Scottish funders unite to improve support beyond grants

At DTAS, we know that grant funding is most effective when accompanied by the right support. Financial investment alone is not always enough to help organisations thrive in a challenging and fast-changing environment. That’s why we’ve created the Funders Plus Forum — a collaboration between funders to share knowledge, generate insight and identify practical ways to strengthen support for grantholders.

The Forum’s goals stemmed from learnings from our Recovery and Resilience Programme, which showed the need for DTAS members to help gain stability and future-proof their operations.

Understanding the need for this type of support beyond DTAS members, we established The Forum in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund, The Robertson Trust and the William Grant Foundation; Inspiring Scotland has also recently joined. The first meeting took place in September 2025, and we will continue to meet quarterly.

Reflecting on feedback from grantholders and pressures facing the sector, Lorna Wallace, Funding Officer at Robertson Trust said:

“The funding sector is under immense pressure, facing growing demand for services alongside continued funding cuts. For some time, grantholders have told us they want funders to work more collaboratively, to reduce duplication and ease administrative burdens. The Forum is playing a vital role in responding to that call, enabling us to share knowledge and strengthen our collective approach so we can provide more effective, confident support. At a time of increasing strain, it is more important than ever that we work together to build a strong, resilient third sector.”

Each Forum member brings its own approach to supporting grantholders, shaped by different programmes, priorities and areas of focus. What unites us is a shared commitment to a Funders Plus approach: going beyond financial support to offer additional resources such as mentoring, peer learning and strategic advice to strengthen organisational resilience.

By sharing knowledge between us, Forum members will reduce duplication and improve coordination of support; we will actively signpost shared grantholders to other support available through members where relevant. We will also share information about nonfinancial support offers, to help organisations build long-term resilience.

Through the Forum, we’re working together to:

• Reduce duplication of services across Scotland and improve efficiency.
• Identify common issues affecting the funding landscape.
• Explore opportunities to scale up our support.
• Improve processes for organisations managing grant funding.
• Promote effective funding practice and share learning.

Mhairi Reid, Knowledge and Insights Manager at William Grant Foundation, added:

“The Forum is a space where funders can learn openly together about how best to support organisations and their people beyond the grant. Our collective effort matters – it means clearer signposting, less duplication and support that’s genuinely shaped around what grantees have told us they need to strengthen and thrive.”

Although still in its early stages, the Funders Plus Forum reflects a growing commitment among funders to work more collaboratively and thoughtfully. We believe aligning our efforts and taking a collective approach has the potential to strengthen the wider ecosystem of grantholder support across Scotland.

 At DTAS, we welcome this shared commitment to collaboration and look forward to seeing how the Forum’s learning will inform and improve funding practice – ultimately supporting stronger, more resilient organisations and communities.