Up to £60,000 for Civil Society Projects – Commonwealth Foundation

The Commonwealth Foundation Open Grants Call 2026–27 will fund civil society organisations and networks working to influence policy, public discourse and decision-making across eligible Commonwealth countries.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Individual Organisation Grants: £15,000–£30,000 per year

• Funding available for up to two years

• This means individual organisations can receive up to £60,000 in total

• Collective Action Grants: £15,000–£20,000 per year

• Collective Action funding can therefore reach £40,000 over two years

• Funding can support projects focused on climate and environmental justice

• Economic inclusion

• Freedom of expression

• Constructive engagement between communities, civil society, governments and other decision-makers

• Creative advocacy designed to influence policy, behaviour or public discourse

• Projects must incorporate gender and intersectionality.

Who can apply?

• Registered not-for-profit civil society organisations

• Eligible creative organisations

• Networks, coalitions, alliances and platforms

• Creative collectives through the Collective Action stream

• Applicants must generally have been registered and operating for at least three years

• Applicants need at least three years of relevant experience in participatory governance and advocacy

• Average annual income over the previous two years must be below £2.5 million

• Lead applicants must be registered in an eligible Commonwealth Foundation member country

• UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand organisations cannot be lead applicants, although they can participate as project partners

• Projects can have national, regional or international reach, subject to the programme's eligibility requirements.

Deadline: 26 October 2026 at 12pm GMT / 1pm BST.