Funding / Opportunities
Community Energy Generation Growth Fund
The Scottish Government is investing £9 million to support community energy projects and energy efficiency improvements, aiming to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, create jobs, and stimulate local investment. The funding includes £3.5 million dedicated for the Community Energy Generation Growth Fund.
This Community Energy Generation Growth Fund will support community groups passionate about renewable energy, who want to develop and operate projects such as installing wind turbines and solar panels. In the previous pilot phase of this fund, most funding was for capital costs, with Local Energy Scotland’s technical framework consultants providing additional support.
To find out more, read the announcement here, and for case studies and background visit Local Energy Scotland’s website.
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust - Sustainable Future Programme
This funding programme aims to promote sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to the current consumerist and growth-based paradigm.
Funding Areas:
Better Economics: Initiatives promoting wellbeing and sustainability in public policy, aligning business behavior with environmental goals, developing new enterprise models, and challenging fossil fuel investments.
Beyond Consumerism: Campaigns and initiatives encouraging sustainable living and positive alternatives to consumerism.
New Voices: Campaigns, movements, and networks giving a voice to marginalized groups on environmental and economic justice.
Applicants don't need to be a registered charity but must undertake work legally charitable under UK law at a national level.
Register on the grants management system by 17 February 2025 for an Application deadline: 3 March 2025 (12pm)
For more details, visit the their website.
The Highlands and Islands Environment Foundation
Offers grants of up to £15,000 to community-led projects that protect and restore nature. Find out about funded projects (including projects based in Moray) and apply here. Application deadlines are: Monday, 3 March 2025, Monday, 2 June 2025, 1st September 2025.
Grants to help businesses and social enterprises cut carbon
Businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands looking to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations can now apply to a new Green Grant Fund. The fund provides grants of between £20,000 and £250,000 towards projects that reduce carbon emissions and contribute to the region’s net zero ambitions. Find out more.
The green grants will cover between 10% and 40% of total costs of projects, or up to 50% for eligible applicants in remote and rural areas.
The Royal Countryside Fund- Supporting Rural Communities
This grant programme offers up to £25,000 over two years to projects enhancing resilience and sustainability in isolated rural areas. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit, community-led organisations and charities with annual incomes under £500,000. The application process includes two stages: an 'Expression of Interest' (EOI) with a short video and form submission, and a full proposal for shortlisted candidates. EOI submissions are due by 21 February 2025, with full applications invited by 22 March 2025. Find out more Here.
Neighbourhood Ecosystems Fund - Round 2
The Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund supports community-led project groups in Scotland to develop local nature restoration projects. The Fund seeks to inspire, encourage, and enable communities to explore and develop ambitious ecosystem restoration projects locally. Applications Close 3 March 2025. Apply here.
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens - Grow Wild Youth Grants
Grants of £500 are available for youth-led projects that celebrate UK native wildflowers, plants, and fungi in exciting and engaging ways, that will inspire communities and help people connect to each other and nature. The deadline for applications is 19 March. Additionally, an online webinar will be hosted on 26 February to provide more information and answer any questions. Learn more here.
The Naturesave Trust - Sustainable and Active Travel
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for small projects run by charities, social enterprises, and grassroots community organisations that actively promote sustainable and eco-friendly travel and transport solutions:
Vehicles: Projects involving clean fuel, batteries, or both, including electric vehicles, hybrid power systems, and fuel cells.
Infrastructure: For example, initiatives to enhance public transportation systems.
Energy Source: Utilizing renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels like coal.
Activity: Encouraging walking, cycling, or using scooters instead of driving.
Deadline: 12 noon on 27 February 2025. Find out more and apply here.
Rewilding Innovation Fund
Grants of up to £15,000 for innovative rewilding projects across Britain. Eligible applicants include community groups, private landowners, and public-sector organisations. Projects must cover at least 40 hectares of contiguous land for land-based projects, while marine projects can be of any size. The goal is to remove barriers to rewilding and encourage creative ecological restoration benefiting nature, climate, and communities. Applicants must join Rewilding Britain's Rewilding Network. (*Can join at point of application.) Applications close on 28 February. Learn more here.
Energy Redress Scheme
This scheme offers funding to support vulnerable people with their energy bills, the development of innovative energy related products or services and projects to empower individuals to reduce their carbon emissions. Funds available will be reviewed on a quarterly basis in January, April, July and October.
Funding Streams Available:
Main Fund: £27 million for projects seeking £50,000 - £2 million to support vulnerable households.
Small Project Fund: £1 million for projects seeking £20,000 - £49,999 to support vulnerable households.
Innovation Fund: £6 million for projects developing innovative products/services to benefit households, seeking £20,000 - £1 million.
Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund: £6 million for projects reducing UK carbon emissions and empowering households, seeking £20,000 - £1 million.
Climate Action Fund - Our Shared Future
The National Lottery Community Fund has a Climate Action Fund now open for applications. Grants between £1 million and £1.5 million over 3 to 5 years (min £500K), are available to support community-led projects that inspire more people to take climate action in their everyday lives. You do not have to be a climate or environment focused organisation to apply. To be eligible, applications must be submitted by partnerships consisting of a mix of organisations and sectors, and smaller groups working locally.
Landscape Connections - Hertiage Fund
£150 million pounds of funding is open to those who care for or can partner with National Parks and other world-class landscapes in the UK. The Fund will support our most precious landscapes which are facing immense challenges due to a changing climate, changes to agriculture and rapidly declining nature and biodiversity. Before starting your application, read more about applying for a Landscape Connections grant.
The John Ellerman Foundation - People and Planet
This funding stream offers grants of £10,000 to £50,000 per year for three years to UK charities and non-profits working on natural environment conservation. Priorities are around include enhancing ocean health, building healthier ecosystems on land and in freshwater, and addressing climate change and pollution impacts. The scheme supports UK and UK Overseas Territories projects. Applications have no deadlines and can be submitted anytime. Learn more here.
Environmental Funders Network
The Environmental Funders Network, gives the funding community the knowledge, networks and agency they need to address the key challenges of climate change. It aims to give a more strategically-deployed approach to environmental philanthropy.