Crowdfunder match-funding | Voluntary Action Orkney

Crowdfunding campaigns have the potential to be hugely impactful in raising funds and awareness of your project and/or organisation. They are most successful when match-funding boosts the value of donations encouraging people to donate. Highlands and Islands Environment Foundation (HIEF) are offering grants of up to £10,000 to be used as matched-funding on the Crowdfunder platform.

HIEF ran a pilot matched-fund crowdfunding campaign with Bute Forest in September 2024. A total of £30,000 was raised for the retention of their Forest Ranger with £10,000 coming from HIEF, £10,000 from the Aviva Community Fund and Employee Giving, and £10,000 from individuals and businesses both locally and further afield.

Key Criteria

To be eligable the crowdfunding projects must still match the 2 primary objectives for HIEF grants:

There must be clear, identifiable environmental benefit(s)
The project must be either community-led or evidence full support from the local community.

Priority will be given to smaller organisations (ie. with annual unrestricted income of up to £50,000 per year average over the last two financial years), whether they have received a grant from HIEF before or not.

The HIEF funding will be provided as matched funding for the campaign but is otherwise unrestricted and it is anticipated that it will be used to support core costs.