Partnership Fund

The Partnership Fund is best for ongoing relationships with key sector organisations.

This fund is about longer‑term, strategic relationships between us and organisations that play a major role in the historic environment sector.

Our Partnership Fund is open to third‑sector organisations whose work delivers strategic, nationally significant outcomes for Scotland’s historic environment or the wider historic environment sector. We particularly welcome applications from charitable organisations that act as intermediaries or represent a specific area of activity within the sector.

To help illustrate the types of organisations the Partnership Fund is designed to support, we’ve previously awarded Partnership Fund grants to a small number of established, Scotland‑wide charities with a strong strategic role and national impact.

These include organisations such as:

• National Trust for Scotland, supported to deliver a national programme of conservation maintenance, skills development and training across its estate

• Architectural Heritage Fund, funded to support community‑led organisations across Scotland to find sustainable new uses for historic buildings and deliver long‑term regeneration

• Historic Churches Scotland, supported to work with communities to secure the future of nationally significant places of worship at risk

• Archaeology Scotland, funded to deliver national programmes that help communities engage with, manage and protect local archaeology

• Scottish Civic Trust, supported for nationally recognised programmes such as Doors Open Days and initiatives to widen access to and participation in the historic environment

• Keep Scotland Beautiful, funded to deliver community‑focused heritage and climate action programmes with national reach

What these organisations have in common is a strong track record of delivering established activity, a clear alignment with national strategies and priorities, and the ability to deliver benefits at a Scotland‑wide scale. These examples are intended to give a sense of the type and role of organisations the Partnership Fund is designed to support, rather than to limit who can apply.

If you’re looking for time‑limited, project‑based funding, or if you’d like to pilot an idea with the aim of developing it into a future Partnership Fund application, we ask that you apply to our Historic Environment Grants (HEG) Fund first.

If you’re unsure which programme is the best fit, we’re very happy to talk things through — just get in touch for an initial discussion by emailing grants@hes.scot.

To apply to our Partnership Fund, organisations need to be fully constituted, have their own organisational bank account, and show a strong track record of sound financial management, including managing grants of a similar size.

To be eligible for the Partnership Fund, proposed activities must:

• Be well‑established, with a proven track record of making a meaningful contribution to our Grants Priorities and delivering national impact for Scotland’s historic environment sector

• Align with national strategies for the historic environment, such as Our Past, Our Future, Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy, and the Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s Historic Environment Sector, as well as wider social, economic and environmental priorities

• Address a clear and evidenced need or opportunity within the sector that is not being met elsewhere and cannot be delivered without our financial support

• Demonstrate good value for money, including an appropriate level of match funding from your own resources or other funders. We also ask applicants to consider how they can strengthen their long‑term financial sustainability and reduce reliance on our funding over time

We’ll use these criteria to assess applications, alongside any potential risks linked to delivery, sustainability, or the outcomes you’re aiming to achieve.

As part of your application, we’ll ask you to tell us how you plan to evaluate the impact of the funding — including what evaluation activity will take place, who will carry it out, and when. If you’re awarded a grant, you’ll be asked to complete an Evaluation Report at the end of the funding period. You’ll also need to submit an online Annual Grants Data Report, which helps us understand the impact of the funding we provide. More details are available in the Programme resources section.

Eligible activities

The Partnership Fund supports established activities with national reach and impact. This can include, for example:

• Training for professionals or volunteers that addresses recognised skills gaps in the historic environment

• Advocacy, development or capacity‑building activity that helps the sector deliver national priorities

• Outreach or learning programmes that engage audiences across Scotland

How many activities can I include?

You can apply to fund up to three distinct areas of work (called Activity Streams) within one application. Each Activity Stream must be clearly defined and have an established track record of delivering national impact.

Each will be assessed individually, and it’s possible that not all Activity Streams will be funded.

How much funding can I request?

There’s no fixed upper limit, but all requests must show strong value for money. We normally expect applicants to seek no more than 50% funding from us, supported by match funding from your own resources or other funders.

If you feel a higher contribution is needed, please explain this in your application. We’ll consider each organisation’s circumstances.

We’ll also ask you to think about how your organisation can strengthen its financial sustainability and reduce reliance on our funding over time.

How long can funding last?

You can apply for up to three years of funding in a single application. Funding is awarded by financial year (1 April–31 March).

While it’s possible to apply again for ongoing activity, all applications are fully reassessed.

Costs you can include

Partnership Fund grants support direct activity costs and an appropriate share of indirect costs (full‑cost recovery) related to the funded work.

Direct costs may include:

• Staff directly delivering the activity

• Events, engagement sessions and learning activities

• Materials, equipment and specialist consultancy

• Travel, subsistence and other activity‑specific costs

All costs should relate clearly to the activities you’re asking us to fund.

Indirect costs (full‑cost recovery) may include:

• Supporting staff time (for example, admin or finance support)

• A fair share of organisational overheads, such as office and running costs

You’ll provide high‑level costs in the application form and more detail in the Budget Profile template.

Volunteer time and non‑cash contributions

Volunteer time and other non‑cash contributions (for example, free room hire) can count as match funding, but can’t be paid for by our grant. These should be clearly explained and evidenced, using a standard volunteer rate of £20 per hour.

What we can’t fund

We’re unable to support:

• General core costs not linked to the funded activities

• Recoverable VAT

• Activity that has already started

• Work without clear public benefit or alignment with our Grants Priorities

• Organisational resilience projects (these should apply to our Historic Environment Grants Programme)

• Building reserves or organisations in financial difficulty

Income information

Your income figures should cover the full funding period and match your total costs. These may include:

• The grant you’re requesting from us

• Your organisation’s own contribution

• Match funding from other funders

• Non‑cash contributions and volunteer time

The Partnership Fund has a two‑stage application process, starting with an Expression of Interest (EOI).

If your organisation would like to apply, you must first submit an EOI through our online Grants Portal. An approved EOI is required before you can make a full application, and applications cannot be submitted without one.

EOIs can be submitted at any point during the year, up to one month before the application deadline. We strongly encourage you to submit your EOI well in advance, as we aim to respond within 10 working days. In our response, we’ll let you know whether your proposal is likely to be a good fit for the Partnership Fund.

If your EOI is approved, you’ll be invited to submit a full application through the Grants Portal by the published deadline.

As part of your application, you’ll be asked to upload supporting documents, including:

• Your organisation’s governing document

• A Fair Work First declaration (template available in Programme resources)

• Audited or accountant‑verified accounts for the last three years

• An Activity Plan and Budget Profile (templates available in programme resources)

• A draft Evaluation Report from your current funding period (if you are currently funded by us)

• Any other relevant supporting information

Depending on the nature of your activities, we may also ask for additional information, such as detailed cost breakdowns or plans in alternative formats.

If you’re awarded a grant, a number of conditions and reporting requirements will apply.

Submit your EOI on our Grants Portal

The Partnership Fund has one application round per year, with a full application deadline in September.

We aim to share decisions within three months of the deadline.

Other resources

Many of our resources are standard across all three of the funds we offer. If you can't find the documentation you're looking for here, try our resources page.

Visit our grants resources page