Grants for community-led activity

We remain open to all applications, but until at least October 2020 we will prioritise applications that are COVID-19 related.

Find out how to apply for your COVID-19 response here. This includes our full COVID-19 priorities, and details of our shortened application form for COVID-19 responses.

For all other applications, 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

We remain open to all applications, but until at least October 2020 we will prioritise applications that are COVID-19 related.

Find out how to apply for your COVID-19 response here. This includes details of our shortened application form for COVID-19 responses. We will try to respond to such applications as quickly as possible.

For other applications, the time it takes to get a decision from us may vary

If you would like to put in an application that is not related to COVID-19, you are still welcome to do so. However, there is likely to be greater competition for our funding, and it may take us longer to get a decision from us.

If you’d like to apply for a grant, please contact one of our team on advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or 0141 846 0447.

We’ll have an informal chat with you about the idea you need funding for, and can send you out an application form.

For more information on this funding you can access the sample application form below.

Related documents

• Community-led activity application form - Sample (PDF 330KB)
• BIG budget tool (Excel 48kB)

Get help using our electronic forms here.

Checks

As an organisation that gives out public funds, we carry out some checks on the information you provide us. Learn more about our checks