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The Democratic Finance Scotland programme supports community-led organisations to explore & use alternative methods of raising finance & funding.

Specifically, we support with methods where the money is:

Sourced locally from everyday people and local businesses

Used locally to start or grow democratic community enterprises or purchase sustainable community assets

What is democratic finance?

Democratic Finance is an approach that combines citizen-led investment with democratically controlled businesses to build local economies that work better for the people who live there.

What support is available?

1. Securing local sources of money

  • Community shares
  • Community bonds
  • Grassroots legacy giving
  • Local philanthropy
  • One-off community lotteries

2. Democratic tools for strengthening local control and involvement

  • Governance models
  • Community engagement
  • Finance training
  • Good practice on community opportunities from energy transition

3. Research and Development

  • Research and piloting new democratic finance solutions
  • Building strategic partnerships that support local action
  • Influencing policy and advocating for communities

Case Studies

Newsletter

Our newsletter provides a regular update on all that is happening in the world of democratic finance, including the launch of democratic finance offers, programme support and pilot updates, and successful case studies.

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