Community Benefit Funds

Foundation Scotland is the leading independent administrator of community benefit funds in Scotland.

Since 2004, Foundation Scotland has been working alongside renewable energy businesses and communities to help set up and implement a diverse range of community benefit funds as a third party specialist.

Donors and clients include both large utilities, renewable energy developers, investment fund and asset managers as well as development trusts, community companies and community councils.

Our communities team works alongside renewable energy businesses and communities to provide specialist support for both parties, such as fund design, grant-making, community engagement, facilitation and fund management services. We help communities navigate and maximise these long-term funds, so that they can make significant and enduring investments in the places they live. And we help energy companies to make the greatest impact with their funds.

We took on our first ever community benefit fund in 2006. Two decades later, Foundation Scotland is the leading independent administrator of community benefit funds in Scotland. We now support over 350 communities to distribute more than £13million annually, from over a hundred different community benefit funds.

Foundation Scotland's approach to working with developers and businesses is rigorous, trusted, highly valued, adaptable and community-led, refined over twenty years of hands-on experience.

We acts as an independent intermediary, helping to design, manage and review funds while ensuring strategic decisions remain firmly rooted in communities themselves.

For us, good governance matters and builds trust. Independent administration and stewardship, clear processes and transparent decision-making create confidence for everyone involved. Developers have valued our consistency, accountability and strong relationships with communities.