Commonwealth Foundation Grants 2026–27 –
The Commonwealth Foundation has opened its September 2026 Annual Grants Call, offering funding to eligible civil society organisations and collaborative groups across eligible Commonwealth countries, including India.
The 2026–27 call introduces two funding streams: Individual Organisation Grants for eligible organisations and Collective Action Grants for networks, coalitions, alliances, platforms and creative collectives. The programme supports projects that strengthen civil society participation and influence public policy, decision-making and social change.
Applications opened on 23 September 2026. The deadline is 26 October 2026 at 1:00 pm GMT. for Commonwealth Foundation Grants 2026–27
Funding Available
- Individual Organisation Grants
Eligible not-for-profit civil society and creative organisations can apply for £15,000–£30,000 per year for up to two years. The maximum potential grant is £60,000 over two years.
- Collective Action Grants
Eligible networks, coalitions, alliances, platforms and creative collectives can apply for £15,000–£20,000 per year for up to two years. An unregistered collective must have an eligible registered member organisation act as its lead applicant.
Funding Priorities
Projects must address at least one of the following priorities:
- Climate and Environmental Justice: Addressing environmental inequality, climate impacts, community rights, environmental accountability and participation in climate policy.
- Economic Inclusion: Reducing inequality, promoting decent livelihoods and labour rights, and strengthening the participation of marginalised groups in economic decision-making.
- Freedom of Expression: Advancing civic freedoms, access to information, media freedom, digital rights and public participation.
Projects should use constructive engagement with governments and other decision-makers and/or creative advocacy to influence policy, public discourse or decision-making. Applicants must also integrate gender and intersectionality into project design and implementation.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for their chosen grant stream. Key conditions include:
- The applicant must be a not-for-profit civil society organisation or eligible collective registered or represented through an eligible lead applicant in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Organisations must generally have been registered and operating for at least three years, with at least three years of relevant experience.
- The applicant must demonstrate significant experience working with the communities concerned.
- Average annual income over the previous two years must be below £2.5 million.
- The requested grant must not exceed 70% of the applicant’s average annual income over the previous two years.
- The project must be implemented at least in the applicant’s country of registration.
- Organisations currently implementing a Commonwealth Foundation grant, or awaiting final payment for a recently completed grant, are ineligible.
Indian applicants must comply with the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), or have preparations in place to obtain valid FCRA registration to receive charitable funding from outside India.
Projects are expected to begin between August and September 2027. This programme is intended for advocacy and social-change projects, not projects focused solely on service delivery or general organisational running costs.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the Commonwealth Foundation’s application portal. Applicants should review the guidance for their chosen grant stream, complete the eligibility checks and prepare the required supporting documents before submission.
Official Application Page:
https://grants.commonwealthfoundation.com/prog/september_2026_annual_grants_call_/
Full Guidelines and Eligibility:
https://commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual/
Application Deadline: 26 October 2026, 1:00 pm GMT
Disclaimer: Grant information is summarised from the official Commonwealth Foundation call. Applicants should consult the official guidelines to confirm eligibility, funding conditions and documentation requirements before applying. Funding is competitive and is not guaranteed.