About this opportunity
If your organisation works on a problem your community lives with every day, this is the kind of funding that lets you pursue it properly rather than in fragments. The Commonwealth Foundation runs an annual grants programme for civil society organisations across its member countries, and the 2026/2027 round closes on a single printed date: The
Application timeline
for applications is 1pm GMT on 26 October 2026. There are two tracks.
The Individual Organisation Grants track is the larger, and the Foundation's grants page states that Grants are available from £15,000 to £30,000 per year for up to two years. The Collective Action Grants track, aimed at creative organisations and collectives, carries £15,000 to £20,000 per year for up to two years.
Funded work in this round is then expected to begin between 1 August 2027 and 30 September 2027. The
Eligibility
maths matters, so read it before you invest days in a draft. The page prints that The applicant organisation's average annual income over the past two years must be less than £2.
5 million, and that the requested grant must not exceed 70% of that income. Where the ask crosses £15,000 per year, the Foundation asks for audited accounts including the external auditor's report.
In plain terms, this programme is built for smaller organisations doing important work on lean budgets. One honest note on geography: the printed list of countries that may apply as lead applicant opens wide across Africa, but it does not include Nigeria, so a Nigerian organisation cannot lead this round even though the programme covers much of the continent.
Asterisked partner countries may still join multi-country projects. Check your position with the eligible countries map and the
Eligibility
quiz on the page, and treat 1pm GMT on 26 October 2026 as the date you finish, not the date you start.
What you receive
- Individual Organisation Grants of £15,000 to £30,000 per year for up to two years
- Collective Action Grants of £15,000 to £20,000 per year for up to two years for creative organisations and collectives
- Funded projects are expected to begin between 1 August 2027 and 30 September 2027
- Multi-country projects are supported where each country of implementation shows strong local participation
Who can apply
- The applicant organisation's average annual income over the past two years must be less than £2.5 million
- The requested grant must not exceed 70% of the applicant organisation's total annual income, averaged over the past two years
- The lead applicant must be registered in one of the printed eligible countries, which across Africa include Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia
- Organisations registered in asterisked countries cannot lead but may join multi-country projects as partners
Who should not apply
- Nigeria is not on the printed list of countries that may apply as lead applicant for this round
Documents to prepare
- Most recent audited accounts including the external auditor's report where the requested amount crosses £15,000 per year
- Audited accounts or the most recent annual accounts for requests under £15,000 per year
- For creative applicants on the Collective Action track, a small selection of previous or current work demonstrating relevance to the project
How to apply
- Check your country against the eligible countries map on the Foundation grants page
- Complete the eligibility quiz on the same page
- Confirm your average annual income stays under the £2.5 million cap and your ask stays under 70% of total annual income
- Prepare the accounts and supporting documents the page lists
- Submit before 1pm GMT on 26 October 2026
Selection process
- Applications are assessed against the eligibility quiz answers, the income tests and the programme's civil society priorities
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
Can a Nigerian organisation lead on this grant?
Not on this round. The printed eligible countries list for the lead applicant role does not include Nigeria, although the programme is open to organisations registered in many other African countries, and asterisked countries may participate as partners in multi-country projects.
How much can an organisation ask for?
Individual Organisation Grants run from £15,000 to £30,000 per year for up to two years. Collective Action Grants run from £15,000 to £20,000 per year for up to two years. The requested grant must also stay under 70% of the organisation's average annual income over the past two years.
When does the funded work start?
The Foundation prints that projects in this round are expected to begin between 1 August 2027 and 30 September 2027.
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.
