Cattanach

Could Cattanach be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.

Typical grants: £10,000 – £50,000
Applications: By invitation only

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

Check fit free · no card

elevategreat.co.uk

About Cattanach

Elevate Great, formerly Cattanach, was established in 1991 by Phyllis Cattanach to channel family wealth into social good. The funder focuses on Scotland’s early years, aiming to close inequality gaps by investing in evidence-based, disruptive ideas that promote lifelong health, well-being and economic strength for young children and families facing disadvantage. Core values include equity, partnership, lived experience insights and systems change. The trust incubates scalable interventions, fosters coalitions and links practical support with policy advocacy. It stands out for encouraging risk-taking, participatory design and long-term transformation over short-term fixes.

What Cattanach funds

Elevate Great prioritises projects advancing children’s rights, poverty relief, education, health, mental well-being, inclusive play-based learning and parental support. It targets the earliest life stages for maximum preventive impact, working across marginalised urban and rural communities in Scotland. The funder supports core costs, innovative projects, capacity building and collaborative initiatives. It favours work that is rooted in lived experience and designed to create sustainable, collective change. All funded activity must take place within Scotland.

Who can apply

UK-registered charities and community groups based in Scotland are eligible. The funder particularly favours small to medium-sized grassroots organisations embedded in disadvantaged areas, with a strong connection to lived experience. There are no strict income thresholds, but the trust looks for partners who are rooted in the communities they serve. Funding is invite-only; Elevate Great proactively identifies strategic partners rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

What Cattanach doesn't fund

The trust does not support capital grants, emergency relief or any work that takes place outside Scotland. It also excludes projects that do not align with its early years focus or that lack an evidence-based, systems-change approach.

How they like to fund

Elevate Great provides core funding, project grants, capacity-building support and collaborative partnership funding. It offers multi-year awards and encourages risk-taking, participatory design and long-term systems transformation. The funder works by invitation only, proactively identifying and approaching organisations that fit its strategic priorities.

How much does Cattanach give?

£10,000 – £50,000

Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.

Deadlines & timelines

When to apply, and how long their decisions take.

Your specific fit

Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthPoverty & hardshipEducation

How to apply to Cattanach

Cattanach does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.

A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.

What you can do here

1
Check fit. See if your project aligns with Cattanach.
2
Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
3
Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.

See if Cattanach could be a fit — then find open funders like them.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Cattanach provide?

Cattanach typically provides grants of £10,000 - £50,000.

Where does Cattanach fund charities?

Cattanach funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Cattanach accept unsolicited applications?

Cattanach does not accept unsolicited applications.

How do I apply for funding from Cattanach?

Cattanach does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.