Looking for social enterprise funding in Edinburgh or elsewhere in Scotland? This page brings together the latest grants, social investment opportunities and funding programmes available to social enterprises, community organisations and purpose-driven businesses.
While we’ve curated these opportunities with Edinburgh social enterprises in mind, many of the funds listed are available across Scotland and the wider UK. Whether you’re starting a social enterprise, developing a new project or looking to grow your impact, we hope this resource helps you find the right support.
If you know of any funding opportunities that would benefit Edinburgh’s social enterprise community or spot any information that is out of date, please let us know at info@esen.scot
Jump to:
🌱 Climate |
👶 Youth |
🏥 Health |
🏘️ Community |
🎭 Arts |
🤖 Innovation and Enterprise |
🌍 General Funding |
🤝 Vulnerable People & Poverty |
👩 Women in Social Enterprise |
🌱 Climate & Environment
Wildlife Trusts Green Community Grants
Nature recovery and climate action projects.
💰 Up to £25K
🗓️ 21st October deadline
Zero Waste Scotland
Circular economy and innovation funding.
💰 Up to £75K
🗓️ Rolling
CARES Funding
3 different funds to support communities to engage with, participate in and benefit from the energy transition to net zero emissions.
💰 Various
🗓️ Rolling
ECCAN Greenlight
Funding for local not-for-profit and community-led organisations delivering climate action projects in Edinburgh (ECCAN membership is required to apply but is free to join here)
💰 Micro : £250-£5000
🗓️ Rolling until all awarded
Energy Redress Grants
Voluntary payments from energy companies that have breached rules to charities and community groups, funding projects that support consumers, particularly those in vulnerable situations, and promote energy efficiency/innovation.
💰 Upto £500K
🗓️ Rolling
👶 Youth & Families
BBC Children in Need
Supporting vulnerable children & young people.
💰 £1K–£40K
🗓️ Rolling
Tesco Stronger Starts
Community projects for children & young people.
💰 Up to £1.5K
🗓️ Quarterly
BCBN Grant Initiative
A one-off grant award for non-profits & charities that have a positive impact on the community.
💰 £3000
🗓️ Next round : 07/07/26 – 07/09/26, November round closing 09/11/26
Dr Guthries Association
Supporting organisations devoted to the care and welfare of children and young people.
💰 £2K
🗓️ September, January & May Deadlines
The Rooney Family Foundation
Support for respite holidays for families and any special equipment needs for the children
💰 Case by Case Basis
🗓️ Rolling
John Watson’s Trust
Grants for educational purposes to children and young people up to and including the age of 21 who have a physical or learning disability or who are socially disadvantaged.
💰 £200-£2K
🗓️ July, October and May Deadlines
The Pleasance Trust
Providing grants to small voluntary organisations in Edinburgh that provide activities for young people, especially activities focused on the outdoors.
💰 Upto £1.5K
🗓️ Rolling
The National Lottery Young Start Grants
Offering small and main grants, for organisations that include children and young people, aged 8 to 24, in the project or organisation and the children and young people choose when and how they’re involved, influence and make decisions about your organisation, its activities or services to improve their wellbeing.
💰 Main £20K – 150K, Small £300 – £20K
🗓️ Rolling
National Lottery Fairer Life Chances
This funding is for projects that support children, young people and families. Or help people be healthier and have better access to support.
💰 £20K – £500K
🗓️ Rolling
UK Government Youth Jobs Grant
The Youth Jobs Grant is part of the Youth Guarantee and provides financial support to employers to encourage the recruitment of young people who may otherwise find it difficult to enter the labour market.
💰 £3K
🗓️ 31st October 2028
Corra Foundation Boost Fund
For small community led organisations supporting local people affected by poverty or disadvantage.
💰 £1500 – £3000
🗓️ Rolling
Victoria League in Scotland
Funding projects that extend the hand of friendship to overseas students, studying in Scotland.
💰 £5K
🗓️ Rolling
Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge for Youth Led Organisations
Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2026 is designed to give young impact founders a platform; providing grant funding awards, connection to a global community of high performing young leaders, and exclusive exposure through some of the worlds biggest brands.
💰 $15K, founder support and opportunities
🗓️ 31st August 2026
You’re Only Young Once (YOYO)
The You’re Only Young Once (YOYO) Fund offers grants of up to £10,000 to organisations supporting children, young people, and families affected by drugs and alcohol.
💰 £10K
🗓️ 1st September 2026
🏥 Health & Wellbeing
Delamere Dairy Foundation
Applications are welcome from charities and organisations working towards the advancement of agriculture and environmental protection, the advancement in life of young people (under the age of 25), the relief of financial hardship, the advancement of education or the relief of sickness
💰 Up to £1K – £5K
🗓️ Rolling
Aldi Scottish Sports Fund
Funding for registered community sports organisations with essentials like equipment, kits, training costs and more.
