£15 million will help tackle root causes of poverty, racism and climate change

A game-changing fund has been launched that places transformative decision-making power into the hands of those who are often excluded.

The 10 year-long Regenerative Futures Fund gives individuals and organisations the agency and the resources they need to create a brighter future for residents of Edinburgh.

It aims to be a game changer in how funding works – both in terms of the collaborative nature of how the money is pooled, and in terms of breaking with funding short-termism, which can blight the prospects of organisations, projects and services.

Some of the biggest funders in the country will contribute to the pooled fund, including Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund, The Robertson Trust, Turn2us Edinburgh Trust, Foundation Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council.

However, while they have collaborated, they will be completely removed from the decision making, with that being devolved to the communities who will most benefit.

The Regenerative Futures Fund has been set up to improve the lives of people in the capital living in poverty and experiencing racism, and that contribute towards a just, green transition, by enabling equity and power-sharing.

With nearly £6 million pledged to date, the funders behind it are inviting others to join the coalition.

As well as third sector funders, this could include corporate partners and philanthropists, with the aim of bringing in £15m.

Leah Black, co-head of the fund, pictured above right, said: “We have a wealth of incredible organisations in Edinburgh who are passionate and capable of delivering the changes we all need to see but unfortunately the current funding landscape can often stand in their way.

“Traditional funding programmes do little to address the root causes of poverty and inequality; short timescales, restricted single-issue support and overall, a real lack of trust in the organisations delivering on the ground. A radical shake up is needed and that is why we are coming together to launch The Regenerative Futures Fund.

“The Regenerative Futures Fund is different. Collaboratively designed by local people in community organisations, campaigners, funders and the local authority, this £15m, ten-year pooled fund presents a unique opportunity to support and learn with others to enable a long-term community-led approach to systemic change.

“We are committed to meaningful, long term and unrestricted funding. This means that organisations will be given the freedom to think and plan for the long-term.”

Through the fund, grants of up to £100,000 per year will be offered to around 10-15 Edinburgh-based organisations, over 10 years.

The fund is specifically designed to step into the space of long term, unrestricted funding, placing trust in communities that they themselves can allocate resources where they are most needed, and where they will make the biggest impact.

Aala Ross, co-head of the fund, pictured above left, added: “The Regenerative Futures Fund directly addresses the huge problem we have with short-termism. Transformative thinking - and doing - requires long-term resource.

“We struggle to think and act long-term due to the dominance of short-term and restricted funding, resulting in ‘sticking plaster’ and siloed solutions to our biggest societal issues. We are frustrated with restrictions and barriers of short-term, restrictive and power imbalanced funding for social sector organisations.  

“We know that this is a funding programme with a difference, and we know that other cities and funders will be watching and we will openly share our learning across the next ten years.”

One of Scotland’s biggest funders, The Robertson Trust has contributed £1m to the Regenerative Futures Fund, the largest award they’ve made in this strategic funding period, and their first ever ten-year award.

Jim McCormick, chief executive, said: “The Robertson Trust is committed to preventing and reducing poverty and trauma in Scotland by funding, supporting and influencing solutions to drive social change.

“As an independent funder, we recognise our responsibility to explore new approaches, particularly to address the root causes of poverty, racial injustice and climate risks. Our partners tell us consistently that lasting change cannot be achieved through short-term funding. That’s why we were drawn to The Regenerative Futures Fund’s long-term vision, its ambitious cross-sector collaboration, and its deep commitment to shifting power towards people and places with lived experience of these deep-seated challenges.

“Our £1m award over ten years - the largest and longest commitment of strategy period to date - reflects our commitment to long-term change. We share the Fund’s bold vision and look forward to learning about power-sharing and ambitious collaboration to achieve transformative change in Edinburgh.”

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has contributed over £500,000 to the Fund. Gillian Goode, funding manager, said: “Regenerative Futures Fund is an ambitious vision to reimagine and demonstrate an alternative model of citizen-led change for the City of Edinburgh. Communities have no shortage of ideas for how to explore and create innovative solutions and address the inequalities that exclude people from being part of that experience; what they often lack is stable and secure resourcing and the right to decide how best to use it.

“We are grateful and excited to have the opportunity to learn alongside communities, other funders, City of Edinburgh Council, other partners and stakeholders how we might work together differently in future towards sustainable change that can meet everyone’s social and economic needs and safeguard our climate and natural world.”

Foundation Scotland is involved as both a key funder and the host of the fund overall.

Helen Wray, head of philanthropy, said: “This is an ambitious fund that ultimately aims to empower people to play a central role in improving their lives and those of others – to have their voices listened to and be active in shaping their own futures. We talk about this kind of approach often, but rarely do we see it so powerfully laid out. The Regenerative Futures Fund has the potential to create a compelling model for others to follow. We will fully support them to make that ambition a reality.”

Further information, eligibility criteria and application details are now live on the fund website.

Those interested in contributing to the collaborative pooled fund and building a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for Edinburgh should get in touch with Leah Black at leah@foundationscotland.org.uk