The National Trust for Scotland, like all charities, has to apply to many sources of funding. Core funding for Trust activities comes from membership subscription income together with donations. Donations come from private individuals answering our various appeals or making spontaneous gifts, charitable trusts, company donations and sponsorships, the annual raffle and targeted fundraising abroad.

A vital source of income is legacies which form a highly significant part of the Trust's large voluntary income averaging over £2.5 million per annum. Legacies can be left for general purposes, in which case they are used only on properties, never on administration. Since properties, both built and natural, are under-endowed by an estimated £160 million, ie have a huge shortfall, this source of income is obviously essential. General legacies will be applied by the Trust wherever the need is greatest whenever received. Alternatively bequests can be left specifically for any Trust property, region or purpose the donor especially supports eg education and interpretation.

Two important areas of support are the annual maintenance grant from Historic Scotland and the Concordat agreement with Scottish Natural Heritage which helps fund much of the Trust's countryside work.

Other possible areas of income include from the National Lottery because in theory the Trust is eligible for funding from all six Lottery funded good causes. In practice however, this is difficult as the Trust is an 'asset' rather than a 'welfare' charity. The Trust has obtained grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund but mainly Lottery funding is a support for specific properties for the benefit of the nation rather than for the Trust itself.

There are opportunities to increase income generation through promoting The National Trust for Scotland as a charity involved with the environment and sustainable development, by working with younger people and promoting education by expanding the individual donor programme and by increasing fundraising activities overseas, mainly in North America.

For further information about membership, donations, sponsorship opportunities and legacies please contact our Development Department at:

The National Trust for Scotland,
Wemyss House,
28 Charlotte Square,
Edinburgh EH2 4ET

Tel +44 (0) 131 243 9308

email development@nts.org.uk
or visit www.nts.org.uk