Commonwealth Foundation Grants 2026
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Quick Answer
Grants of £15,000-30,000 a year (about ₹18-36 lakh) for up to two years for Indian and other Commonwealth NGOs on climate justice, economic inclusion or free expression. 2026 call closed.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Commonwealth Foundation
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 26 October 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Commonwealth Foundation. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 2026-27 Commonwealth Foundation open grants call is closed: it ended at 12pm GMT on 26 October 2026 (5:30 PM IST). The Foundation says the call will reopen in 2027, with dates still to be announced on its grants page.
The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation based at Marlborough House in London. Its annual open call funds civil society, including grassroots and creative groups, to push for social, cultural and political change by working constructively with governments and other decision-makers, or through creative advocacy. India is an eligible country, so registered Indian NGOs can apply. It is a Commonwealth-wide programme, not India-only, and it funds not-for-profits, not startups or businesses.
What the call offers
There are two streams. Individual Organisation Grants give £15,000 to £30,000 a year (about ₹18 lakh to ₹36 lakh) for up to two years to a not-for-profit organisation running its own project. Collective Action Grants, new this year, give £15,000 to £20,000 a year (about ₹18 lakh to ₹24 lakh) for up to two years to networks, coalitions, alliances and creative collectives working together. These grants do not cover core organisational costs, though shortlisted Individual Organisation applicants may propose capacity-strengthening work costed at up to 5% of the grant. Projects can be national, sub-national, regional or international.
Who can apply
Applicants must be a not-for-profit civil society or creative organisation (Individual stream) or a network, coalition, alliance, platform or collective (Collective stream). A network that is not registered must nominate a registered member as lead applicant. The lead applicant must have been registered and operating for at least three years, with three years of relevant experience, in an eligible Commonwealth Foundation member country. Average income over the past two years must be under £2.5 million, and the grant requested must not exceed 70% of that average. The project must advance at least one priority and be carried out at least in the country of registration. Organisations currently running a Foundation grant, or awaiting its final payment, cannot apply; individuals, government bodies and for-profit businesses cannot apply either. The projects should start between 1 August and 30 September 2027. An organisation may take part in only one application per call. It suits established Indian NGOs and coalitions with an advocacy track record. It is a poor fit for service delivery organisations or young groups with under three years of history.
What projects must address
Every project must address at least one of three priorities: climate and environmental justice, economic inclusion or freedom of expression. It must also explain how gender and intersectionality shape its design and delivery. Youth-led organisations are encouraged. The Foundation does not fund service delivery (such as distributing medicines, construction or water pumps), activities that mainly generate private profit, partisan political communications, electioneering, or creative projects with no social or political aim.
How to apply
Check your country on the eligible countries map and take the eligibility quiz, then register on SurveyMonkey Apply, the Foundation's application platform. Complete and submit the online form; filling it in does not submit it, and applications cannot be emailed or posted. Upload a logic model on the Foundation's template, your registration certificate, a board or trustee list and financial documents. Indian applicants must show FCRA compliance or the steps they are taking to get it. Accounts above £15,000 a year must be audited and dated no older than December 2024. A practical tip: start the logic model early, since it is the template that forces you to set out problem, activities and outcomes clearly. Creative organisations add a small portfolio of up to six images, five minutes of audio or video and five pages of writing.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The Foundation says it receives around 3,000 applications. They are screened for eligibility and then assessed on advocacy track record, a clear description of the problem and how you will address it, consultation with intended beneficiaries, feasibility, capacity to deliver and commitment to gender equality. Shortlisted applicants were to be contacted by the end of February 2027 for more information, including a detailed budget, and outcomes by the end of June 2027. No individual feedback is given.
About the Commonwealth Foundation
The Foundation supports civil society across the Commonwealth and works to a strategic plan for 2026 to 2031. Its other programmes include the People's Forum and the Commonwealth Quilt.
Things to check before you apply
- FCRA. Indian applicants need FCRA compliance or a plan to obtain it.
- Gap between the call and the money. Outcomes arrive mid-2027 and projects begin August to September 2027, so this suits planned work, not urgent needs.
- Monitoring. Grantees build a monitoring plan; two-year projects file an annual report with financials plus end-of-project reports.
- AI use. The Foundation accepts AI as a support tool for editing and research, but applications must still show real community knowledge.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Individual Organisation Grants pay £15,000 to £30,000 a year (about ₹18 lakh to ₹36 lakh) for up to two years. Collective Action Grants for networks and coalitions pay £15,000 to £20,000 a year (about ₹18 lakh to ₹24 lakh) for up to two years. The grant you ask for cannot be more than 70% of your organisation's average annual income over the past two years.
- Disbursement
- Tranched
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
The Foundation screens applications against its eligibility criteria and assesses eligible proposals on advocacy track record, clarity of the problem and approach, consultation with beneficiaries, feasibility, capacity and commitment to gender equality. Shortlisted applicants are asked for more documents and a detailed budget. Because of the volume of applications, no individual feedback is given.
Application Process
- 1
Check eligibility
Use the eligible countries map and eligibility quiz.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Indian NGO apply for Commonwealth Foundation grants?
Yes. India is on the list of eligible member countries. Your organisation must be a registered not-for-profit with at least three years of operation and relevant experience, and you must show FCRA compliance or steps to obtain it.
Can a startup or company apply?
No. Only not-for-profit civil society organisations, networks and collectives can apply. For-profit businesses, government bodies and individuals are not eligible.
How much can we ask for?
£15,000 to £30,000 a year for up to two years for an Individual Organisation Grant, or £15,000 to £20,000 a year for a Collective Action Grant. The request cannot exceed 70% of your average annual income over the past two years.
When is the next deadline?
The 2026 call closed at 12pm GMT on 26 October 2026. The Foundation says the call will reopen in 2027 but gives no dates; check its grants page.
What does the Foundation not fund?
Service delivery such as distributing medicines or building facilities, projects that mainly make private profit, partisan political communications and electioneering, and creative work with no social or political aim, among others.
Is this a grant or a loan?
It is a grant to not-for-profit organisations. The pages we read describe no repayment or equity terms.
What documents do we need?
A logic model on the Foundation's template, a registration certificate, a board or trustee list and financial accounts (audited above £15,000 a year, dated no older than December 2024). Indian applicants also show FCRA compliance. Collectives add governance and member details.
How do we apply?
Through SurveyMonkey Apply, the Foundation's online platform, after checking the eligibility quiz. Email and post are not accepted.
Is it free to apply?
The pages we read mention no application fee.
When are results announced?
For the 2026 call, shortlisted applicants were to be contacted by the end of February 2027 and outcomes announced by the end of June 2027. Projects start in August to September 2027.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
