William Grant Foundation

The William Grant Foundation, established by family-owned Scottish distiller William Grant & Sons Ltd, is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to helping Scotland thrive through funding, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing that drives positive, long-term change. Rooted in the company's culture of community support, its vision emphasises wellbeing, empowerment, social inclusion, and equity, with a theory of change focused on empowering people, place-based interventions, and systemic shifts like climate resilience and diversity. Distinctively proactive and invitation-led, it conducts its own research and referrals while welcoming aligned unsolicited enquiries, fostering tailored partnerships to minimise bureaucracy and maximise impact.

It prioritises four themes: Health & Social Causes (wellbeing for those with ill health, disability, or disadvantage, including mental health and family support); Youth Opportunities (enhancing life chances for young people in company-linked communities); Scottish Culture & Heritage (nurturing cultural identity through preservation and events); and Natural & Built Environment (climate adaptation and environmental wellbeing). Funding supports frontline services, core costs, multi-year projects, capacity building, capital needs, and unrestricted grants for disadvantaged individuals, local communities, cultural groups, and environmental initiatives—exemplified by grants to Children 1st, Outfit Moray, defibrillator provision, women's refuges, and heritage events.

Eligible organisations span small grassroots charities to national bodies with strong Scotland focus, especially in regions tied to William Grant & Sons (e.g., Moray, Lanarkshire); no income thresholds apply, but alignment with themes and good governance are essential—global support is limited to employee-matched giving. Typical grants range from £5,000 to £200,000 (often £10,000–£50,000), awarded via rolling email enquiries with customised processes and decisions in 2–3 months; no fixed deadlines or portals, prioritising relational dialogue over rigid applications. It rarely funds outside priorities but stands out for employee-driven global engagement and flexibility for emergent needs.