Currently available funding and finance opportunities – links in headings
CARES Community Buildings Fund
The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) provides grants 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.
Grants up to £80,000 for 80% of eligible costs are available to eligible community groups to help you reduce energy costs and make your building more sustainable.
Closes: October 2026
Scotland’s Heat Network Fund
No deadline, draw down of funding by March 2030. Scotland’s Heat Network Fund (SHNF) offers capital grants to businesses and organisations in the public, private and third sectors to develop heat network projects.
It aims to support the roll-out of zero emission district heat networks and communal heating systems.
National Lottery Awards for All Scotland
No deadline – applications ongoing. £300 – £20,000 for community-led projects, including improving community spaces and supporting those experiencing the cost-of-living crisis. Your project can be supported for 2 years and could fund things like one-off events, staff costs, running costs, small building projects and transport.
Transport Scotland – Network Support Grant
The Network Support Grant (NSG) is a discretionary grant and is available to eligible commercial and community bus operators to support the maintenance of Scotland’s bus network for the benefit of passengers by keeping fares more affordable and networks more extensive than would otherwise be the case.
The Pebble Trust
Up to £10,000. Ongoing.
Grants for projects which support a more sustainable and equal society, where reducing fossil fuels leads to a more localised economy with stronger, more resilient, communities that take account of climate change and the wider environment.
Local Area Funding
Check availability of targeted funding in your local area
Democratic Finance Scotland
Delivered by DTAS, Democratic Finance Scotland supports communities to raise money locally to take ownership of important community assets and run democratic, community-led businesses.
Helps communities to consider and use alternative methods of raising funding and finance to secure their long-term financial sustainability.
Community Shares Scotland
Community members buy shares in enterprises providing goods and services that meet their needs. In turn, the enterprise is controlled and governed by the community it serves. Community shares have helped to launch and grow a wide range of thriving community businesses.
Most community share offers run for a limited time, allowing a sustained campaign to engage with the community and encourage them to invest.
Foundation Scotland
An independent funder, Foundation Scotland distributes funding and delivers social investment support, a form of tailored blended finance comprising loan and grant, to charities and community groups across Scotland.
They work in partnership with communities to maximise financing opportunities including local community benefit schemes.
Foundation Scotland also connect donors with communities to maximise meaningful value for both parties.
Social Investment Scotland
SIS (Social Investment Scotland) is a social enterprise and charity offering loan funding and business support for social enterprises, charities and community groups.
They provide access to finance and support so that social enterprises can achieve maximum impact. Loans range from £25k to £875k, with 33% of SIS customers securing loans under £50k.
SIS supports charities and social enterprises, including voluntary organisations, with loans. Interest rates are calculated on a case-by-case basis: an investment manager will work with you to assess the most affordable option.
Triodos Bank Crowdfunding
Direct investment crowdfunding – ethical financing covering capital, revenue and core costs. Capital raising from £250k to £10m.
The programme helps charities, social enterprises and community groups connect directly with investors to raise finance, e.g. charity bonds, community share and bond offers, secured and unsecured debt in the form of bonds.
The Triodos specialist corporate finance team advises organisations on how to raise capital and can promote investment offers to their community of investors.
Business Energy Scotland – SME loan scheme
Ongoing. £1,000 – £100,000 for heating, ventilation & aircon upgrades; lighting systems fitted; building fabric; water saving; waste reduction installs.
Open to SMEs, not-for-profit organisations, and charities.