This archive report was first published on 11 June 2020.
On June 11, 2020, Edinburgh-based philanthropist James Anderson made a significant donation to Scottish football clubs and their communities to help ease the financial strain of the COVID-19 crisis.
Anderson, a fund manager and partner with investment management firm Baillie Gifford, donated £3.125 million (Sh424 million) to be distributed through the SPFL Trust.
Each of the 42 Scottish professional clubs is eligible to apply for a grant of £50,000, but only if they can demonstrate support for their local community.
Anderson stated, "This isn't just about the passion on the pitch, which is why we love the game, but about the responsibility our clubs take in communities across Scotland."
He added, “I’ve seen first-hand over the last few years what a difference clubs can make to people’s lives, and so I am very pleased to have been able to offer my support at this difficult time.”
Of the donated amount, £2.1 million will be made available for clubs, while the remaining £1.025 million will go towards accelerating the SPFL’s national Trust programme.
