• Orkney Skate Monitoring

    Find out more
  • MaCCOLL Baseline Surveys

    Find out more
  • Conserving Red-necked phalaropes

    Find out more
  • Amphibian and Reptile Crofter Guidance

    Find out more
  • Lunan Burn Wildlife Cluster

    Find out more
  • Scotland’s Red Snows

    Find out more
  • Blue Hope Alliance

    Find out more
  • CAOLAS baseline survey

    Find out more
  • HWDT – Minke whale research

    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
  • Lower plants specialist – year 2

    Find out more

HIEF Supported Projects

Grant criteria Overview

  • Click here to read our FUNDING GUIDANCE in full

     

    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 2026. Expression of Interest deadlines will be at 9am on the following days:

Monday 23rd February
Monday 11th May
Monday 7th September

 

Click here to read our Funding Guidance

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.