Grants to external organisations

Request a list of grants paid to third-party organisations and their value.

Public bodies award grants to charities, community groups, and businesses. An FOI request can reveal who is receiving public funding and how much.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information for [FINANCIAL YEAR e.g. 2024-25]: 1. A list of all grants or funding awards made to external organisations, showing the name of the recipient, the amount awarded, and the purpose of the grant. 2. The total value of all grants awarded during the period. 3. The number of grant applications received and the number refused. I would prefer to receive this as a spreadsheet or CSV if possible. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
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Who to send it to#

Any Scottish public authority that awards grants: councils, the Scottish Government, and agencies such as Creative Scotland or sportscotland. Find the right authority on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

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Tips#

  • Some authorities publish lists of grants awarded on their websites or through annual reports. Check what is already available before submitting your request.
  • If the list is very long, set a minimum threshold (e.g. grants above £1,000) to keep the request within the cost limit.
  • The data on refused applications helps you understand how competitive the process is and whether demand exceeds supply.