Foundation Scotland is inviting applications to the Crown Estate Scotland Community Capacity Grants Programme, which provides grants of £20,000 – £50,000 to support the early-stage development of community enterprise projects. The fund aims to help communities create self-sustaining enterprises, support local regeneration, and deliver long-term economic, social and environmental benefits.

Projects should help communities thrive through activities such as community enterprise development, sustainable rural or coastal housing, climate-resilient communities, community infrastructure, skills and enterprise development, the circular economy, or sustainable tourism, recreation and heritage initiatives.

The programme is open to communities located within five miles of Scotland’s coastline or estuarine foreshore, or within five miles of one of Crown Estate Scotland’s rural estates at Glenlivet, Fochabers, Whitehills and Applegirth. Grants are available for a one-year period, and support revenue costs associated with project development, rather than capital works.

The fund is highly competitive, with Crown Estate Scotland making £390,000 available through this programme in 2026-27. Applications follow a two-stage process, beginning with an Expression of Interest (EOI), which must be received by Friday 25 September 2026.

For further information, including how to submit an EOI, please visit the Foundation Scotland website.