💰 Up to £3K
🗓️ Rolling
Sackler Trust Funding
Funding support of activities in the fields of medical, healthcare, access to education & the arts, community organisations, heritage & projects promoting social good.
💰 No Limit
🗓️ Quarterly
Fletchers Foundation
Up to £10,000 for organisations working with those affected by long term effects of illness, injury and medical negligence.
💰 £10K
🗓️ Rolling
National Deaf Children’s Society Community Grant
The National Deaf Children’s Society is offering funding of between £1,000 and £10,000 for projects supporting deaf children and their families.
💰 £1K – £10K
🗓️ Rolling
Sport Scotland Facilities Fund
Supporting capital projects that help to create or improve places where people take part in sport and physical activity, with an aim of widening access and providing opportunities for local communities to be active more often.
💰 £100K
🗓️ 9th September 2026
National Lottery Climate Action Fund Food Systems
Funding projects that strengthen our food system and reduce food insecurity for people and communities. To support ways of producing enough healthy, affordable food without harming the planet.
💰 £2.5M – £7M
🗓️ Rolling
Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants
Schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations supporting children and young people can apply for up to £1,500 for projects that improve access to healthy food.
💰 £1,500
🗓️ Rolling
🏘️ Community & Social Impact
Persimmon Homes Community Champions
30 different offices of Persimmons Homes across the UK donating to local good causes.
💰 £6000
🗓️ Rolling
Safe Deposits Scotland Community Fund
Funding for sustainability/environment, employability/careers skills, social inclusion, technology and community work.
💰 £6000
🗓️ Rolling
Social Investment Fund (Blended Grants & Loans)
Blended grant & loan investment of between £10,000 and £250,000 per organisation with up to 25% of this in the form of a grant.
💰 Up to £250K
🗓️ Rolling
Architectural Heritage Fund
Funding related to heritage buildings and their use within the local community, various programmes.
💰 £8K – £45K
🗓️ Quarterly
The National Lottery Community Action Fund
This funding is for communities in Scotland. They’re looking for projects that will help people connect more with each other and support projects that are open, inclusive and led by their community.
💰 £20K – £250K
🗓️ Rolling
National Lottery Awards for All
Funding projects that bring people together and help communities across Scotland thrive. Social connections and community activities are at the heart of healthier, happier lives, that’s why they support community-led projects.
💰 £300 – £20K
🗓️ Rolling
National Lottery Scottish Land Fund
The Scottish Land Fund helps urban and rural communities across Scotland become stronger and more sustainable. It does this by helping communities own and manage land and buildings that matter to them.
💰 £5K – £1M
🗓️ Rolling
The Swan Mountain Trust
Funding for organisations helping refugees and asylum seekers, particularly with the mental health of young people.
💰 £2K – £4K
🗓️ Quarterly
To Absent Friends
To plan private remembrance events at which their community can come together (in person or online) to share memories, stories and solace of those that have passed.
💰 £275
🗓️ 2nd September 2026
Arnold Clark Community Fund
Supporting local charities and organisations that provide important services, strengthen communities and help them build a better future. Currently only accepting applications from animal welfare, and arts and culture groups only.
💰 Project Dependent
🗓️ Rolling
🎭 Arts, Culture & Heritage
Youth Music Grant Initiative
For organisations working in the youth music sector to enable high-quality music-making opportunities for children & young people across Scotland.
💰 £1K – £40K
🗓️ Closing 9th September 2026
The Turtleton Charitable Trust
Supporting heritage and the arts, principally in Scotland. For the advancement of the arts, culture and heritage and support of the disadvantaged and the advancement of education. Please note open to charitable bodies only
💰 £5K – £25K
🗓️ Closing 31st December 2026
Scops Arts Trust Grants
Scops Arts Trust aims to give people of all ages, backgrounds and life circumstances, opportunities to access, participate in and enjoy the arts, particularly the performing arts.
💰 Upto £15K
🗓️ Opening 1st September 2026
Screen Scotland Funding
Various funds for aimed at film, broadcast and production for companies in Scotland
💰 Various
🗓️ Rolling
National Lottery Open Fund
For creative activity such as a project or production, programme of creative work or research and development to maximise public benefit.
💰 £1K–£100K
🗓️ Rolling
Theatre Improvement Scheme with the Wolfson Foundation
The theme for the fund for the current three-year partnership is Improving Environmental Sustainability as this is an urgent priority for the sector. Theatre operators can apply for grants of up to £20,000 towards their building or equipment as part of the scheme.
💰 Upto £20K
🗓️ Closing 11th September 2026
🤖 Innovation & Enterprise
Friends Provident Foundation
Fair & sustainable economy transformation.
