Visionaries
The Visionaries programme supports people whose practice and thoughts might guide society to hopeful futures for all.
Funding
We fund and work in partnership with a range of organisations, collectives and individuals in pursuit of our mission.
Our current approach to funding
JRF’s external grants are largely tied to specific projects under our 3 focus areas. In 2026 we want to make more unrestricted grants, putting an additional £50 million to £100 million behind our mission-focused work over the coming 5-10 years.
Most of our funding is by invitation but we occasionally issue calls for proposals below.
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Call for proposals: Reforming local government funding in Scotland
We're inviting proposals for research into how local government in Scotland is funded and how the current funding system affects councils' ability to tackle poverty.
We are looking for a research partner to assess how council funding is raised and allocated, how this has changed over time, and the extent to which poverty and deprivation influence funding levels. The research should explore how the current system affects councils' ability to reduce poverty, including in rural areas, and build the case for funding reform to support stronger local services and improve living standards.
The project will be delivered in partnership with JRF's Scotland team and is expected to take around 3 months.
Who can apply?
We welcome proposals from research organisations, consultancies and teams with expertise in local government finance, public services and poverty, particularly in the Scottish context.
What’s the budget?
The total budget is £30,000 (inclusive of VAT).
How to apply
For full details of the project, application requirements and assessment criteria, download the full brief (PDF).
Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 6 November 2026.
If you have any questions before applying, please contact Chris Birt or Charlotte Gorman using the details provided in the full brief.
Accreditations
