The Ethnic Minority Development Fund (EMDF) from CEMVO Scotland supports grassroots ethnic minority‑led organisations in Scotland to access funding, strengthen capacity and build long‑term sustainability.

This fund is for ethnic minority‑led third sector organisations in Scotland; an organisation is considered ethnic minority‑led when 60% or more of the board and leadership are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The EMDF offers funding for various projects which benefit ethnic minority people and communities in Scotland. This funding is restricted, and if awarded, must be spent on the project that the organisation applied for.

Applicants must explain how their project will meet at least one of the following outcomes:

bring ethnic minority people together and build strong relationships across communities
help more ethnic minority people to thrive by supporting them early
improve places and spaces that matter to ethnic minority communities

In the 2026 round, the EMDF offers grants of £500 – £15,000, with a total of £500,000 available.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Tuesday 26 May 2026.

Full details of the fund criteria and how to apply can be found at the CEMVO Scotland website (linked for your convenience).