Giles Ruck on the difference Foundation Scotland’s approach to funding is making in the sector – now and tomorrow
It’s not breaking news that the pressures facing our sector have never been greater.
We know that frontline organisations are continuing to face relentless pressure as demand for services continues to rise, while at the same time, funders are struggling with stretched resources. So how do we break the cycle? How do we provide help with immediate need, while supporting frontline organisations to stabilise and take a breath?
For us at Foundation Scotland, our first step has come in the shape of our Response Fund, a £12 million fast-tracked funding programme that is flexible, empathetic, and shaped by a clear understanding of the realities our communities are facing.
It’s worthwhile noting that, while this Response Fund reflects the distinct experiences of current times, it is very much rooted in learning and doing things differently.
As a funder, the pandemic showed us what’s possible when we trust frontline organisations. When needs were urgent, funders responded by lifting restrictions, fast-tracking support, and placing trust in those delivering services on the ground.
Somewhat inevitably, there has been some drift back to more traditional, restricted models of support, which is hindering organisations from being able to pivot to changing circumstances or pause to plan for the future. At Foundation Scotland we, like others, are recognising the lessons of the past.
Through our Response Fund, we are actively choosing to support organisations with flexible funding that allows them to respond swiftly to the needs they are best-placed to understand. That means multi-year, unrestricted support – not just emergency stopgaps, but backing that helps organisations plan ahead, deliver and adapt.
As an example, we’re providing £6m over two years to Scotland’s Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB), with funding going directly to every local CAB. This recognises both the immense strain they’ve faced and the fact that they know best where to direct resources to make the greatest impact locally.
We’re also making cost of living adjustments to current grant holders, helping organisations manage rising operational costs and sudden employer obligations. And we’re contributing to Corra Foundation’s Boost programme, supporting small, local organisations that are reaching families hardest hit by poverty.
Our £5m investment in the Development Trusts Association Scotland – the largest single award in our history – supports the infrastructure of community resilience. Development trusts are often the first to respond and the last to leave. This funding will help strengthen capacity at a time when it’s most needed.
As an independent funder working in partnership with philanthropists, we’re committed to funding that empowers, not constrains. We know that lasting change doesn’t come from short-term fixes. It requires flexible, sustained support that allows organisations to lead with confidence.
The needs across Scotland are urgent, but the response must be built for the long term.
That’s why we created this fund, and why we hope it will become an embedded approach for funders, including ourselves, so we can ensure trusted organisations have the stability they need to continue making a difference.
Giles Ruck is chief executive of Foundation Scotland.
This article first appeared in TFN magazine's June edition - click here to read it all!
