Botanics Foundation

The Botanics Foundation is an independent Scottish charity established as the dedicated philanthropic arm of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), advancing its mission to explore, conserve, and explain the world of plants amid biodiversity and climate crises. Governed by a board including RBGE trustees, it embodies values of scientific excellence, environmental stewardship, inclusivity, and public engagement, channeling philanthropy into enduring support for RBGE's strategic priorities like plant diversity research, endangered species protection, conservation horticulture, education, and global partnerships.

It funds transformative projects tied to RBGE's ethos, including scientific research (e.g., DNA barcoding of lichens and bryophytes), PhD scholarships, specialist horticulture, garden redevelopments like the Queen Mother’s Memorial Garden, conservation publications on Chilean plants, infrastructure upgrades, and public programmes fostering community access to botanical collections, art, and education. Beneficiaries span researchers, conservationists, students, schools, local communities, and global audiences, with impacts centered in Scotland but extending internationally via RBGE's networks.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and academic institutions with strong RBGE alignment; there are no income thresholds or geographic restrictions, though priorities favor Scotland-linked initiatives. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding is invite-only, decided ad hoc by the board with no deadlines or public rounds. Grants vary widely, from thousands of pounds for targeted research to hundreds of thousands for major capital projects, excluding activities outside RBGE's plant-focused mission. Its distinctive edge lies in exclusive, strategic integration with one of the world's top botanic gardens, prioritizing long-term, evidence-based impact against the 40% endangerment of plant species.