💰 £100K+
🗓️ January 2027 Deadline
Firstport Start It Fund
Up to £5,000 for individuals looking to start a social enterprise.
💰 £5K
🗓️ Rolling
National Lottery Strengthening Organisations Fund
This funding is for organisations in Scotland that The National Lottery Community Fund currently fund. It supports organisations to try out new ideas and ways of working
develop their organisation and improve their current work
💰 £300–£50K
🗓️ Rolling
Interface Innovation Vouchers
Encourages new collaborations between a Scottish organisation and a university or college. Funding for Product/Process/Service or a workplace innovation.
💰 £1K – £7.5K
🗓️ January 2027 Deadline
🌍 General Funding
Edinburgh University Micro Grants Fund
£500 funding for small scale community activities and local action.
💰 £500
🗓️ Rolling
RS McDonald Charitable Trust
Funding for revenue/capital, project funding, core funding, one off awards and multi year.
💰 £20K+
🗓️ Rolling
Clothworkers Foundation
Funding can be used towards buildings or refurbishment projects, fittings, fixtures or equipment, digital infrastructure or vehicles.
💰 – £15K & +£15K
🗓️ Rolling
The Robertson Trust
Various grants from £5000 – £50,000 per year for upto 5 years and can include the costs of equipment to support your work
💰 Various
🗓️ Rolling
Democratic Finance Marketing Grants
Upto £5000 to be used to market and promote your business and cause.
💰 £5K
🗓️ Rolling
UK Government Skills Bursaries
For people seeking to grow their expertise in community heritage work.
💰 £1K
🗓️ 3rd May 2027
People’s Postcode Trust
Grants of upto £50K for good causes in Scotland, focusing on enabling participation in the arts, preventing the impact of poverty, supporting marginalised groups, tackling in equality or improving mental health.
💰 £50K
🗓️ Next rounds closing dates 1st October 2026
Matrix Causes Fund
The Matrix Causes Fund provides support to organisations which promote access to justice, equality of opportunity, or a sustainable environment.
💰 1 off grant of £8K or multiyear funding of £5K per year
🗓️ 30th September 2026
National Lottery UK Fund
Larger amounts of funding to help develop work that’s already making a difference. To get funding you’ll need to show what’s working, how you know it’s having a proven impact, and why it’s ready to scale. Your work should also benefit communities across the UK, by working in different places or sharing learning between countries.
💰 £500K – £5M
🗓️ Rolling
Firstport Build It Fund
Grants of up to £40,000 for early-stage social enterprises seeking funding for salary costs.
💰 £40K
🗓️ Rolling
Firstport Community Enterprise Fund
The Community Enterprise Fund helps community organisations to start trading or set up social enterprises in Scotland.
💰 £5K
🗓️ Rolling
Richard and Siobhán Coward Foundation Community Photography Grants
Grants to support projects which seek to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people under 25, using photography. To promote the use of analogue photography/support the provision of community photography to improve the health and well-being of children and young people under 25.
💰 £1.5K
🗓️ 30th September 2026
🤝 Vulnerable People & Poverty
National Lottery Supporting Change for Carers
This funding is for projects that will improve the health of unpaid carers by reducing the unfair and avoidable differences in health for unpaid carers (these are called health inequalities) and/or addresses the root cause of the long-term problems, not just the symptoms (this is called systems change)
💰 £500K – £2M
🗓️ Rolling
Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation
Preventing Violence against Young People, women and girls and/or supporting Victims of Violent Crime/Terrorism.
💰 £10K
🗓️ Rolling
The Robertson Trust Community Spaces Grants
Funding to be used to support local communities experiencing poverty and trauma in Scotland.
💰 Up to £30K-£500K
🗓️ Rolling
Alcohol and Drugs Fund, Local Support Micro Grants
Open to Scottish charities, social enterprises or constituted community/voluntary groups that operate on a not-for-profit basis, which deliver frontline services to support people affected by alcohol and drugs, people in recovery and/or their families.
💰 £1K – £15K
🗓️ Rolling
Matrix Law Grant
For organisations working on access to justice, equality of opportunity or sustainable environment.
💰 £8K one time grant or £5K for 3 years.
🗓️ Opens Closing 30th September 2026
Alcohol & Drugs Local Grants
Support Grants for Scottish charities, social enterprises, community groups & other Third Sector organisations which deliver frontline services to support people affected by alcohol & drugs, people who are in recovery & their families.
💰 £60K
🗓️ Rolling with decisions in July, September & November
Bentley Advancing Life Chances National Fund
Bentley provides grants of between £2,000 and £4,000 to support charitable organisations working with vulnerable, disadvantaged, or under-represented communities in 18 locations across the UK, Jersey and the Isle of Man. Your organisation must also have an annual income of under £500K and be located within their UK eligible postcode areas.
💰 £2-4K
🗓️ Closing 14/09/26
