Earth Raise – All Donations Doubled!
We’re very excited to take part in Earth Raise. Between 22nd – 29th April, all donations, until we reach at least £10,000, will be doubled thanks to match funding from The Big Give . This means that a £50 donation becomes £100 at no extra cost to you.
Donate here – HIEF Earth Raise 2026
Why donate to HIEF?
Scotland has admirers the world-over based on our iconic native species, world-famous landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. The stark reality is that we are one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
HIEF works to protect and restore nature by channelling funds into local projects, building on local knowledge and enthusiasm to tackle the biodiversity crisis head-on. We build relationships with trusts and foundations, individual philanthropists, and corporates interested in supporting our work. Donations to HIEF are pooled into a ‘disbursement pot’ which funds projects across the length and breadth of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
Every gift – whether £2 or £200 – contributes to the collective strength of that pot. Last year we funded 26 community-led projects, from seagrass restoration in Kintyre to peatland restoration in Wester Ross and forest restoration on the Isle of Mull.
How to donate?
Donate via the Earth Raise website up until Midday on the 29th April using a debit card, credit card, or Google and Apple Pay. For donations of £500 or more, donors can also choose to use the BACS donation option.
All donations made through the Earth Raise website before the deadline will be matched up to £10,000.
Examples of the projects that HIEF supports. More information on all these projects, plus many more, is available on our Grants page
Beyond grant giving
Aside from our grants, we work to deepen our impact by unlocking additional funding and strengthening the skillset and collective capacity of the sector.
For example, since launching in 2020, we have awarded just over £1m in grants, but levered an additional £500,000 through building relationships with other funders. Our understanding of funder requirements and areas of interest, coupled with our experience of grant giving in the Highlands & Islands, enables us to act as a matchmaker – introducing trusted funders to trusted grantees.
All the organisations we support face fundraising challenges. Through Crowdfunding campaigns with Bute Community Forest (2024) and Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust (2026), we have helped unlock additional funding. Simultaneously, these campaigns strengthen funding resilience by building a supportive network of local donors, and evidencing community endorsement for future funding bids.
Grant applications can be onerous and repetitive. More often than not, it is difficult to balance the desired tone and structure. As both a funder and a fundraiser, HIEF is well placed to offer insight into this process. Through online meetings both in advance of, and during the HIEF application process, we strengthen organisations’ abilities to communicate their work effectively. This support has value beyond fundraising, with the principle messages being adjusted for other audiences from local media to national policy decision-makers.
Help us support more amazing projects and organisations – support our Earth Raise campaign. Thank you.
For more information on the campaign, visit our Earth Raise page.