The Finnis Scott Grant

The Finnis Scott Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Finnis Scott Foundation
Amount: Up to £60,000
Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Summary

The Finnis Scott Foundation, established in 2006, focuses on supporting UK charities in horticulture, plant sciences, and art conservation. Grants typically range up to £10,000, with some exceptions reaching £60,000 over multiple years. The Foundation prioritizes smaller charities and does not fund individual salaries or completed projects. Applications must come from registered charities or educational institutions. This initiative fosters horticultural training, ensuring impactful support in the arts and sciences.

Overview

About the Foundation The Finnis Scott Foundation was established under the Will of Lady Montagu Douglas Scott (Valerie Finnis) in 2006. The Trustees can make grants for any charitable purpose, but their present policy is to focus grant-making in the areas of: horticulture and plant sciences, as well as the exhibition, conservation and study of art. By doing so, they acknowledge the two enduring preoccupations – art collecting and gardening - of Sir David Montagu Douglas Scott, K.C.M.G., O.B.E., (1887-1986) and his wife, Valerie Finnis V.M.H. (1924-2006). Grants Process We will consider applications for one-off grants up to £10,000, but because of the high demand, most grants are currently £5,000 or less. Exceptionally, when funds permit, grants of as much as £60,000 are made, payable over several years. The Trustees are keen to support horticultural training through bursaries and apprenticeships. Applications should be made by the sponsoring institution: individuals may not apply. Grants are not offered for covering salary commitments (except for horticultural traineeships/apprenticeships), nor for expenditure already incurred. Support for Fine Art and Art History We help organisations which promote the exhibition, conservation, or study of the art of previous centuries. Support for Horticulture (Gardening) and Plant Sciences Applicants sometimes ask for more information about what kind of projects we support under this broad heading. However, because the range of projects is so wide, it is not possible to be specific. Ultimately, you have to decide whether you are eligible, and apply or not accordingly.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. We only make grants to UK charities registered with the Charity Commission, which includes CIOs, but currently excludes CICs, and includes PTAs of Special Schools, and excludes any other type of school, whether it is a registered charity or not.We make grants to individuals by means of bursaries, traineeships or apprenticeships, but only through a sponsoring educational establishment or registered charity.If you have previously received a grant from the Foundation, you may apply again, although the Trustees generally only award repeat grants after a period of two years has elapsed.The Foundation funds both capital and revenue projects.

Ineligibility

Requests for individual salaries will not be considered. Please note we do not fund site-specific art installations, conceptual or performance art, or art created after 2000.Please note the Trustees do not award grants to cover the costs of flower shows or the movement of Chelsea Flower Show gardens to other sites.We do not fund projects which have already been completed.We are unlikely to fund newly established organisations which do not yet have a track record, or have not yet produced accounts.