Invest

Bank of Scotland Foundation recognises the significant impact that the current cost of living crisis is having on people across Scotland.  To ensure Bank of Scotland Foundation funding can support charities through this crisis and reach those in real need, the 2023 Invest Grants Programme will provide funding for up to five years for charities.

Our Invest programme is suitable for charities that can demonstrate they address disadvantage or social exclusion. This will ensure our funding reaches the most vulnerable people across Scotland and provides them with opportunity and equality.

Disadvantage: examples include charities addressing primary disadvantage such as homelessness, abuse, mental health or poverty, or secondary disadvantage such as debt issues, learning disabilities, illiteracy, lack of employability skills or health issues.

Social Exclusion: examples include charities addressing exclusionary challenges for minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT people, drug users, care leavers, the elderly or the young.

To be eligible for this programme charities must have a minimum of 3 years accounts at OSCR and have an annual income of between £50k and £1m. Please note this annual income must be from the most recent accounts which have been lodged and checked at OSCR and must be for the charity number on the application form.

Charities can apply for funding between £10,000 and £50,000 per year for between 2 and 5 years.

The total requested per year must be no greater than 20% of your charity’s annual income from the last accounts lodged at OSCR.  For example, if your charity’s annual income is £100K per annum, your charity can apply for no more than £20,000 per year for up to 5 years (total grant amount of £100,000 over 5 years).

Charities can apply for whatever is their greatest priority and area of need.  For example:

• Project work e.g., a programme of work which is limited in scope and seeks to achieve particular outcomes including funding for project costs, staff costs, materials
• Core costs e.g., salary costs, utilities, and rent
• Capital costs e.g., a building project, repairs, equipment etc.

To apply you must submit an online application.

To enable the application to be fully assessed please provide the following:

• a clear financial breakdown of your funding request
• one A4 page (PDF format) detailing your funding request which justifies all items highlighted in your financial breakdown
• the most recent signed accounts (including Independent Examiner’s Report) which have been lodged and checked at OSCR
• your charity’s constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association.

All documents must be received by the closing date of Monday 6^th March 2023 at 12 Noon. No applications or documentation will be accepted after this deadline.