councils, rolling basis

Autistic Adult Support Fund

  • £40,000 - £200,000 per year
  • Multi-year programme
  • Facilitated by Inspiring Scotland

Learning Disability Support Fund

  • Multi-year programme
  • For Scottish not-for-profit organisations

Energy Efficiency Programmes

  • Resource Efficiency Support Programme: For charities reducing energy, material, and water costs
  • Scotland's Heat Network Fund: For district and communal heat systems
  • Recent awards: £41,000-£60,000 annual savings achieved by funded projects

Ecosystem Fund

  • Up to £40,000
  • For organisations driving entrepreneurial growth and innovation

Priority Areas

  • Child poverty eradication: Primary focus of Fairer Funding pilot
  • Community empowerment: Projects in disadvantaged and fragile communities
  • Climate and sustainability: Marine conservation, energy efficiency, net zero transition
  • Social care: Adult social care, learning disabilities, autism support
  • Health and wellbeing: Mental health, crisis support
  • Education: Early learning, childcare, free school meals
  • Volunteering: Supporting volunteer recruitment and development
  • Island communities: Infrastructure and development projects
  • Innovation and enterprise: Entrepreneurial growth in Scotland

What They Don't Fund

Scottish Welfare Fund Exclusions:

  • Debts (except pre-paid fuel metre emergencies)
  • Arrears of rent, mortgage, local authority tax, Scottish Water charges
  • Educational or training needs (school uniforms, equipment, tools, school meals during holidays)
  • Expenses covered by other statutory duties
  • Reapplications within 28 days for same items without change of circumstances

General Exclusions:

  • Projects outside Scotland
  • Activities covered by statutory duties of public bodies
  • Retrospective funding (work must not have started before application)
  • Projects with insufficient evidence of need or community support
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Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership: Grant funding and budgetary matters are overseen by ministerial portfolio holders within the Scottish Government

Key Quote on Funding Strategy:

"I think it's always the case for all investors, not just the government, but the private sector, the community sector when you have a strategy and you have a clear vision that provides certainty and it provides something to measure against as well. So what this vision, this strategy provides is that collective buy-in from the partners who are going to be key to delivering that so that helps you provide certainty."

On Budget Values:

The Scottish Budget is “a budget built on our values - setting out, in tough times, to protect people, sustain services, and take pragmatic steps to addressing the climate emergency.”

On Tax and Public Services:

“I want people to understand the taxes they pay, why they pay them, and how their contribution funds the public services we all rely on.”

The Scottish Government works in partnership with multiple delivery organisations including:

  • SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations): Manages Funding Scotland database
  • Inspiring Scotland: Delivers Autistic Adult Support Fund and other programmes
  • Impact Funding Partners: Manages wellbeing and equality grants
  • Local authorities: Administer Scottish Welfare Fund
  • Foundation Scotland and other intermediaries

How to Apply to The Scottish Government

How to Apply

Application methods vary significantly by programme:

Online Portals:

  • Marine Fund Scotland: Marine Scotland Funding Portal
  • Most major grant programmes: Specific online application forms
  • SCVO-managed funds: SCVO Grantmaking website

Through Local Authorities:

  • Scottish Welfare Fund: Apply directly to your local council
  • Opening hours typically 8:30am-5:00pm weekdays

Required Pre-application Steps:

  • Must apply before project starts (no retrospective funding)
  • For Marine Fund: All legal permissions, licences, and outline planning permission required
  • Demonstration of solvency and ability to complete project
  • Evidence of community support through letters of support

Documentation Requirements:

  • Organisational accounts (appropriate to scale)
  • Multiple quotes (2-3 depending on amount)
  • Project budget and timeline
  • Evidence of need and community engagement
  • Letters of support from relevant bodies

Decision Timeline

Fast-track programmes:

  • Crisis Grants: Within 2 working days
  • Community Care Grants: Within 15 working days

Standard programmes:

  • SMART Scotland Grant: Funding released within 30 days of claim approval
  • Studies must last 6-18 months

Longer-term programmes:

  • Marine Fund Scotland: Application deadlines typically in July, projects complete by end of financial year
  • Multi-year programmes: Decisions typically 2-3 months from deadline

Notification methods:

  • Written notification with record of decision
  • Information on review/appeals process included
  • For unsuccessful applications, reasons provided

