Reaching Scotland's potential, together.
Investing in the young people, educators, communities and enterprise shaping Scotland's future.
Our vision
Young people
given the opportunities and support they deserve to thrive
Educators
empowered with the tools and confidence to do their best work
Communities
with the confidence and capacity to shape their own futures
Enterprise
that creates good jobs, stronger local economies and opportunities that last
"We are not driven by quick wins. We invest in change that strengthens lives, places and prospects today, while continuing to make a difference for generations to come."
Garreth Wood
Chairman of The Wood Foundation
Backing people to lead lasting change
Real change is rarely delivered from the outside. It is built by people who understand the challenges because they work with them every day.
Our role is to back those people properly. We invest patiently, build relationships over years and trust our partners to lead the work in the way they believe will make the greatest difference.
That means funding with flexibility, partnering with honesty and creating space to test, learn and adapt. Lasting change takes time - and the confidence to do things differently.
Change that lasts beyond our funding
The Wood Foundation backs work that can make a lasting difference in Scotland.
Sometimes that means funding a proven organisation to do more of what works. Sometimes it means testing a new idea, learning from it and sharing what others can use. What matters is that the impact continues beyond our involvement.
900+
partners gave their time and talent to 19 secondary schools from North East Scotland between 2019 and 2026
34,000+
educators in 27 local authorities in Scotland received professional learning support through the RAiSE investment
67%
of Scottish secondary schools supported by The Wood Foundation through YPI
1,500+
grants distributed by The Wood Foundation since 2020
600
local businesses supported through activities and investments focused on facilitating economic development in Scotland
The values behind our work in Scotland
We support people and ideas with care, trust and ambition - because we believe Scotland can, and should, thrive.
Driven by care for Scotland
We care deeply about Scotland’s future, with a particular commitment to Aberdeen and the North East. Our work is shaped by a belief in what people and places here can become.
Led by trust
Relationships come first. We listen closely, build partnerships over time and trust the people we support to lead the work in the way they know is right.
Open to new ideas
We are willing to back ambition and test different approaches. Progress needs not only space and confidence, but also the occasional risk.
Focused on shared success
We are not here for ownership or credit. We want our support to help people go further and create lasting value for Scotland.
"Seeing the pupils and how much joy it brings them, showing off to their friends, taking pictures, having their families with them. Seeing the pride from the parents. It’s a sense of pride knowing that you contribute to that. It’s very rewarding."
Partner
YPI
Stories from Scotland
Behind every partnership, programme and grant are people working hard to make change happen. Explore stories from across Scotland - from young people building confidence, to educators opening up new opportunities, to organisations strengthening the communities they know best.
Stories from Scotland
RAiSE and Excelerate: Celebrating a decade of partnership and impact
We're sharing the final impact reports for two of our largest education programmes: RAiSE (Raising Aspirations in Science Education) and Excelerate.
14 Jul 2026
The Wood Foundation’s commitment to empowering transformational change
We are very proud of our roots in Aberdeen and are pleased to confirm a £40 million investment in Opportunity North East (ONE) and Energy Transition Zone Ltd (ETZ) – two wonderful…
29 Oct 2025
The Wood Foundation appoints Sarah Chew as UK Chief Executive Officer
Sarah said: “It is a privilege to take on the role of the UK CEO of The Wood Foundation. I have long been inspired by the impactful work of the organisation in Aberdeen and across…
1 Sept 2025
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