Environmental Funding Opportunities
The links below take you to spreadsheets showing funding opportunities which are compiled by the environmental charities WildTeam and the Environmental Funders Network (EFN). These spreadsheets are updated on a regular (monthly) basis and feature worldwide funding opportunities.
Community Action. The National Lottery Community Fund
This funding is for communities in Scotland. By communities we mean people who share an identity, interest or experience. Or people living in the same place.
We're looking for projects that will help people connect more with each other. We'll support projects that are open, inclusive and led by their community.
Supporting Rural Communities - The Royal Countryside Fund
This new differentiated funding will support transformative, community-led initiatives across the UK, unlocking the huge potential for positive change in rural communities. Our aim is to support innovative solutions that will “power up, not prop up” communities, inspiring change and encouraging economic vibrancy.
Organisations can apply for grants of up to £25,000 over a period of 24 months to deliver activities along the themes of:
Keeping young people in the countryside
Powering up rural communities
Increasing environmental sustainability
Building emergency resilience in rural areas.
Opens for expressions of interest : January 10th 2025 until 21st February 2025
Working alongside the Scottish Government Forestry Grant Scheme, and the Woodland Carbon Code, the Future Woodlands Fund (FWF) offers land managers in Scotland a simple, low risk way to plant or regenerate native trees.
Ghost Woodlands option
Deadline: Rolling application cycle
Community Learning Exchange - Scottish Community Alliance
The Community Learning Exchange offers small pots of funding to support local community groups connect and share peer learning across Scotland. The best way to test and develop new ideas is to learn from people who are already on the journey themselves. It's also a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with new networks and partnerships. The programme funds individual and group visits up to £1000 per exchange, including a fee for the host organisation you'd like to visit. To be eligible, applicants can access the fund through the network organisations that comprise the Scottish Community Alliance.
Deadline: Open throughout the year
Scottish Forestry Community Fund
This Community Fund supports groups and organisations that encourage people to use woods more. 2 levels of funding are available; 1 below £1000, and 1 above.
Deadline: currently closed to new applications (January 2025)
The Community Ownership Fund
The Community Ownership Fund is a £150 million fund over 4 years to support community groups across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community. It forms part of a substantial package of UK wide levelling-up interventions building opportunity and empowering communities to improve their local places.
Deadline: 31st March 2025
Scottish Government Nature Restoration Fund (NRF)
The Nature Restoration Fund streams, Helping Nature, for grants of £25,000 to £250,000 and Transforming Nature, for grants of £250,000 upwards, including development phase funding, are both now open for Expressions of Interest.
Deadline: Rolling application cycle
SSE Renewables Funds
SSE Renewables operates 38 community investment funds across the United Kingdom. Please click on the link below and located the Highlands and Islands drop down menu to find out about the funds in this area and how to apply for funding.
Deadline: Various
Foyle Foundation - small grants scheme
Our Small Grants Scheme is designed to support charities registered and operating in the United Kingdom, especially those working at grass roots and local community level, in any field, across a wide range of activities. Online applications can be accepted from charities that have an annual turnover of less than £150,000 per annum.
Deadline: January 31st 2025
The Schroder Charity Trust makes grants of up to £5,000 towards core and project costs to charities registered in the UK who deal with Arts, Culture and Heritage, Education, Training and Employment, Environment and Conservation, Health and Wellbeing, or Strengthening Communities.
Deadline: Ongoing
Ian Findlay Path Fund - Paths for All
This is a £1.5 million fund for the improvement of path networks to increase walking, wheeling and cycling, for a happier, healthier, greener Scotland. This grant fund is supported by Transport Scotland to improve paths, to make active travel easier and more attractive. This will encourage people to leave their cars at home for short journeys which will in turn benefit air quality, reduce CO2 emissions and improve our physical health and mental wellbeing. Grants from between £10,000 and £100,000 are available with 30% match funding required (15% can be in kind).
Deadline: Ongoing, however budget is restricted to each financial year so the earlier you get your application in, the better.
SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund
Grants of up to £2,000 to organisations meeting at least one of five criteria:
Sustainability and the environment
Employability and career skills
Social inclusion
Technology and digital inclusion
Improving the local community
Grants will be awarded on a quarterly basis and interested parties are invited to submit an application to be considered for funding. Application form, rules, guidance and FAQs can be found at the link above.
Deadline: A rolling programme of funding
Love Your Network grant – Sustrans
Do you have part of the National Cycle Network close to your community woodland? Funded by Scottish Government, for community groups to improve or enhance the spaces along their local National Cycleway Network (NCN) route for people or wildlife. Apply for equipment, training and expert advice.
Deadline: 5 Feb 2025
Mathew Good Foundation - Grants for Good Fund
Smaller community groups (income less than £50K in previous 12 months) can apply for grants of £2000 to £5000 for projects that have a positive impact on communities, people or the environment.
Deadline: Year round - £15 000 is shared between 5 shortlisted projects every 3 months