Commonwealth Foundation Grants Programme 2027 for Civil Society.
The Commonwealth Foundation Grants Programme 2027 is now open to eligible civil society organisations, networks, coalitions, alliances, platforms and creative collectives in eligible Commonwealth countries.
The programme supports projects that seek meaningful social, cultural and political change through constructive engagement with governments and other decision-makers, creative advocacy, or both.
Grant Details
- Programme: Commonwealth Foundation Grants Programme 2027
- Funding Call: 2026–2027 Annual Grants Call
- Provider: Commonwealth Foundation
- Eligible Applicants: Civil society organisations, creative organisations, networks, coalitions, alliances, platforms and creative collectives
- Eligible Countries: Eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries
- Project Duration: 1 or 2 years
- Expected Project Start: Between 1 August and 30 September 2027
- Application Opens: 23 September 2026
- Deadline: 26 October 2026 at 13:00 GMT
- Application Method: Online
- Application Fee: None stated
Funding Priorities
Every proposed project must address at least one of the Commonwealth Foundation’s three strategic impact areas:
- Climate and environmental justice
- Economic inclusion
- Freedom of expression
Projects may address more than one priority.
Applicants must also demonstrate how gender and intersectionality have been considered in project design and will be integrated throughout implementation.
The Foundation identifies small states as a cross-cutting priority and encourages projects that meaningfully involve young people in leadership.
Grant Streams
The 2026–2027 call has two funding streams.
1. Individual Organisation Grants
This stream is for eligible not-for-profit civil society organisations and creative organisations delivering standalone projects.
Funding:
- £15,000–£30,000 per year
- Maximum duration of two years
Requirements:
- Organisation must have been registered and operating for at least three years.
- At least three years of demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and selected strategic impact area.
- Significant experience working in the communities where the project will be implemented.
- Average annual income must be below £2.5 million over the previous two years.
- Requested grant must not exceed 70% of the organisation’s average annual income over the previous two years.
- Organisations currently implementing a Commonwealth Foundation grant are not eligible.
- Organisations that recently completed a Commonwealth Foundation grant but have not received their final payment are also not eligible.
2. Collective Action Grants
This stream supports eligible networks, coalitions, alliances, platforms and creative collectives working together to strengthen participation and collective action.
Funding:
- £15,000–£20,000 per year
- Maximum duration of two years
Requirements:
- Network, coalition, alliance, platform or creative collective must be eligible under the programme.
- Unregistered networks or collectives must nominate an eligible registered member organisation as the lead applicant.
- Network, collective or lead applicant must have at least three years of demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and strategic impact area.
- Significant experience working in the communities where the project will be implemented.
- Average annual income of the collective or lead applicant must be below £2.5 million over the previous two years.
- Requested grant must not exceed 70% of the collective’s or lead applicant’s average annual income over the previous two years.
- Groups currently implementing a Commonwealth Foundation grant are not eligible.
- Groups that recently completed a grant but have not received their final payment are also not eligible.
Project Requirements
Proposed projects must:
- Be implemented at least in the applicant’s or lead applicant’s country of registration.
- Address one or more of the three funding priorities.
- Use constructive engagement with governments or other decision-makers, creative advocacy, or both.
- Demonstrate meaningful integration of gender and intersectionality.
- Begin between 1 August and 30 September 2027.
- For multi-country projects, demonstrate strong local participation in every country where activities will take place.
- Identify safeguarding risks and explain how those risks will be managed.
Shortlisted applicants may be required to provide safeguarding policies or procedures or develop suitable safeguarding measures as a condition of funding.
Creative organisations and creative collectives must also submit a small selection of previous or current work demonstrating their creative practice and its relevance to the proposed project.
Who Can Apply?
Individual Organisation Grants
Eligible applicants are not-for-profit civil society organisations or creative organisations registered in an eligible Commonwealth Foundation member country.
Collective Action Grants
Eligible applicants include:
- Networks
- Coalitions
- Alliances
- Platforms
- Civil society organisations
- Community-based organisations
- Groups
- Creative actors
- Creative collectives
An unregistered network or collective must apply through an eligible registered member organisation acting as lead applicant.
Important Eligibility Conditions
- Newly registered organisations, networks, coalitions or collectives operating for less than three years are not eligible.
