Annual Report 2024
Scottish Grantmakers is a membership organisation and charity with the aims of promoting the voluntary sector and the effectiveness of efficiency of charities by fostering; informing good practice in the administration, governance and leadership of trusts and foundations which are grantmakers in Scotland; affording opportunities to members for discussion, liaison, collaboration, education and networking; and engaging in projects and activities to enhance and promote these aims.
2024 has been another busy year for Scottish Grantmakers. This report outlines the key activities, events and milestones achieved by the charity during the year.
Our Members fund over £360 million annually to Scottish organisations and individuals.
How we engaged with Members in 2024
Members received invitations to 11 events organised and hosted by Scottish Grantmakers in 2024. Many speakers at our events are Members of Scottish Grantmakers, allowing for the promotion of best practice and achievements amongst peers.
We also share invitations to external events hosted by partner organisations such as the Scottish Funders Forum and SCVO. Scottish Grantmakers is a key point of contact for the sector, allowing Members to keep up to date with important developments.
Members have access to resources on the Scottish Grantmakers website, with an archive of past events, news and updates.
All SGM Member resources and newsletters can be accessed on the Members’ Area.
New Members:
Scottish Grantmakers’ strength is its wide and growing membership. In 2024 we welcomed as Members:
- The NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation
- The Women’s Fund for Scotland
- Highland Society of London
- The Newark Trust
- The Scottish Forestry Trust
“2024 has been another year of growth, in membership numbers, profile and learning across the network. It is a privilege to connect with so many colleagues across the year; personally, I believe this enriches my knowledge and practice and professionally I can see the benefits of peer engagement and networking having positive impacts more widely across the sector and communities that we serve.”
Alison MacLachlan, Chair of SGM
Key events in 2024
Annual Conference
This year we hosted Fiona McKenzie OBE, founder and Chief of Engagement at CentreStage, Leah Black, Project Lead at Regenerative Futures Fund, Andrew Penker, Associate Director at Bruce Tait Associates, Ben Cairns OBE, Director at IVAR, Aida Cable, CEO at Thrive at Five, and Julie Hutchison WS, Technical Director for Philanthropy and Charities at LGT Wealth Management. The conference facilitator was Ali MacLachlan, Chair of SGM and UK Director at the Wood Foundation.
The conference theme was ‘What is within our gift?’, exploring the resources and tools we as grantmakers have at our disposal. Delegates discussed how grantmakers can use these tools to influence, inform, empower and bring about positive change in the communities they serve.
A full write up of the conference can be accessed here.
Migration Roundtable
In September, we partnered with Migration Policy Scotland and the Scottish Funders Forum to host a Migration Roundtable online. Introduced by Migration Policy Scotland, attendees were given background on the trends and challenges migration facing, as well as how migration impacts common funding themes.
A roundtable session followed with Carol Mack, CEO of Association of Charitable Organisations, Marchu Belete, Co-Director of Migration Exchange, and Elaine Wilson, Head of Learning and Development at Corra Foundation.
A summary and recording of the roundtable can be accessed here.
Open Members’ Meetings
We hosted four Open Members’ Meeting this year. At these meetings, delegates hear a speaker present on one of our strategic themes before taking part in a facilitated discussion. The focus is to have Members contribute to the discussion which is then summarised in a blog on the SGM website.
OMMs focussed on ‘Community’, ‘Culture’ and ‘Place’ this year. Excellent speakers were drawn from the SGM Membership and led to extensive and in-depth discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing grantmakers.
2024 concluded with an OMM reflecting on the year and looking ahead to 2025, with Strategic Director of Development at SCVO, David McNeill, providing expert insight.
A summary and recording of the November OMM on ‘Place’ can be accessed here.
PROMOTING SCOTTISH GRANTMAKERS
Scottish Grantmakers promotes its work and Members using its monthly newsletter, LinkedIn and X accounts. We have:
- 707 LinkedIn followers
- 435 X followers
- 91 newsletter subscribers
Our social media following is made up of SGM Members, third sector organisations and leaders, other membership bodies, and professionals.
LinkedIn is the most followed and visited SGM social media platform.
Looking ahead to 2025
2024 has seen the development of new projects to be launched in 2025.
A Benevolent Funders Special Interest Group will be supported by Scottish Grantmakers and allow for specialist grantmakers to develop a forum to share ideas and best practices. It is hoped the SIG will attract new Affiliate and Associate Members.
Our 2025 Events Programme will see new speakers and partners provide insights for our Members next year.
