Community funding
Introduction to community funding
Historic Environment Scotland has a range of grants and funding schemes to support projects that promote and protect the historic environment. For more information on these, please visit our dedicated Grants pages.
There are a wide variety of other income streams available for community groups looking for ways to make their ideas become a reality. It can be hard to know where to start, as not all ways of generating income will suit every community body or every project. It's a good idea to lay out what your goal is, what you are going to do and who will benefit from it. That will help you to narrow down options for how to cover your costs.
The first thing to check for any grants and funds you look into is whether or not you are eligible. You don't want to spend time filling out an application form for something your community group can't get.
If you're not sure, or you need a hand with the application process, don't feel alone. Grant-giving bodies, including HES, usually tell you how you can arrange to speak with a member of their staff. You can contact our Grants Team by emailing grants@hes.scot.
In this guide, we've outlined some potential sources of funding, advice and support, which may help you find funding for your community heritage project.
Funding toolkits and guidance
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
The Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations provides resources including a step-to step guide to winning funding.
Heritage Network toolkit
The Heritage Network is a membership body run by people who have undertaken heritage projects across the UK, it offers peer-to-peer support, knowledge sharing and skills development. They offer a toolkit which can be partly demoed through a trial.
Built Environment Forum Scotland
BEFS have an Inspiring Fundraising Toolkit to help the heritage sector in Scotland raise funds with greater confidence.
Social Enterprise Support Map
Scotland has a well-developed support eco-system to help social enterprises start, sustain, and grow their organisation and their impact. The Social Enterprise Support Map allows anyone to navigate this landscape easily and efficiently.
Fundraising information
Chartered Institute of Fundraising
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising is a professional membership body for fundraising. Everyone can access introductory information for fundraising, in-depth guidance, as well as information on rules and regulations for fundraising on their website.
There are regional and special interest groups to support fundraisers and fundraising. The groups cross multiple types of fundraising, themes and regional specific groups. The Special Interest Groups run events that can be attended for a small fee or free with a membership.
Scottish Fundraising Adjudication Panel
The Panel were established for the purposes of overseeing enhanced self-regulation of fundraising in Scotland, to be responsible for fundraising standards in Scotland and to handle fundraising complaints related to Scottish registered charities.
OSCR Scottish Charity Regulator
The OSCR webpages explain how fundraising by charities is regulated in Scotland. OSCR also holds the annual financial accounts for registered Scottish charities and is good place to look to learn more about potential funders.
Charity Commission for England and Wales
The Charity Commission is the regulatory body for charities registered in England and Wales. This includes some charitable bodies who operate nationally, including in Scotland.
Social Enterprise Scotland
Social Enterprise Scotland (SES) is an independent, membership-led organisation and is the voice of social enterprise in Scotland. They have championed the sector for more than 15 years to help create a supportive policy environment for social enterprises. Their website includes resources for Social Enterprises including practical business support and learning and link to local social enterprise networks.
Social Enterprise UK
UK-wide membership organisation for social enterprises, campaigning on behalf of the social enterprise community. Members can benefit from regular best practice and information sharing sessions and webinars, as well as a listing in their Social Enterprise Directory.
Building stronger community organisations
A free online resource created by SCDC and Scottish Refugee Council that will be useful to any community group. There are ten modules, designed to help you better understand what you want to achieve as an organisation and how you can work together to achieve these aims.
Funding portals
Funding Scotland
Included within the SCVO website is a free online search engine for funding opportunities across Scotland. You must register with them to use this free funding search engine. All types and sizes of funding listed for charities, community groups and social enterprises.
The Heritage Funding Directory
A free and easy-to-use guide to financial and other support for anyone undertaking UK related heritage projects.
Scotland's Towns Partnership Funding Finder
Comprising nine categories, the Funding Finder provides easy to read information on current funding streams, highlighting where new funds have been announced and where application deadlines are looming. Membership is required.
Youth Link Scotland Funding Directory
Sources of support for children and youth focused projects.
Find Business Support
Find Business Support gives customers an overview of all funding and services offered by public sector organisations across Scotland, conveniently in one place. This makes it quicker and easier for to find the information, advice and support.
Grants Online
Grants Online is a comprehensive grant funding finder portal. A subscription is required.
Funds Online
Funds Online is a comprehensive database of funds. A subscription is required.
Funding for heritage projects
Historic Environment Scotland
Explore Historic Environment Scotland’s grant pages to find information on our grant programmes and priorities.
National Lottery Funds for Heritage
Funds projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional or local heritage of the UK.
Architectural Heritage Fund
Advice, grants and loans to help deliver their strategic objectives for heritage and communities.
Association of Independent Musuems
AIM was established in 1977 to address the needs of the growing independent museum sector, providing a network of mutual help and support that would share good practice and create a singular voice for hundreds of organisations.
Museums and Galleries Scotland
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body for Scotland’s museum sector. They support a wide range of museums and galleries through strategic investment, advice, workforce development and advocacy.
Funds for broad community benefit
Heritage can feature and be packaged into many different projects or initiatives. Below are just some of the potential funding sources for projects with broader aims than just heritage.
National Lottery Awards for All
Grants for bringing people together, building relationships, improving places and spaces that matter to communities, and helping people reach their potential.
National Lottery Community Fund
Through Community Led funding they aim to support communities to improve the places in which they live and the wellbeing of those most in need.
The Scottish Government
The Scottish Government provides funding direct to community groups as part of the Empowering Communities Programme.
Local Government Funding
Local councils can often work with third party organisations to access certain funding opportunities for agreed project activity. Councils may be able to work in partnership with:
Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF)
Community Led Local Development (CLLD)
Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP)
Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP)
Levelling Up Fund (LUF)
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
City Region or Growth Deal Investment
Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF)
Foundation Scotland
Funding programmes for organisations aiming to benefit a range of communities across Scotland. The foundation also administers community funds from some wind farms.
Scottish Land Fund
The Scottish Land Fund is a programme which supports community organisations across Scotland to own land, buildings and other assets. Funded by the Scottish Government, grants of up to £1million are available. The partners delivering the fund also offer practical support to develop community aspirations into viable projects.
UK Community Ownership Fund
This UK Government fund supports community groups to take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of being lost.
Corra Foundation
Contributes to improving the lives of individuals and communities experiencing disadvantage across Scotland and in developing countries.
Scottish Landfill Communities Fund
Fund to benefit community and environmental projects.
Inspiring Scotland
Funds targeted to identify and solve deep-rooted social problems.
Social Investment Scotland
Provides affordable, flexible, repayable investment for social enterprises in Scotland.
Community Shares Scotland
Community Shares Scotland exists to raise awareness of the community shares model and support communities who wish to raise money this way.
Garfield Weston Foundation
The foundation supports a broad range of charities throughout the UK. Priorities of the fund include community, heritage, museums, arts, education and youth.
The Wolfson Foundation
The foundation can support organisations managing sites of outstanding historic, architectural and cultural significance that have a clear emphasis on public engagement.
Barcapel Foundation
The foundation supports three priority areas, Heritage, Health and Youth. Examples can be found of projects the foundation has funded over the years.