About this opportunity
The Commonwealth Foundation is inviting project proposals from civil society and creative groups that want to make a real difference where people live. Funding supports work built around three themes, climate and environmental justice, economic inclusion, and freedom of expression.
There are two ways to apply. Individual organisations can request £15,000 to £30,000 a year for up to two years. Registered networks, coalitions and alliances can apply for Collective Action Grants of £15,000 to £20,000 a year for the same period.
Every project is expected to place gender equity and intersectional thinking at the centre of how it is designed and delivered. If your group is rooted in a Commonwealth member country and ready to grow community led change, this call is worth a close look.
What you receive
- Direct project financing for community level impact
- Institutional recognition for civic and creative work
- A wider platform for coalitions and creative networks
- Support for community driven policy and narrative change
Who can apply
- Individual organisations must be registered not for profit civil society or creative entities based in an eligible Commonwealth member country
- A minimum of three years of active operation
- Demonstrated experience aligned with the priority themes and the local communities served
- Collectives may be registered networks, coalitions, alliances or platforms of civil society, community or creative actors
- An unregistered group must name a registered member organisation as its legal lead applicant
- Gender and intersectionality must be woven into every phase of the project
Who should not apply
- Independent applications from unregistered collectives are not accepted
- Entities without the required years of operation or a matching thematic track record
- Organisations working outside eligible Commonwealth member jurisdictions
Documents to prepare
- A project proposal aligned to one of the three priority themes
- Proof of registration for the applying organisation or lead applicant
- Details showing at least three years of active operation
How to apply
- Visit the Commonwealth Foundation annual grants page to read the full call
- Choose the Individual Organisation Grant or the Collective Action Grant route that fits your group
- Prepare a proposal that shows how your work advances climate justice, economic inclusion or freedom of expression
- Build gender equity and intersectional analysis into the design of the project
- Submit before 1pm GMT on 26 October 2026 through https://commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual/
Selection process
- Applications are reviewed against the priority themes and eligibility rules
- Proposals are assessed on their grounding in local communities and their gender and inclusion approach
- The Foundation selects the projects it will fund for the cycle
Sources and verification
- Official source , Discovered by the opportunity automation module.
Questions applicants ask
Can an unregistered group apply?
Yes, but only if it designates a registered member organisation to act as the legal lead applicant.
How long can funding last?
Awards run for a maximum of two years.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
