As part of our COVID-19 response we particularly want to support:
- Organisations supporting people who are at high risk from COVID-19
- Organisations supporting communities most likely to face increased demand and challenges as a direct result of COVID-19
- Organisations with high potential to support communities with the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19
We may consider supporting your response to COVID-19 even if your work would not typically meet the funding criteria for these grants. We recommend getting in touch to discuss your idea if you feel this is the case.
If you want to put in an application that is not related to COVID-19, you are welcome to do so. However there is likely to be greater competition for our funding, and it may take longer to get a decision from us.
Our usual funding priorities are below.
Who can apply?
This funding is for organisations in Scotland that are based in the local area they serve and are run by local people.
Your organisation should have a governing body, such as a committee or board which includes at least three unrelated people and a written governing document, such as a constitution. This governing document should make it clear that your organisation has:
- a social purpose – your organisation must have a clearly stated purpose which benefits the local area in some way
- open membership – everyone living in the area should be able to get involved in your organisation and the work that it does
- community control – the majority of people serving on your governing body are from the local area and make the decisions.
If your organisation doesn’t meet the above criteria but you feel it is representative of the people in your area we are still interested in hearing from you.
We can’t accept applications from one organisation applying on behalf of another. Existing The National Lottery Community Fund grantholders can apply but you can only have one medium grant for community-led activity at a time.
What can you apply for?
You can apply for funding for between three and five years to improve or continue existing services, or to develop new activity.
We will support shorter-term activity where it is in response to COVID-19.
We can fund up to 100% of the costs of this activity including staff, equipment, premises costs and overheads. We will mainly offer revenue funding, but can also consider minor capital work (up to £50,000).
The National Lottery Community Fund is a Living Wage Friendly Funder. This means that we encourage our applicants to pay their staff the UK Living Wage.
Visit our Living Wage page for more information
