Annual Grants Fund

Thank you for your interest in the ScottishPower Foundation.

Our Annual Grants Fund 2027 is now open.  The application window will close at 12 noon on 24 July 2026 or when 350 applications have been submitted, whichever comes first. As we expect high demand, we encourage you to apply as soon as you are ready.

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Criteria for 2027

Here are the criteria for this round of funding which will allow you to determine whether your organisation is eligible to apply.

Shared Outcomes

We fund projects that help deliver the outcomes set out in our Strategic Plan 2026–2029. Your application must demonstrate how your project contributes to at least one of these outcomes:

Education, Training and Research

Objective

Support education, training and research that improves access to opportunities and strengthens employability 

Outcomes

•    People from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups* have increased access to STEM learning opportunities


•    People from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups* are more employable

Biodiversity and Environment

Objective

to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and the environment

Outcomes

•    People are better informed about how to take action to protect our planet 
•    People are better able to adopt more sustainable practices to reduce waste 
•    Natural environments are better protected
•    Wildlife species are better protected

Art and Culture

Objective

Protect and safeguard artistic and cultural heritage by supporting conservation and restoration, and improving access to the arts

Ouctomes

•    Cultural heritage is better preserved for future generations 


•    People from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups* have increased access to the arts 

Social Action

Objective

Economic security: Supporting social inclusion and reducing poverty, prioritising child and in-work poverty

 

Outcomes

•    Households experiencing poverty are better able to access** the support they need 


•    People with disabilities/long term health conditions are better able to access** the support they need


•    Older people are better able to access** the support they need

New Technologies

Objective

Reduce digital exclusion and improve access to essential services and opportunities

Outcomes

•    People from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups* are more digitally included


•    People from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups* have more opportunities to use new technologies as a means of creative expression

*disadvantaged and underrepresented groups: disadvantaged refers to unmet need or poorer outcomes, while underrepresented refers to groups who are less likely to be reached by, benefit from, or influence services and opportunities.
**access: the ability to find, reach, understand and use appropriate support or services without undue barriers or delay.
 

The Sustainable Development Goals

The ScottishPower Foundation is commited to helping achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and all the projects funded through our grant giving must contribute towards at least one of the goals.

Your Organisation

All of the following statements must apply to your organisation:

 

  •  You have an active board of at least three unrelated trustees who are independent of one another (i.e. not related by family, marriage or civil partnership, and not connected through close personal or significant business relationships).
  • You have been registered with one of the UK Charity Regulators for at least two full years. We do not accept applications from exempt charities.
  • You have at least one year of published accounts covering a 12-month operating period that show as received on the relevant charity regulator website.
  • Your income in the last set of published accounts was greater than £100,000 but does not exceed £5,000,000.
  • The bank account into which the funding is to be made is not based in a restricted country (i.e. tax haven, high corruption risk or sanctioned country).
  • You maintain a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in any form, are committed to providing an inclusive and respectful environment for all individuals, and you operate in full compliance with applicable UK employment and equality legislation.

Partnership

If your project will be delivered in partnership with one or more other organisations, only one organisation should submit an application.

 

This organisation will be treated as the lead organisation and must meet all of the requirements in the Your Organisation section.
 

Your Project

We provide funding that is restricted to the delivery of specific projects, and not for general unrestricted running costs. There are certain types of activity that we are unable to fund. Your application must not request funding for any of the following:

 

  • Unrestricted costs (a proportionate share of your organisation’s overheads involved in running your project can be included on a Full Cost Recovery basis)
  • Funding that will be passed on to individuals or other organisations
  • Fundraising activities
  • Projects that take place outside the United Kingdom
  • Medical care or clinical treatment that is the statutory responsibility of the NHS
  • Medical research
  • The promotion of religious or political beliefs (we can fund projects run by religious organisations if the project benefits the wider community and does not promote religious beliefs)
  • Building work/land development in the categories of Education, Training and Research, Social Action and New Technologies

The following statements must apply to your application: 
                                                                                   

  • You can apply for a grant of between £50,000 and £100,000.                                                                       
  • The amount of funding you apply for should be proportionate to your organisation’s size and cannot exceed 50% of your organisation’s income shown in your most recent published accounts.
  • Your project must start between 31st March 2027 and 31st December 2027 and be completed within 12 months. We will only approve funding for a one-year period.
     

Repeat Funding

Whilst there is no limit to the number of times an organisation can apply to us for funding; we will not provide funding to the same project for any more than two years. Applications for a second year of funding must demonstrate additionality and progression.

Living Wage

We encourage our applicants to pay their staff the Real Living Wage, and require that any post directly funded from our grant is paid at no less than the current voluntary hourly rate of pay recommended by the Living Wage Foundation.

Full Cost Recovery

Full Cost Recovery means you can apply for funding towards the true cost of delivering a project, including the direct costs of the work as well as a proportionate share of the wider organisational costs that support it.

Safeguarding

If your organisation/project works with vulnerable beneficiaries – by which we mean children and vulnerable adults - you must have a written policy on Safeguarding that has been reviewed by your Board of Trustees within the last two years.
 
In line with OSCR’s guidance:

  • A child is anyone under 18 years of age.
  • A vulnerable (or protected) adult is anyone over 18 years of age who is unable to safeguard themselves, their property and their rights.
     

Building Works/Land Development

Applications for funding for building work/land development are not eligible in the categories of Education, Training and Research, Social Action and New Technologies.

 

If your project includes building work or land development that requires planning permission, you must have all necessary consents in place at the time of applying. 
 

How to apply

1. Eligibility form

The eligibility form clearly sets out the criteria for this round of funding and will allow you to determine whether your organisation is eligible to apply. You must confirm that you meet the criteria in order to progress to the application form.

 

Please complete the Eligibility Form to initiate your application. 

2. Application form

Once you have successfully passed the eligibility stage, you will receive an email with a link to the application form. You can save the progress of your application as you go along and can revisit it at any point up until you click 'submit’. 

What supporting documentation is required?

  • Your Articles of Association
  • Your most recently published annual accounts covering a 12-month operating period, that show as received on the relevant Charity Regulator website.  Your income shown in these accounts should be greater than £100,000 but should not exceed £5,000,000.
  • Your written policy on Safeguarding (if your organisation works with children or vulnerable beneficiaries). Please note that we are examining your policy in our capacity as a funder only and not in any advisory capacity. Our review of your policy should not be relied on as an endorsement of it.
  • A letter from your CEO or the Chair of your Board of Trustees confirming that your Safeguarding policy has been reviewed by your Board of Trustees within the last two years.
  • Evidence of planning and/or all necessary consents (if you are applying in the categories of Art and Culture or Biodiversity and Environment, and your project includes any building work or land development that requires consent). 

If you have a query that is not already covered aboved, please contact the team by email at: scottishpowerfoundation@scottishpower.comscottishpowerfoundation@scottishpower.com.

If you have a query that is not already covered aboved, please contact the team by email at: info@scottishpowerfoundation.com