This year the SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund will award grants up to a maximum value of £5,000 to organisations who commit to deliver a project that meets at least one of five criteria, namely: Sustainability and the environment, Employability and career skills, Social inclusion, Technology and digital inclusion, Improving the local community. They award grants on a quarterly basis.

Funding available: Up to £5,000
Deadline: Next funding round deadline: 29th August 2026

Grants for Good supports small charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises making a positive difference to people, communities or the environment. It is particularly aimed at smaller, grassroots organisations with an average annual income of less than £50,000.

Every three months, five organisations are shortlisted to share £15,000 in funding, with grants awarded following a vote by employees of the John Good Group.

Funding available: £2,000–£5,000
Deadline: 15th September 2026

If you liked the community-led approach behind Greenlight, Leith Chooses offers another opportunity for local people to have a say in where funding goes. Community organisations can apply for up to £5,000 for new projects benefiting communities across Greater Leith, with successful projects ultimately chosen through a community vote.

This year’s theme is ‘Greater Leith Harmony’, and online and in-person support is available to help organisations develop their applications.

Funding available: Up to £5,000
Deadline: 12th October 2026

Green Community Grants offer flexible funding to not-for-profit organisations working to support nature recovery, tackle the climate emergency or improve access to nature-rich spaces.

Funding can support a wide range of environmental activity, from habitat and species conservation to recycling, sustainable transport and improving local green spaces. Priority is given to smaller organisations, projects working in more deprived communities and organisations supporting marginalised groups.

Funding available: Up to £25,000
Applications open: 30th September 2026
Deadline: 21st October 2026

The fund will open in spring 2025 and they are hoping to fund measures to help community organisations reduce their building’s energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It does this by funding the installation of renewable technologies like heat pumps, battery storage, and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, as well as some energy efficiency measures.

Funding available: Up to £80,000
Deadline: 31st October 2026 (or earlier if funding is fully allocated)

The National Lottery Community Fund is offering £2.5 million to £7 million for ambitious partnerships working to create fairer, more resilient and sustainable food systems. Funding is available for large-scale projects using agroecological approaches to improve access to healthy, affordable food while tackling climate change and supporting long-term systems change.

Funding available: Up to £2.5 - £7 million
Deadline: Open now

The International Tree Foundation supports community-led tree planting projects across the UK that conserve, restore and protect native trees and woodlands while bringing benefits to local communities.

The programme supports projects that engage communities in planting and caring for trees, improve local environments and biodiversity, and increase awareness of the importance of trees and woodlands.

Funding available: Funding, trees and expert support available
Deadline: 11th December 2026

The scheme supports charities and community energy organisations working to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and help ensure the transition to net zero benefits everyone.

Funding is offered through several strands, including support for households in vulnerable situations, community renewable energy, innovative energy products and services, and projects helping households reduce their carbon footprint.

Funding available: From £20,000
Deadline: Funding rounds throughout the year – dates vary

Volunteering Matters Action Earth offers grants of up to £250 to volunteer-led groups across Scotland delivering practical environmental projects in urban green spaces. Funding supports activities that improve local biodiversity, including creating or enhancing community gardens, shared greenspaces, wildflower meadows, ponds, community woodlands and other wildlife habitats.

Applications are open while funding is available, and projects should involve volunteers and deliver lasting benefits for nature and local communities.

Funding: Up to £250
Deadline: While funding is available

The National Lottery Community Fund supports projects that help communities thrive, strengthen local connections and improve wellbeing. Their Community Action funding prioritises projects that bring people together, help communities respond to local challenges and create lasting social and environmental benefits.

Funding can support a wide range of activities, including community-led climate action, nature recovery, food growing, volunteering, reducing inequalities and improving access to green spaces. Projects should demonstrate how they are led by, or benefit, local communities.

Funding: £20,001–£250,000
Deadline: While funding is available

People’s Postcode Trust provides unrestricted funding to registered charities and community organisations delivering positive social and environmental change. Unlike many grants, funding can support your organisation as a whole, helping to cover core costs as well as activities that strengthen your long-term impact.

The programme supports organisations working across a range of themes, including environmental sustainability, community wellbeing, education, participation and reducing inequalities. Funding rounds take place several times each year.

Funding: Up to £50,000 over three years
Deadline: Multiple funding rounds each year

Delivered by Local Energy Scotland through the Scottish Government’s CARES programme, the Community Energy Generation Growth Fund supports communities to develop and expand renewable energy generation projects.

