Deadline: 9-Jul-25
The Financial Fairness Trust and the Robertson Trust are partnering on a joint call for project proposals to inform policy and public debate related to the financial well-being of people living on low-to-middle incomes in the run-up to the Scottish Parliamentary Elections of 2026.
Applications for the joint call will be considered for work to produce independent economic analysis, social research and policy work addressing the key challenges in relation to living standards in Scotland, as well as the opportunities, barriers and costs to doing so.
Their mission is to contribute towards strategic change which improves financial well-being in the UK. They want everyone to have a decent standard of living and feel in control of their finances, improving the lives of those on low-to-middle incomes. More specifically, the work they support examines and promotes measures to:
- Increase incomes for those on low-to-middle incomes.
- Ensure people have an adequate safety net, building savings and assets.
- Reduce the cost of living and make sure those on lower incomes are not paying more.
- Address issues related to spending and borrowing, particularly where it becomes problematic.
- Ensure they have fair taxation.
Aim
- They aim to improve the lives of those living on low-to-middle incomes in the UK, not just those in poverty but those across the bottom half of the income distribution who are cycling in and out of hardship. Whilst it’s vital to ensure that those facing financial hardship are supported, they also believe it’s important to prevent people falling into financial difficulties.
Objectives
- Their key objectives are to:
- Fund strategic work, including policy work, campaigning and research, which has the potential to improve financial well-being at a national scale.
- Develop partnerships, encouraging collaborative working and a more joined-up approach, convening where they can add value.
- Share learning, knowledge and evidence widely.
Areas of Focus
- Their funding programmes are focused on three significant areas that influence financial well-being:
Funding Information
- There is no minimum or maximum size of grant and the amount you request should be the amount you need. Their grants usually range between £10,000 and £200,000, with most between £50,000 to £120,000 in total. They sometimes make larger grants but these are rare.
- Duration: The amounts are usually spread over one, two or three years, and sometimes for shorter periods, for example six months.
Eligibility Criteria
- They fund organisations undertaking charitable activities. You don’t need to be a registered charity.
- Organisations they fund must have a governing body with at least three non-executive directors/trustees (at least three who are not employees of the organisation or affiliated to it in any other way).
- They will fund a wide range of organisations, including: voluntary organisations; think tanks; campaigning groups; research bodies; and universities.
Ineligibility Criteria
- They will not support applications:
- For the direct delivery of services, unless this is testing and/or evaluating a new or existing approach which has good potential to lead to wider change and be of significant benefit.
- For work that does not address those on low-to-middle incomes living in the UK.
- For work that is not charitable.
- From individuals.
- For work that is primarily the responsibility of statutory authorities.
Assessment Criteria
- They will assess applications against the following criteria:
- Programme: The proposed work has a good fit with their funding programmes and the organisation applying has a good in-depth understanding of the issue including knowledge of others working in the field.
- Strategic: The proposed work has the potential to create a step change in policy, practice, attitudes and/or behaviour.
- Delivery: The organisation applying has the skills, experience, relationships and capacity to undertake the proposed work.
- Financial: The financial costs are appropriate and the work is good value in relation to the proposed outputs and outcomes.
- Beneficiary engagement: Proactive engagement and involvement of people who will benefit in the organisation and its work, including in developing solutions and securing change.
For more information, visit abrdn Financial Fairness Trust.
