May 2025 Update for Applicants
Update for Regenerative Futures Fund Applicants (!)
We’re so excited about the incredible interest received for the Regenerative Futures Fund – over 260 eligibility forms have come in, and it’s clear that the work being done across Edinburgh is making waves. We want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who has submitted so far; your passion, vision, and drive to create real change are inspiring.
With that said, the high volume of submissions has made it clear that we don’t have enough information to effectively narrow down the field. The original form didn’t give us enough detail for our team and the Edinburgh residents' panel (the amazing group of Edinburgh residents with lived experience of poverty and/or racism who will narrow down projects) to fully assess each project, and that’s important for making sure we’re choosing the right organisations for the capacity-building phase.
So, we’re introducing a new step in the process to help us make better, more informed decisions – without creating more work than necessary for you.
On top of that, we’ve noticed that some applicants aren’t clear on the very narrow focus of the Fund. We’re specifically looking for projects that take a systems change approach to tackling root cause issues, particularly at the intersection of poverty, racism, the climate crisis. That’s a very specific focus, and we want to make sure everyone is clear on that.
We also know how hard small, grassroots, and BIPOC-led organisations are working with limited resources, and the last thing we want to do is create an overly complex or burdensome process. This needs to be as simple and accessible as possible, and if it's not, please let us know. We want to make sure everyone has a fair shot, and that includes addressing existing power imbalances – especially when it comes to collaboration.
How We’re Addressing These Issues
To address all of this, the new step that we're introducing gives your organisation or collective the chance to share your planning, aspirations, and collective vision, helping us and the residents' panel get a clearer picture of your project and how you see it growing over ten years. The form is set up to better understand how your work fits within the Regenerative Futures Fund theory of change, and whether it could benefit from collaboration with others.
Here’s what we're asking for within the form:
A super short project brief a few sentences about your project and how you envision it growing over the next 10 years, your theory of change. We’ll also need a high-level budget outline.
Intersectional Approach: Share how your project is tackling issues through an intersectional lens – we’ve got resources on what that means HERE.
Three Horizons Approach: Tell us how your project fits within the Three Horizons framework – again, don’t worry if you’re not familiar with this concept, we’ll be sharing videos and materials to explain it in the week of May 6.
We’ll give you two weeks to fill out this new form (submissions close Sunday, May 18 at 11:59pm), and once we have your ideas, we’ll help connect like-minded organisations for potential collaboration. We’ll bring together up to 5 groups to connect virtually or, if feasible, in person. This will help organisations assess whether there’s space for joint work – and hopefully lead to some exciting new collaborations.
After those initial conversations, we’ll give you an additional two weeks (until Sunday, June 1 at 11:59pm) to revise your responses, considering feedback or new collaboration ideas. Then, we’ll filter through the submissions and share a shortlist with the residents’ panel, who will help us finalise the list of organisations for the funded capacity-building phase.
If you need any help filling out the form, or if you have accessibility needs, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ve got resources and support available.
What’s Next?
By the end of June, you’ll know whether you’ve been selected for the capacity-building phase, which will start in July.
Quick Recap:
Fill out the additional info form by May 18
Join virtual (or in-person) connection sessions May 20, 21, 22, 23
Revise and resubmit by June 1
20-25 organisations chosen for capacity-building will be alerted by end of June
Capacity-building begins in July
Let’s keep the momentum going
With gratitude,
Regenerative Futures Fund team