- The proposed project must be implemented in the applicant’s or lead applicant’s country of registration.
- Activities may also take place in other eligible Commonwealth countries.
- An applicant, lead applicant, network/collective or proposed partner may appear in only one application under this call.
- The requested funding must not exceed 70% of the applicant’s or lead applicant’s average annual income over the previous two years.
- Average annual income must be below £2.5 million.
- Grants can be requested for a maximum of two years.
- Organisations currently implementing a Commonwealth Foundation grant, or those that recently completed one but have not received the final payment, cannot apply.
Required Documents
All applicants must submit:
- Completed online application form.
- Logic model using the Commonwealth Foundation’s template.
- Clear copy of the applicant’s or lead applicant’s registration certificate.
- Proof of not-for-profit status, where this is not already stated on the registration document.
- Document listing the names, roles, responsibilities and contact details of board members or trustees.
- Relevant governance structure, including roles and responsibilities, where there is no board or trustee structure.
Shortlisted applicants may be asked to provide additional information, including a detailed project budget.
If original documents for shortlisted applicants are not in English, a certified translation may be required.
Grant Assessment Criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
- Whether the organisation meets all eligibility requirements.
- The organisation’s track record of advocacy work.
- A clear description of the problem the project seeks to address.
- A clear explanation of how the proposed approach will address the problem.
- Evidence that the organisation has consulted the intended beneficiaries.
- Whether the proposed approach is persuasive, timely, relevant and feasible.
- The organisation’s capacity to successfully deliver the project within the required timeframe.
- The organisation’s commitment to gender equality.
The Foundation typically receives around 3,000 applications for its grants call.
Monitoring and Reporting
Successful grant partners must develop a monitoring plan for their project.
The Foundation will provide guidance and support where required.
For one-year projects:
- End-of-project narrative report.
- End-of-project financial report.
For two-year projects:
- Narrative and financial reports at the end of the first year.
- Final narrative and financial reports at the end of the project.
Reporting schedules will be agreed between the grant partner and the Commonwealth Foundation and included in the grant agreement.
Application Timeline
- 23 September 2026: Applications open.
- 26 October 2026: Applications close and assessment begins.
- End of February 2027: Shortlisted applicants contacted.
- End of June 2027: Successful applicants informed.
- August–September 2027: Grant implementation expected to begin.
Applicants who have not been contacted by the end of February 2027 should consider their application unsuccessful.
The Foundation does not provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Application Checklist
Before applying, ensure that you:
- Are applying through an eligible Commonwealth member-country organisation or collective.
- Meet the three-year registration and experience requirement where applicable.
- Have significant experience working with the communities your project will serve.
- Have a project addressing at least one funding priority.
- Have incorporated gender and intersectionality into the project.
- Can demonstrate the required advocacy, constructive engagement or creative advocacy approach.
- Have a project start date between 1 August and 30 September 2027.
- Meet the applicable income and funding-proportion requirements.
- Have the required registration and governance documents.
- Prepare the Commonwealth Foundation logic model.
- Prepare previous/current creative work if applying as a creative organisation or collective.
- Address safeguarding risks.
- Ensure your organisation or collective is not included in another application under this call.
- Complete and submit the online application before the deadline.
How to Apply
- Review the Commonwealth Foundation’s eligibility requirements and application guidance.
- Register or log in to the Commonwealth Foundation Grants Online Application System.
- Select the appropriate grant stream.
- Complete the online application form.
- Upload the required supporting documents.
- Complete the logic model.
- Review your application and supporting documents.
- Submit the application before 26 October 2026 at 13:00 GMT.
Applications must be submitted online through the Commonwealth Foundation Grants Online Application System. Applications sent by email or post will not be considered.
Contact
For enquiries not covered in the guidance documents:
Email: cfgrants@commonwealth.int
Deadline
26 October 2026 at 13:00 GMT
Applications must be submitted online before the deadline.
Conclusion
The Commonwealth Foundation Grants Programme 2027 provides funding of up to £30,000 per year for Individual Organisation Grants and up to £20,000 per year for Collective Action Grants, for projects addressing climate and environmental justice, economic inclusion and/or freedom of expression. Eligible applicants must submit their applications online by 26 October 2026 at 13:00 GMT.
