Philanthropy: Launching Our First Green Philanthropy Report
To mark Scotland’s Climate Week, the Philanthropy team is celebrating the launch of our first ever Green Philanthropy Report.
This publication shines a light on how philanthropic giving—through private donors, corporate partners and national programmes—has helped drive meaningful climate action across Scotland over the past five years.
2026 marked the UK’s hottest summer on record. Over the summer, Scotland saw countless wildfires brought about by extreme temperatures and minimal rainfall. According to the United Nations, this summer has indicated that there is “a climate crisis pushing us deeper toward higher temperatures and closer to catastrophic tipping points.” Global calls to action have followed across governments and civil society. As the scale of the challenge grows, attention is increasingly turning to the role of charitable foundations and private philanthropy in accelerating climate solutions.
Green philanthropy is no longer a niche corner of charitable giving — it’s becoming one of the most dynamic and forward‑looking areas of today’s philanthropic landscape. As funders increasingly recognise the urgency of the climate crisis, they are shifting their focus toward solutions that deliver environmental impact alongside social and economic benefit.
With this in mind, we hope our Green Philanthropy Report highlights the work that the Foundations Scotland Philanthropy Team is undertaking to support climate action across Scotland and internationally. The report showcases how strategic giving, partnership building and donor engagement are helping to drive meaningful, long‑term change.