Commonwealth Foundation Grants

Applications are now open for the 2026/27 Commonwealth Foundation Grants Programme.

The Commonwealth Foundation offers grants of up to £60,000 for projects lasting up to two years to civil society organisations in the Commonwealth. 

The Commonwealth Foundation supports projects that seek to facilitate constructive engagement between civil society and decision-makers, including civil society participation in policy development and implementation. 

The Commonwealth Foundation offers two types of grants;

Individual Organisation Grants

Open to not-for-profit civil society organisations and creative organisations registered in eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries.

Collective Action Grants

Open to not-for-profit networks, such as coalitions, alliances or platforms of civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), groups, creative actors or creative collectives in eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries.

Requirements for all projects

• All proposals must seek to advance at least one of the Foundation’s strategic impact areas: freedom of expression, economic inclusion, or climate and environmental justice.

• Proposals must also demonstrate how gender and intersectionality have informed their design and will be integrated throughout implementation.

• The programme welcomes applications that propose the use of creative advocacy to advance change. Creative organisations applying for an Individual Organisation Grant, and creative organisations or creative collectives applying for a Collective Action Grant, should submit a small selection of previous or current work demonstrating their creative practice and relevance to the project.

• Projects are expected to begin between 1 August 2027 and 30 September 2027.

The Commonwealth Foundation grants up to £60,000 for projects lasting up to two years to civil society organisations in the Commonwealth.

Funding priorities of the2027 Commonwealth Foundation Grant Programme

• Health Justice

• Freedom of Expression

• Climate Justice

• Other important funding considerations

• Exclusions

To apply for the 2027 Commonwealth Foundation Grant Programme, interested and qualified candidates should follow the procedures below;

• 1

  Click the button below to visit the Commonwealth Foundation webpage.

• 2

  Check your eligibility: Before you apply, please ensure you have completed the eligibility quiz and check that your country is eligible in the dropdown menu on the eligible countries map.

• 3

  Only applications that meet our eligibility criteria can be considered.

• 4

  Register with SurveyMonkey Apply

• 5

  Complete the online application form

• 6

  Provide the required additional documentation

• 7

  Check that you have successfully submitted your application.