Foundation to expand funding programmes for Scottish charities

Foundation to expand funding programmes for Scottish charities

Bank of Scotland Foundation, an independent charity supporting people and their local communities across Scotland, is making preparations to expand its funding programmes later this year.   

‘Supporting Positive Change Across Scotland’ is the Foundation’s five-year strategic plan which will see a range of new funding programmes open in 2019 and 2020 as the Foundation rethinks its approach to how it invests and becomes a more flexible grant maker.

The Foundation’s funding programmes will change from Small, Medium and Large Grants to:-

                                                                                                                                                                       
ReachReach will make positive and lasting change in communities across Scotland. Charities with an income of £1m or less can apply for £1,000-£20,000 over one year to support people through varying stages of their lives.
AdviseAdvise will improve Financial Advice and Financial Literacy for people across Scotland. Charities with an income of £1m or less can apply for £1,000-£20,000 over one year to enable people to develop their financial skills and access the support they need to take greater control of their lives.
InvestInvest will put charities in a more stable position. Charities with an income of £1m or less can apply for core costs of £20,000-£40,000 per annum over 2-5 years to relieve the pressures they face of financial uncertainty and increased demand.
ChangeChange will have a large-scale, long-term, positive impact on charities and communities. Charities with an income of £500k or more can apply for capital costs or project costs of £50,000-£100,000 per annum over 1-2 years to ensure they can provide continued, reliable support for people across Scotland.

Charities have until 12 noon Thursday 4 April 2019 to submit applications for the final tranches of the Foundation’s Small and Medium Grant programmes and the first of the Foundation’s new programmes will launch in August 2019.  

Philip Grant, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Chair of the Scottish Executive Committee, Lloyds Banking Group said, “In February 2019, the Foundation’s annual donation from Lloyds Banking Group was almost £5m, a significant increase from the £2m received annually in previous years.  This is fantastic news for Bank of Scotland Foundation as the extra funding enables us to tailor our programmes to the needs of those we support.

“As one of the few funders to cover core costs such as salaries, we understand the financial pressure charities are under and have made every effort to minimalise the impact of the short period where we transition to our new programmes.  

“We very much look forward to launching the first of our new funding programmes in August 2019 and help support the excellent work of charities that are reaching the most vulnerable people across Scotland providing them with opportunity and equality.”