Our processes

We support a wide range of projects through our grant programmes, helping people and organisations care for and share the historic environment. Each year, we receive strong interest in our funding, and while we cannot support every proposal, around half of all applications are successful.

To ensure funding is awarded fairly and makes the greatest impact, all applications are assessed through a competitive process. We consider each proposal against clear criteria and grant outcomes, outlined below.

A successful grant application starts with a strong Expression of Interest. This first step allows you to share your project ideas with us and helps us confirm eligibility and provide early feedback before you develop a full application.

This process is designed to save time and effort and to help strengthen proposals at an early stage. We aim to respond within 10 working days. For the Heritage & Place Fund (HPF), we respond within six weeks of the deadline date.

After each application deadline, we allocate grant applications to our Grants Managers for assessment. Applications across all grant programmes are assessed against the following criteria:

Significance of the heritage

Formal designations are important, but we also fund intangible cultural heritage (such as traditional skills) and undesignated assets where a strong case for significance is made.

Strategic fit

How well the proposal aligns with wider strategies, related activity and other investment.

Heritage at risk

We consider the scale and urgency of threats to the heritage, including whether it appears on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.

Grant outcomes

Applicants are asked to explain how their proposals will contribute to our four grant outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Heritage and Society. The historic environment makes a positive difference to people’s lives.

• Outcome 2: Heritage and the Environment. The historic environment is cared for, protected and managed for future generations.

• Outcome 3: Heritage and the Economy. The historic environment contributes to Scotland’s economy and benefits its people.

• Outcome 4: Heritage and Creativity. The historic environment inspires a creative and vibrant Scotland.

Grant priorities

Applicants are also asked to show how their proposals support our six grant priorities.

• Priority 1: Increase understanding of and engagement with Scotland’s historic environment

• Priority 2: Support communities to use the historic environment in placemaking

• Priority 3: Strengthen the resilience of the historic environment

• Priority 4: Use the historic environment to support climate action

• Priority 5: Improve the quality and availability of historic environment skills

• Priority 6: Increase economic benefits in a sustainable and inclusive way

Detailed information on our grants priorities

Deliverability risk

We assess any risks that could affect the successful delivery and management of the project.

Sustainability

We consider how likely it is that the project’s outcomes will be sustained during the grant control period.

Value for money

We look at the benefits of the project in relation to its costs, the proposed grant rate, the applicant’s financial need, and their ability to secure funding from other sources.

During assessment, our Grants Managers draw on expert advice from colleagues across relevant teams.

Before decisions are made, applications go through a scoring and moderation process. Each application is scored from 0–5 against each criterion. Overall scores help determine which projects are recommended for funding within the available budget.

Grant decisions are made at different levels depending on the value of the grant request. This helps ensure funding decisions are proportionate, consistent and well governed.

• Grants up to £100,000 are approved by the Head of Grants

• Grants over £100,000 and up to £250,000 are approved by the Director of External Relations & Partnerships

• Grants over £250,000 and up to £500,000 are approved by the Director of Finance & Corporate Services

• Grants over £500,000 and up to £1.5 million are approved by the Chief Executive

• Grants over £1.5 million are approved by our Board

We monitor our application success rates to ensure that the level of competition is fair and reasonable. The application success rate for financial year 2024-25 was 40%, but varies year on year.

More information on our grant funding is available in our Grant Funding Report, published annually.

Read our Grant Funding Report