Applications

Find out more about how to apply for funding and the criteria for applications. 

The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation Applications

The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation supports a wide variety of capital projects, from shinty sticks and audio visual kits to cutting edge cancer research equipment. Applicants should demonstrate a sound management plan, evidence local support and fundraising and show a clear benefit to their community. 

Award Types

Our awards are for capital expenditure and range from £100 up to £25,000, with the majority ranging from £1,000 to £10,000. Projects should show innovation and fit within five themes:

  • Health and Wellbeing - to support healthy living as well as good nutrition, including Scots culinary traditions;
  • Arts and Heritage - to promote and support arts and heritage to widen opportunity, access and participation for all;
  • Conservation and the Environment - promoting the conservation and preservation of our natural environment;
  • Education - supporting initiatives which broaden horizons, promote responsibilty and increase access or opportunity for young people; and
  • Sport - to support amateur sporting activity, in particular those which encourage youth development.

Where we fund

We support charities and constituted groups which work in Scotland’s North-east and Highlands. In terms of local authority areas, this relates to Moray, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, the Highlands, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Orkney and Shetland.

Applying for The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation Funding

There are four funding rounds a year and submission deadlines for 2025 will fall on January 31, April 25, July 25 and October 31.  

We are now accepting applications for the January 31 deadline and we will get back to you with the outcome of your submission in the first week of March, 2025. 

Please complete the eligibility quiz below to determine if your request meets our criteria before you can proceed to the application form. 

Take our  Eligibility Quiz!

1

Themes

The foundation supports organisations and community groups working in the following areas:

  • Health and Wellbeing - to support healthy living as well as good nutrition, including Scots culinary traditions;
  • Arts and Heritage - to promote and support arts and heritage to widen opportunity, access and participation for all;
  • Conservation and the Environment - promoting the conservation and preservation of our natural environment;
  • Education - supporting initiatives which broaden horizons, promote responsibility and increase access or opportunity for young people; and
  • Sport - to support amateur sporting activity, in particular those which encourage youth development.
Does your project fall within these categories?

Sorry, your organisation is not eligible to apply for an award from our Foundation at this time. Thank you for your interest.

2

Types of organisations

Our funding is aimed at UK registered charities or constituted community or sporting groups. Social enterprises, which are registered charities, can apply. We are not able to consider applications from community interest companies, community benefit societies, co-ops, sole traders, or individuals.

Can you confirm your organisation meets this requirement?

Sorry, your organisation is not eligible to apply for an award from our Foundation at this time. Thank you for your interest.

3

Types of funding

The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation considers applications for specific capital expenditure – tangible assets that will benefit your organisation for many years. Broadly, this covers: buildings; fittings, fixtures and equipment; vehicles.

We are unable to consider applications for ongoing day to day financial overheads or project overheads.

Can you confirm that you are seeking capital funding?

Sorry, your organisation is not eligible to apply for an award from our Foundation at this time. Thank you for your interest.

4

What we can't fund

We are not able to consider any of the following:

  • Retrospective funding
  • Overheads / direct project costs
  • Routine repairs / maintenance
  • Individual or team sponsorship
  • The promotion of religious or political belief, including works to religious or political buildings
  • Research, feasibility studies or scoping work
  • One off events (including performances, sporting events, festivals, conferences, respite breaks and residential/school trips)
  • Animal welfare charities – such as sanctuaries or animal homes
  • Projects generally understood to be the responsibility of a statutory authority. Please note, this includes equipment for local authority playgrounds and schools / school grounds.
  • Start-up costs
  • Purchase of land or existing buildings
  • We are unlikely to consider applications from grant making charities
Can you confirm that your project is not among these exclusions?

Sorry, your organisation is not eligible to apply for an award from our Foundation at this time. Thank you for your interest.

5

Where we fund

We support charities which work in Scotland’s North-east and Highlands. In terms of local authority areas, this relates to Moray, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, the Highlands, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Orkney and Shetland. 

Is your organisation’s work within our geographical area?

Sorry, your organisation is not eligible to apply for an award from our Foundation at this time. Thank you for your interest.

6

Project funding

Awards vary from £100 up to £25,000, with the majority being between £1,000 and £10,000. Some project funding should be in place prior to making a formal application. As a guide, this should be around 50% of total project costs, but this is considered on an individual project basis. 

Do you have around half of the total funds required in place or pledged?

Sorry, your organisation is not eligible to apply for an award from our Foundation at this time. Thank you for your interest.

7

Community Support

The Foundation particularly welcomes applications from projects that have evidence of community support, either through fundraising or from in-kind support.

Can you demonstrate strong community buy-in for your project?

Sorry, your organisation is not eligible to apply for an award from our Foundation at this time. Thank you for your interest.

8

Accounts

As part of your application, you will be asked to supply at least one year’s worth of annual accounts. For larger awards, further financial information may be requested.

Can you confirm you have at least one year’s worth of accounts to submit?

Sorry, your organisation is not eligible to apply for an award from our Foundation at this time. Thank you for your interest.

9

Previous award

As there are so many organisations worthy of support, we ask that you wait at least a year between an award or declination before getting back in touch.

Has one year passed since you last applied to The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation?

Sorry, your organisation is not eligible to apply for an award from our Foundation at this time. Thank you for your interest.

Thank you - it appears that your organisation is eligible to apply. The next deadline for submissions is October 25. You will be told the outcome of your application in the first week of December.

Application guidance