Our grants

To see a map of HIEF supported projects click here

  • Salmon stream nutrition restoration – Wester Ross Fisheries Trust

    Find out more
  • Marine Litter Island Drone Survey

    Find out more
  • Bute Community Forest Ranger

    Find out more
  • Glen Urquhart Farm Cluster

    Find out more
  • Restoring nature at Ardura Community Forest

    Find out more
  • Glenelg peninsula biodiversity mapping

    Find out more
  • Waterfall wood rehabilitation, Oban – Keep Oban Beautiful

    Find out more
  • Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust – Plock pilot

    Find out more
  • Scottish Association of Marine Science (SAMS) – Scotland’s red snows:exploring & showcasing snow algae in Scotland

    Find out more
  • Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust – Kyle of Sutherland Community Tree Nursery

    Find out more
  • Marine Conservation Society – Beachwatch Highlands & Islands

    Find out more
  • Beaches and Marine Litter Project

    Find out more
  • Blue Hope Alliance

    Find out more
  • CAOLAS baseline survey

    Find out more
  • HWDT – Minke whale research

    Find out more
  • Sylvestris: Moray farm cluster

    Find out more
  • Marine Mapping & Modelling Resources

    Find out more
  • Wildfish: Increasing Smartrivers coverage in Scotland

    Find out more
  • Orkney Marine Mammal Research Initiative (OMMRI): Harbour porpoise annual aggregation research project

    Find out more
  • Young People at COAST

    Find out more
  • Marine Litter data collection and monitoring on Scottish Islands

    Find out more
  • Cutting Down project

    Find out more
  • Seagrass germination pilot programme

    Find out more
  • Guardians of our rivers

    Find out more
  • Mapping & modelling resources – phase 2

    Find out more
  • Lower plants specialist – year 2

    Find out more
  • River Spey Partnership

    Find out more
  • North Ronaldsay Beach Plastic Recycling Warden

    Find out more
  • Abernethy Community Woodland Rangers

    Find out more
  • WDC Shorewatch Youth Programme

    Find out more
  • Highland Primary Schools Birdboxes – year 2

    Find out more
  • Wester Ross native oyster restoration

    Find out more
  • Coastal Ranger service – extension

    Find out more
  • Mapping & modelling resource for coastal communities

    Find out more
  • Cairngorm Cranes, development period

    Find out more
  • Blue Hope Alliance – project officer, marine conservation

    Find out more
  • Friends of Loch Hourn – fact finding mission

    Find out more
  • Knapdale water vole project

    Find out more
  • De facto ban of Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) by salmon farms

    Find out more
  • West Loch Ness Farm Cluster

    Find out more
  • Highland Primary Schools Birdbox project

    Find out more
  • The Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot

    Find out more
  • Lochaline Native Oyster Restoration

    Find out more
  • Saving Scotland’s Rainforest

    Find out more
  • Lower plants specialist post

    Find out more
  • Beach Ranger

    Find out more

HIEF Supported Projects

Grant criteria Overview

  • WHO: Local non-profit organisations, associations, clubs or unions, social co-operative enterprises and/or other local bodies, including research centres, are strongly encouraged to apply for grants.

  • Non-local applicants already active in the area, or relevant experts, may also be eligible for grants and strategic partnerships, if they prove that they can offer capacity building to local communities and/or tangible impact through their work on the ground.

  • All applicants must display strong and effective leadership and emphasise an integrated, bottom-up approach, consulting with, mobilising and involving local communities and demonstrating positive community impact.

  • Organisations previously supported should get in touch to discuss a new application before submitting an EoI, as there may be additional requirements for repeat-funding requests.

  • WHAT: Applications for funding from the HIEF should fit into one of the Foundation’s key areas of interest and demonstrate clear, measurable environmental impact as a primary aim of the project.

  • Proposed projects must be clear and compelling, and aim to deliver measurable and sustainable long-term results, build capacity and encourage participation by local communities.

  • Ideally, the proposed activities will be sufficiently visible to leverage additional support from other funding sources.  Projects with opportunities for replicability, to amplify their impact, will be prioritised.

  • Larger projects, where the HIEF funding would constitute less than 10% of the overall budget, are less likely to be funded.

  • WHERE: The HIEF will support projects throughout the Scottish Highlands and Islands (see here).  Projects taking place in areas that fall slightly outside the boundary may still be eligible; please get in touch if in doubt.

  • If you are unsure about whether your proposed project would meet the HIEF criteria, please contact Louis (louis@hief.scot) for an informal discussion before completing an EoI.

When to apply

Applications for grants will be accepted in three periods in 2025.

Application deadlines are:

  • 9am, Monday, 3rd March 2025
  • 9am, Monday, 2nd June 2025
  • 9am, Monday, 1st September 2025

How to apply

All applicants need to complete and submit our expression of interest form. If your application is approved, you will be invited to complete and submit a more detailed application form. All successful applicants will need to sign a Grant Agreement specifying the terms and conditions of our collaboration. Please download and complete the expression of interest form below or contact sally@hief.scot for a paper version.