At a Glance

Program Name: Commonwealth Foundation – Open Grants Call 2026–2027. A competitive annual grant for not?for?profit civil society and creative organisations (and now networks/collectives) across eligible Commonwealth countries to drive social, cultural and political change through constructive engagement and/or creative advocacy.

Support Type: Non?repayable grant funding for up to two years, paid against approved budgets and subject to Commonwealth Foundation policies, reporting and audit requirements.

Application Deadline: Call opens 23 September 2026 (1pm BST) and closes 26 October 2026 (1pm GMT).

Program Focus

This opportunity funds projects at the implementation phase that use:

• Constructive engagement (policy dialogue, accountability work with governments/decision?makers), and/or
• Creative advocacy (arts, culture, storytelling to influence public discourse, policy or behaviour).

Projects must advance at least one of three themes: climate & environmental justice, economic inclusion, freedom of expression, and must integrate gender & intersectionality throughout.

Location

Open to not?for?profit civil society/creative organisations (and eligible networks/collectives) registered in eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries. Projects must be implemented at least in the applicant’s country of registration; multi?country projects are allowed within eligible countries with strong local participation.

About the Program

Funding is allocated through a selective, competitive process with around 3,000 applications received annually. Applications are assessed against eight criteria (eligibility, advocacy track record, problem definition, theory of change, beneficiary consultation, feasibility, organisational capacity, commitment to gender equality).

Key structural rules:

• Two grant streams: Individual Organisation Grants and the new Collective Action Grants.
• Maximum grant duration: 2 years; projects must start between 1 August – 30 September 2027.
• Organisations currently implementing a Commonwealth Foundation grant or awaiting final payment are ineligible.
• Applicants must complete an eligibility quiz and check the eligible countries map before applying.

Program Benefits

Successful applicants receive:

• Individual Organisation Grants: £15,000–£30,000 per year for up to 2 years.
• Collective Action Grants: £15,000–£20,000 per year for up to 2 years.

Funding can support activities such as:

• Constructive engagement (policy advocacy, accountability, legal/policy reform work).
• Creative advocacy (arts/culture productions, campaigns, community storytelling).
• Staff salaries, partner sub?grants, travel, monitoring & evaluation, safeguarding measures, and reasonable administrative/audit costs aligned with the approved budget and logic model.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants must:

• Be a not?for?profit civil society or creative organisation (Individual Organisation Grants) or a not?for?profit network/coalition/alliance/platform/creative collective (Collective Action Grants) registered in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Have been registered and operating for at least 3 years, with 3+ years’ demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and strategic impact areas.
• Have an average annual income (last 2 years) < £2.5 million, and request a grant ? 70% of that average.
• Propose a project that advances ?1 of: climate & environmental justice, economic inclusion, freedom of expression, and integrates gender & intersectionality.
• Not be currently implementing a Commonwealth Foundation grant or awaiting final payment on a recent grant.

To be competitive, applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong advocacy or creative?advocacy track record and community experience.
• Clear problem definition, theory of change, and evidence of beneficiary consultation.
• Feasible workplan, realistic budget, and organisational capacity to deliver.
• Serious commitment to gender equality and inclusion.

Application Process & Timeline

Applications are submitted through SurveyMonkey Apply, alongside all required supporting documents (guidelines, application questions, logic model template, financials, etc.).

Key timeline points:

• Call opens: 23 September 2026 (1pm BST)
• Deadline: 26 October 2026 (1pm GMT)
• Shortlist notifications: by end of February 2027 (if not contacted, application was unsuccessful)
• Final decisions: by end of June 2027
• Project start window: 1 August – 30 September 2027

Apply Here

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