Finding and applying for grants

This page covers general advice on applying for grants and finding grant sources. For information specifically about MGS grant streams and guidance on applying for our funding, please visit our Funding pages.

Before you embark on finding and applying for appropriate grants, there are a few points worth considering:

Do your homework. Target the funder with the best match between your aims and theirs. Avoid a scattergun approach, it is rarely productive. A funder’s annual report should give you an indication of what they have funded and by how much.
Make contact with the grants officer or funder well in advance of submitting your application. They may be able to guide how you shape your application and provide an indication about your chances of success
Make sure you are eligible to apply and that your projects meet any criteria. There is no point wasting time writing an application if you do not meet the criteria
Involve your colleagues and draw on knowledge from across the organisation
Identify what will make your project stand out and remember that you will likely be in competition with lots of other quality projects so make your project impossible to turn down
Clearly describe what you will do and the difference the project will make, don’t forget the details that are obvious to you but only because you know the project inside out
Avoid jargon specific to your sector or organisation
Make sure your budget figures make sense and add up
Look beyond ‘heritage’ grant streams. Think about sources of funding linked to the subject of your collection or the groups of people you want to work with, for example technical skills for young adults.

You can find more information about different types of funding available to museums.

There are a number of funding directories and resources listing grant giving organisations that already exist. Please note that we do try and review the links here on a regular basis, but if you find a link broken please visit the main organisation’s website as the resource may have been moved or updated.

Funding directories

Heritage Alliance: Funding Directory

Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations: Funding Scotland database

Funding Scotland