Funding can help communities progress larger-scale renewable energy schemes, increasing local ownership of clean energy while generating long-term environmental, social and economic benefits. Support is available throughout project development, from early feasibility work through to delivery.

Funding: Grants of up to £20k, £150k & £200k available
Deadline: Not currently open

Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants support schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations working with children and young people to provide nutritious food alongside activities and opportunities to learn about healthy eating.

Projects can include food growing, gardening and cooking, making this particularly relevant to community organisations connecting young people with sustainable food and growing. Projects are put forward for a customer vote in local Tesco stores, with Edinburgh included in the programme.

Funding available: £500–£1,500
Deadline: Ongoing - funding rounds take place throughout the year

The Robertson Trust’s Wee Grants programme provides grants of up to £5,000 to small charities and community groups supporting people experiencing or at risk of poverty and trauma in Scotland.

Funding can support projects that address issues such as food insecurity, fuel poverty, access to green space, community wellbeing and inclusion. Climate and environmental projects may be eligible where they also deliver clear social benefits.

Funding: Up to £5,000
Deadline: Open to applications now, decisions take 10-12 weeks

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland offers grants of £300–£20,000 to community-led projects that help people connect, strengthen communities and improve the places where they live.

Funding can support a broad range of activities relevant to ECCAN members, including community growing, repair and reuse projects, environmental volunteering, sustainable food initiatives, community events and projects that help people connect with nature.

Funding: £300-£20,000
Deadline: Open to applications now, decisions take 12 weeks

The Mushroom Trust provides grants of typically up to £5,000 to organisations across Scotland creating or improving public green spaces.

Funding supports projects such as community gardens, orchards, allotments, parks, habitat improvements, landscaping and other horticultural initiatives that benefit local communities. The Trust particularly welcomes projects with strong community involvement and volunteer participation.

Funding: Up to £5,000
Deadline: Applications are invited by 31st March every year

The Conservation Volunteers’ Chestnut Fund supports grassroots community groups carrying out practical volunteering that improves the natural environment and strengthens connections between people and green spaces.

Start-up grants can help newly established groups with costs such as insurance, publicity and meeting space, while support grants can fund tools, equipment and training for practical conservation work. Groups must be members of the TCV Community Network before applying.

Funding available: Up to £200 for Start-up Grants and £500 for Support Grants
Deadline: Ongoing - applications considered throughout the year

The Robertson Trust’s Community Spaces Grants programme provides grants of £5,000–£20,000 per year for up to three years to charities operating community hubs and spaces in areas experiencing poverty.

Funding helps organisations provide welcoming, accessible spaces where communities can come together. It could support climate hubs, community gardens with indoor facilities, repair cafés, food projects and other community-led initiatives.

Funding: £30,000-£500,000
Deadline: Open to applications now, decisions take 10-12 weeks

The Scottish Learning Fund supports small and early-stage community groups involved in marine conservation in Scotland to learn from one another, share knowledge, build networks and develop skills.

Funding can support activities such as visits to other projects, workshops, training and knowledge-sharing, as well as associated travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. Projects should involve at least two organisations, with the group benefiting from the learning based in Scotland.

Funding available: Varies according to project and learning costs
Deadline: Ongoing - applications accepted at any time

Faith in Community Scotland’s Greener Spaces, Fairer Places fund offers small grants to faith groups taking local action that addresses the links between climate change and poverty.

Funding can support activities including community climate events, food growing and community gardens, local clean-ups, making community buildings more environmentally friendly and action to reduce fuel consumption. Applicants must be local faith groups registered as charities in Scotland, normally with an annual income below £80,000 and no more than two full-time equivalent staff.

Funding available: Up to £500
Deadline: Ongoing

Foundation Scotland manages over 120 funding programmes supporting charities, community groups and voluntary organisations across Scotland. Their searchable funding directory lets you browse grants by location, theme and eligibility, making it a great place to discover both local and Scotland-wide funding opportunities.

Whether you’re looking for support for climate action, community development, education, health or the arts, it’s well worth checking regularly as new funding rounds open throughout the year.

The Environmental Funders Network (EFN) maintains a regularly updated database of funding opportunities for organisations working on environmental and climate action.

The searchable spreadsheet brings together grants from a wide range of trusts, foundations and funders, making it a valuable resource for charities and community groups looking for funding opportunities in one place.

Funding Scotland, run by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), is a free online funding search for charities, community groups and social enterprises.

Search over 1,200 funding opportunities from trusts, foundations, lottery funders, statutory bodies and more, with filters to help you find grants that match your organisation and project.