The Royal Company of Merchants Community Grants Fund offers grants to charities and community organisations across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Funding supports projects making a positive impact in areas including the environment, education, culture and the arts, young people, health, social inclusion and sport.

Funding available: Up to £5,000
Deadline: 14th August 2026

Community groups, charities, schools and leisure centres in Edinburgh can apply for grants to support projects that reduce carbon emissions, improve the local environment, tackle fuel poverty, or deliver sustainability education and community activities.

Funding available: £300–£1,000
Deadline: 21st August 2026

This year the SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund will award grants up to a maximum value of £5,000 to organisations who commit to deliver a project that meets at least one of five criteria, namely: Sustainability and the environment, Employability and career skills, Social inclusion, Technology and digital inclusion, Improving the local community. They award grants on a quarterly basis.

Funding available: Up to £5,000
Deadline: Next funding round deadline: 29th August 2026

The fund will open in spring 2025 and they are hoping to fund measures 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.

Funding available: Up to £80,000
Deadline: 31st October 2026 (or earlier if funding is fully allocated)

Volunteering Matters Action Earth offers grants of up to £250 to volunteer-led groups across Scotland delivering practical environmental projects in urban green spaces. Funding supports activities that improve local biodiversity, including creating or enhancing community gardens, shared greenspaces, wildflower meadows, ponds, community woodlands and other wildlife habitats.

Applications are open while funding is available, and projects should involve volunteers and deliver lasting benefits for nature and local communities.

Funding: Up to £250
Deadline: While funding is available

The National Lottery Community Fund supports projects that help communities thrive, strengthen local connections and improve wellbeing. Their Community Action funding prioritises projects that bring people together, help communities respond to local challenges and create lasting social and environmental benefits.

Funding can support a wide range of activities, including community-led climate action, nature recovery, food growing, volunteering, reducing inequalities and improving access to green spaces. Projects should demonstrate how they are led by, or benefit, local communities.

Funding: £20,001–£250,000
Deadline: While funding is available

People’s Postcode Trust provides unrestricted funding to registered charities and community organisations delivering positive social and environmental change. Unlike many grants, funding can support your organisation as a whole, helping to cover core costs as well as activities that strengthen your long-term impact.

The programme supports organisations working across a range of themes, including environmental sustainability, community wellbeing, education, participation and reducing inequalities. Funding rounds take place several times each year.

Funding: Up to £50,000 over three years
Deadline: Multiple funding rounds each year

Delivered by Local Energy Scotland through the Scottish Government’s CARES programme, the Community Energy Generation Growth Fund supports communities to develop and expand renewable energy generation projects.

Funding can help communities progress larger-scale renewable energy schemes, increasing local ownership of clean energy while generating long-term environmental, social and economic benefits. Support is available throughout project development, from early feasibility work through to delivery.

Funding: Grants of up to £20k, £150k & £200k available
Deadline: Not currently open

The Robertson Trust’s Wee Grants programme provides grants of up to £5,000 to small charities and community groups supporting people experiencing or at risk of poverty and trauma in Scotland.

Funding can support projects that address issues such as food insecurity, fuel poverty, access to green space, community wellbeing and inclusion. Climate and environmental projects may be eligible where they also deliver clear social benefits.

Funding: Up to £5,000
Deadline: Open to applications now, decisions take 10-12 weeks

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland offers grants of £300–£20,000 to community-led projects that help people connect, strengthen communities and improve the places where they live.

Funding can support a broad range of activities relevant to ECCAN members, including community growing, repair and reuse projects, environmental volunteering, sustainable food initiatives, community events and projects that help people connect with nature.

Funding: £300-£20,000
Deadline: Open to applications now, decisions take 12 weeks

The Robertson Trust’s Community Spaces Grants programme provides grants of £5,000–£20,000 per year for up to three years to charities operating community hubs and spaces in areas experiencing poverty.

Funding helps organisations provide welcoming, accessible spaces where communities can come together. It could support climate hubs, community gardens with indoor facilities, repair cafés, food projects and other community-led initiatives.

Funding: £30,000-£500,000
Deadline: Open to applications now, decisions take 10-12 weeks

The Mushroom Trust provides grants of typically up to £5,000 to organisations across Scotland creating or improving public green spaces.

Funding supports projects such as community gardens, orchards, allotments, parks, habitat improvements, landscaping and other horticultural initiatives that benefit local communities. The Trust particularly welcomes projects with strong community involvement and volunteer participation.

Funding: Up to £5,000
Deadline: Applications are invited by 31st March every year

Foundation Scotland manages over 120 funding programmes supporting charities, community groups and voluntary organisations across Scotland. Their searchable funding directory lets you browse grants by location, theme and eligibility, making it a great place to discover both local and Scotland-wide funding opportunities.

Whether you’re looking for support for climate action, community development, education, health or the arts, it’s well worth checking regularly as new funding rounds open throughout the year.

The Environmental Funders Network (EFN) maintains a regularly updated database of funding opportunities for organisations working on climate, nature and the environment. It’s a useful resource for charities, community groups and social enterprises looking for environmental grants from across the UK.

Funding Scotland, run by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), is a free online funding search for charities, community groups and social enterprises.

Search over 1,200 funding opportunities from trusts, foundations, lottery funders, statutory bodies and more, with filters to help you find grants that match your organisation and project.

The Environmental Funders Network (EFN) maintains a regularly updated database of funding opportunities for organisations working on environmental and climate action.

The searchable spreadsheet brings together grants from a wide range of trusts, foundations and funders, making it a valuable resource for charities and community groups looking for funding opportunities in one place.