Apply now for Collective Action Grants

The Commonwealth Foundation is inviting applications to its annual open grants call, supporting civil society across the Commonwealth to advance meaningful social, cultural, and political change. The call includes two grant streams for eligible not-for-profit civil society and creative organisations, and for eligible networks, coalitions, alliances, and collectives. The application deadline is 1pm GMT on 26 October 2026. Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding organization: Commonwealth Foundation

- Opportunity type: Annual open grants call (two complementary grant streams)

- Eligible applicants: Not-for-profit civil society and creative organisations; and networks/coalitions/alliances/platforms/collectives (with a lead applicant requirement in some cases)

- Eligible countries/coverage: Commonwealth Foundation member countries (specific list not provided in the source text)

- Application deadline: 1pm GMT, 26 October 2026

- Project duration: Up to two years (for both grant streams)

- Grant amounts (per year):

- Individual Organisation Grants: £15,000 to £30,000 per year for up to two years

- Collective Action Grants: £15,000 to £20,000 per year for up to two years

- Mandatory cross-cutting requirement: Applicants must demonstrate how they will integrate gender and intersectionality into project design and implementation

About the Opportunity

The Commonwealth Foundation’s grants programme supports civil society across the Commonwealth, including grassroots communities and creative actors, to advance social, cultural, and political change. The Foundation supports projects that seek change through: - Constructive engagement with governments and other decision-makers, and/or - Creative advocacy, meaning the intentional use of creative practices to influence public discourse, policy, behaviours, or decision-making This year, the Foundation is expanding its funding offer to create new opportunities for civil society networks, coalitions, alliances, and collectives, building on prior support for grassroots communities and creative organisations. Funding and Benefits The Foundation offers funding through two complementary grant streams: - Individual Organisation Grants (standalone projects): - For eligible not-for-profit civil society organisations, including creative organisations - £15,000 to £30,000 per year - For up to two years - Collective Action Grants (collective action): - For eligible networks, coalitions, alliances, and platforms of civil society actors, including creative collectives - £15,000 to £20,000 per year - For up to two years The source text indicates that applicants should consult the guidance documents for full information about both grant streams. It also notes that the Foundation receives a large number of applications and cannot provide individual feedback. Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicant types

- 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 (including coalitions, alliances, platforms of civil society organisations, community-based organisations, groups, creative actors, and creative collectives) in eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries. Key eligibility requirements (Individual Organisation Grants) Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria, including: - Registration and operating history: Registered and operating for at least three years, with a minimum of three years’ demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and the Foundation’s strategic impact areas.

- Experience in delivery communities: Significant experience working in the communities where the proposed project will be delivered.

- Project implementation location:

- The proposed project must be implemented at minimum in the applicant organisation’s country of registration. - Projects may also be implemented in other eligible countries, but multi-country projects must demonstrate strong local participation in each country of implementation.

- Financial capacity constraints:

- 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). - Current grant status: Organisations that are currently implementing a Commonwealth Foundation grant, or have recently completed a grant but have not yet received their final payment, are not eligible to apply. Key eligibility requirements (Collective Action Grants) - If the network/collective is not a registered organisation, a registered civil society organisation that is a member of the collective must act as the lead applicant on its behalf. - Networks/collectives must have a minimum of three years’ demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and the Foundation’s strategic impact areas (the source text begins to state additional requirements but is truncated; Not specified in the source beyond what is visible). Mandatory cross-cutting requirement All applicants are required to demonstrate how they intend to integrate gender and intersectionality into project design and implementation. Eligible locations The source states eligibility is for organisations and networks registered in eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries. The specific list of eligible countries is Not specified in the source text; applicants should consult the official guidance documents. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas Funding priorities (must address one or more) Applications must address one or more of three funding priorities: The source notes these areas often overlap, and applicants are encouraged to explore connections between them. Cross-cutting priorities - Small states (the Foundation strongly encourages applications from eligible organisations in Commonwealth small states) - Gender and intersectionality (required) Th