Frequently Asked Questions

Please read these Frequently Asked Questions carefully, even if you have applied to this scheme before, as some things may have changed since your last application.

What is the purpose of the scheme? 

The purpose of the scheme is to:    

  • Have a positive social impact for people living in the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, Scottish Borders and/or Fife. 

For larger grants only :

  • to develop positive relationships between the University and your community organisation, by working together in the delivery of your project. Having a positive social impact is given greater weight when applications are reviewed.  

We are posing this question as part of the grant application to encourage you, as an organisation, to consider how you could utilise the University to support the delivery of your project. Therefore, your application should illustrate how you have considered you might engage with and seek support from the University.    

We want to open our doors to local communities. It is ok if you do not have any relationship with the University yet, as this provides you with the opportunity to start building one. If you already have a relationship with the University, please evidence how you intend to develop this further through your project.    

Example opportunities you could utilise may include:    

  • exploring staff or students volunteering with your proposed project  
  • your project proposing to visit the University as an outreach activity, for example, Talbot Rice Gallery, St Cecilia’s Hall  
  • hosting a placement (as part of a degree course) for a student to support your project delivery  

This list is illustrative and not exhaustive. We encourage applicants to consider, explore and research opportunities so that we can support your project to flourish. You may find the Edinburgh Local webpage a useful resource to explore opportunities, particularly our Community Plan.    


There are two levels of funding available under this scheme. 

In both cases, these sums are the maximum amounts you can apply for, and you are welcome to apply for less. 

Up to £5,000 (spring and autumn) 

There are two deadlines each year to which you can apply for up to £5,000, inclusive of VAT. 

Community Grant Scheme 

Up to £500 (year-round) 

You can apply for up to £500 (inclusive of VAT) at any time of year through our micro-grant scheme. 

Micro-grant scheme 


This scheme has about £55,000 to spend each year, which is around 20-30 grants (including micro-grants). 


The aim of the scheme is to fund stand-alone projects. We will not fund:   

  • Standard for-profit organisations.   
  • Organisations with an annual income of more than £1 million.   
  • Individuals.  
  • Statutory bodies, including schools. We will fund organisations that work with statutory bodies and activities happening on the premises of statutory bodies (e.g., activities at after-school clubs). We will also fund Community Councils as these are voluntary organisations (albeit set up by statute).  
  • Organisations without an organisational bank account.   
  • Companies without a governing document. We may ask for a copy of your governing documents. 
  • Staff & students from any local university can apply but must do so through an organisation (e.g., student society) and must be working with and for local residents, including residents who are not currently students.  
  • Organisations whose only charitable objective is the promotion of religious or political beliefs.  
  • Staff time that isn’t specifically for delivering the project in question, i.e. we will not fund staff involved with the general day-to-day running of your organisation (e.g. receptionists, janitors, cleaners). We will fund staff already employed by your organisation for any time being spent delivering the project. You are also welcome to recruit new staff.    
  • General running costs of a building or organisation, e.g. rent, utilities.    
  • Straight continuations of ongoing projects. You can apply to us again if your project has been changed in some major way, i.e. you’re genuinely trying out something new.  
  • Renovations or other building work.   
  • Organisations experiencing severe financial difficulties or those at risk of administration or bankruptcy. 

We will consider funding projects where you need to get funding from other organisations as well as us. However, there must be a reasonable likelihood that you will have secured other funding within six months of us making our award to you. 

We will not pay out funding until you’ve confirmed you have secured other funding. We reserve the right to cancel your award if you don’t secure other funding within six months. 


 Yes. 


We are more likely to fund your project if it scores highly against the two purposes of the scheme, plus:   

  • Takes appropriate steps to look after the safety and wellbeing of all the people involved.   
  • Is realistic, with a clear plan for delivery.    
  • Has an itemised budget which considers value for money.  
  • Is clear about how local residents are likely to benefit. 

 For larger grants, a panel of University staff and students involved in communications, social responsibility and community engagement will judge bids alongside someone from a local external organisation that represents the third sector. Panel members are required to declare conflicts of interest and do not mark applications where these arise.  


We aim to let you know within six to eight weeks after the closing date for submitting applications. If you apply for a micro-grant, we aim to let you know within four to six weeks. 


For projects funded by the Community Grants Scheme, you should aim to start your project around four months after the deadline. 

For projects funded by the Micro-grant Scheme, you should aim to start your project one to two months after your application has been successful.  


We wouldn’t usually expect a project to last more than six months. If you think your project will take longer than this please explain why in your application.   


You will need to complete a final report web form within one month of your project ending.  

Final report web form 


For unsuccessful applications, we will keep personal data included in your application (including your name and contact details) for up to five years, then delete it. We will keep a copy of the rest of your application indefinitely. For successful applications, we will keep your name and contact details on our records indefinitely, but will delete your signature and bank account details after five years.   

Read more about how we use your personal data 


For each round, we offer online and in-person information sessions. These will be available to book onto when the next grant round opens.  

If you have any questions not answered on this page or in the information sessions, we’re happy to help. Please contact the University’s Community Team on local@ed.ac.uk or 0131 651 5000. 

Please note that our team is using a hybrid working model, and may not be in the office to answer your call. Messages are checked regularly and a member of our team will call you back. 


If you require application materials in an alternative format, please email local@ed.ac.uk or call 0131 651 5000, or ask a friend or family member to do so for you. We can send you a printed copy of the form by post on request.  


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