The Finnis Scott Foundation
The Finnis Scott Foundation has just opened applications for their Botanical Art Award. Worth £10,000, the grant supports the areas of horticulture, plant sciences, art, and art history, with particular emphasis on encouraging horticultural training through bursaries and apprenticeships.
Eligible Organisations
In practice, the Trustees only make grants to UK charities registered with the Charity Commission, including CIOs (but excluding CICs). Applications from mainstream schools are not accepted; however, PTAs of SEND / Special Schools may apply via their registered charity. Individuals cannot apply directly and may only be supported through bursaries, traineeships or apprenticeships administered by a sponsoring institution.
Suitable Projects
The grant can be awarded to both capital and revenue projects, including grants for apprenticeships or bursaries, however requests for salaries are not considered. The trustees may award grants for any charitable purpose, however, the current policy states that grant-making be focused on the areas of:
- Horticulture and plant sciences
- Fine art
- Art history
The Foundation does not fund site-specific installations, conceptual or performance art, art created after 2000, flower shows, or the relocation of Chelsea Flower Show gardens. Projects already completed, or costs already incurred, are not eligible.
Application Process
Applicants are required to read the published Guidelines for Applicants and asked to complete an application form, available from their website, and send it along with supporting documents by email or post. In addition, they ask that applicants include: a business or project plan (if available), an annual report and most recent accounts, the current budget and project budget and any other documents that the trustees or administrator require for the application.
Applications must be submitted four weeks before a Trustees’ meeting, and it may take up to four weeks after the meeting for applicants to be notified of the outcome. Trustees at this point may ask for further information.
Important Dates
Applications must be received four weeks before the trustees meet which is every January, April, July and October.
For the next funding round, the Trustees’ meeting will take place on 20 January 2026, with the application deadline set at 4pm on 11 December 2025. Dates may change at short notice and applicants are advised to check the website.
Funding Range
Generally, the trustees award projects between £500 – £10,000. Most grants awarded are £5,000 or less due to high demand, though exceptionally, when funds permit, grants of up to £60,000 may be made, payable over several years.y may award grants that are higher than this sum.
