Crown Estate Scotland’s Sustainable Communities Fund has opened for its seventh round of applications, offering grants to eligible grass-roots projects across Scotland.
Established in 2020, the programme, which offers practical support to a wide variety of projects, has already distributed more than £2.25 million and this year’s funding pot is the biggest to date. The fund comprises of two separate grant programmes:
Environment Grants of £5,000 to £20,000 which are available to Crown Estate Scotland tenants to support projects capable of delivering environmental benefits within 18 months of award.
Community Capacity Grants of £20,000 to £50,000, available to support early-stage development of community enterprise projects situated within five miles of the Scottish coastline (or one of Crown Estate Scotland’s rural estates).
For the first time, more than half a million pounds will be available across the two grant programmes, with £200,000 available via Environment Grants and £390,000 via Community Capacity Grants.
The Environment Grant programme has seen the most substantial increase in funding as Crown Estate Scotland seeks to support its tenants to deliver a range of environmental improvements, such as improving the energy efficiency of their businesses or enhancing biodiversity.
Community groups across Scotland are invited to apply for Community Capacity Grants towards early-stage development projects that will support sustainable management of the Scottish Crown Estate and the activities that take place upon it. Projects should fall within one or more of the following themes:
- Sustainable rural or coastal housing
- Climate-resilient communities
- Community infrastructure
- Skills, enterprise and the circular economy
- Sustainable tourism, recreation and heritage
Anneli Hill, Head of Sustainable Development & Delivery at Crown Estate Scotland, said:
“We are delighted to be able to pledge almost £600,000 towards this year’s Sustainable Community Fund – a programme which has helped fund a large number of transformative community projects across Scotland and which empowers local people and Crown Estate Scotland tenants to bring about the changes most important to them.
“This year’s fund complements our recently published Corporate Plan, which sets out our commitment to protect and enhance Scotland’s incredible diversity in nature and to provide more support to our tenants and their ambitions.”
Both funds opened to new applications on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Full details of how to apply can be found on the Crown Estate Scotland website.
Community Capacity Grants programme – which is managed by Foundation Scotland on behalf of Crown Estate Scotland – Expressions of Interest are now open and will close on Friday 25 September at 5pm. A shortlist of eligible applicants will then be invited to submit a full application.
Environment Grants Programme – which is administered by Crown Estate Scotland – and which has a one-stage application process – applications are now open and will close at 12pm on Monday 26 October 2026.
For further information please visit the Sustainable Communities Fund page of Crown Estate Scotland’s website.