Success Rates

Scottish Welfare Fund:

  • Community Care Grants: 47% success rate (37,695 awards from 80,465 applications)

Investing in Communities Fund:

  • 276 projects funded from almost £30m available funding in first round
  • First round grants ranged £10,000 - £250,000+

Overall context:

Success rates vary significantly by programme and are influenced by:

  • Quality of strategic alignment
  • Strength of community support
  • Clarity of need and outcomes
  • Completeness of application
  • Geographic targeting (disadvantaged areas prioritised)

Reapplication Policy

Scottish Welfare Fund:

  • Cannot reapply within 28 days for same items unless change of circumstances
  • Full application history (12 months) reviewed for exceptional circumstances determination
  • Can submit new application without completing review process on previous application

Creative Scotland programmes (Scottish Government funded):

  • Can reapply after unsuccessful application
  • If unsuccessful twice for same project, cannot apply to that fund again for that project
  • No fast-tracking for reapplications

General approach:

  • Most programmes allow reapplication
  • Encouraged to seek feedback on unsuccessful applications
  • Strengthened applications with additional evidence welcomed
  • Check specific programme guidance for waiting periods

Application Success Factors

Clear Strategic Vision and Measurable Outcomes:

As emphasised in government guidance, “when you have a strategy and you have a clear vision that provides certainty and it provides something to measure against.” Applications must demonstrate clear goals and how success will be measured.

Evidence of Community Need:

The government prioritises projects addressing poverty and disadvantage “on their own terms,” meaning community-led solutions based on local understanding of needs. Letters of support from community members and relevant bodies strengthen applications significantly.

Read Criteria Carefully:

As funding advisors emphasise, "organisations apply for funding, they are successful, but they've not properly read the criteria of the funding application." Ensure complete alignment with stated priorities and all requirements met.

Correct Documentation:

“Make sure you have the correct accounts in place” before applying. Missing documentation is a common cause of delays or rejections.

Financial Planning:

“A lot of business support grants are paid in arrears, so you often still need to have enough investment upfront.” Demonstrate organisational capacity to manage cash flow.

Alignment with Government Priorities:

Recent funded projects demonstrate clear alignment with:

  • Child poverty eradication
  • Net zero and climate goals
  • Community empowerment in disadvantaged areas
  • Energy and resource efficiency
  • Marine sustainability
  • Social care workforce support

Recent Successful Projects (Examples):

  • Dundee and Angus College: £260,000 annual energy savings through LED lighting replacement
  • NHS Ayrshire and Arran: 718,733kWh annual savings across five sites
  • 45 organisations in Fairer Funding pilot including Scottish Refugee Council, Homeless Network Scotland, MCR Pathways

Language and Terminology:

Use terms like “disadvantaged communities,” “tackling poverty,” “sustainability,” “measurable outcomes,” “community-led,” “long-term solutions,” “empowerment,” “net zero transition.”

Common Reasons for Rejection:

  • Incomplete applications or missing documentation
  • Insufficient evidence of community need or support
  • Lack of alignment with stated priorities
  • Inadequate financial planning or organisational capacity
  • Project already commenced (retrospective funding)
  • Falls within exclusion categories

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multi-year funding is the future: The Fairer Funding pilot signals a strategic shift towards longer-term funding agreements. Position your organisation for sustainability and long-term impact to align with this direction.
  • Geographic targeting matters: Programmes explicitly target Scotland's “most disadvantaged” and “fragile” communities. Use data (SIMD - Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) to demonstrate your community's need.
  • Think beyond individual programmes: The Scottish Government funds over £1 billion across diverse areas. Explore multiple programmes on Funding Scotland database - you may be eligible for several simultaneously.
  • Partnership with SCVO is key: The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations manages many programmes and provides the Funding Scotland database. Engage with SCVO for guidance, application support, and funding intelligence.
  • Budget planning is critical: With many grants paid in arrears, demonstrate financial capacity to deliver before reimbursement. This is especially important for smaller organisations.
  • Demonstrable outcomes over process: Government guidance emphasises “something to measure against.” Focus on clear, quantifiable outcomes aligned with government priorities (child poverty, net zero, community empowerment).
  • Local authority relationships matter: Many funds are administered locally. Build relationships with council officers who can provide guidance on Scottish Welfare Fund and other locally-delivered programmes.

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