We receive a large volume of email and telephone enquiries related to our work. We endeavour to respond to all questions as quickly as possible. However you may find the answer to your query below:
What is the Commonwealth Foundation?
Which countries are members of the Commonwealth Foundation?
How is the Commonwealth Foundation funded?
How are the Commonwealth Foundation’s work priorities established?
Why is the Commonwealth Foundation based in London?
What is civil society?
What is your arrears policy?
Who can join the Commonwealth Foundation?
Can individuals apply for support?
As an individual, how can I get involved?
How can I keep in touch?
How do I make a complaint?
What is the Commonwealth Foundation?
The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation set up almost fifty years ago to make civil society stronger. It equips non-governmental groups with the tools required to contribute to national and international goals of democracy, good governance, sustainable development and cultural diversity. It awards excellence in the arts and helps to influence key policy-makers. It champions, develops and invests in activities that enrich and strengthen society.
Which countries are members of the Commonwealth Foundation?
Forty-seven Commonwealth countries are members of the Commonwealth Foundation, excluding Gibraltar, which is an associate member. Membership is voluntary.
The full list of members is: Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Botswana; Brunei Darussalam; Cameroon; Canada; Cyprus; Dominica; The Gambia; Ghana; Grenada; Guyana; India; Jamaica; Kenya; Kiribati; Lesotho; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Malta; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; New Zealand; Nigeria; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Solomon Islands; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Swaziland; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Uganda; United Kingdom; United Republic of Tanzania; Zambia; Gibraltar* (*Associate member)
How is the Commonwealth Foundation funded?
We receive annual assessed contributions from Commonwealth Foundation member governments. Only organisations and individuals of member countries are eligible for our support. We also fundraise from donors and receive voluntary additional contributions from some countries.
How are the Commonwealth Foundation’s work priorities established?
Our Annual Workplan is devised by Commonwealth Foundation staff with input from our Civil Society Advisory Committee. The Annual Workplan is approved by the Board of Governors. It draws on our overall four-yearly Strategic Framework.
Why is the Commonwealth Foundation based in London?
In 1964, the idea of an international and independent secretariat to service the growing Commonwealth was first proposed by member states. Marlborough House, a former royal residence in London used for Commonwealth affairs by the UK Government, was chosen as its headquarters in 1965. Today, Marlborough House still hosts the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation.
What is civil society?
Civil society is the lifeblood of any healthy society. It includes charities, non-governmental organisations, professional associations, trade unions, faith groups and cultural practitioners.
What is your arrears policy?
The Commonwealth Foundation has strict rules for member states that fail to pay their annual membership fees. For our membership arrears policy in full, please click here.
Who can join the Commonwealth Foundation?
Commonwealth Foundation members are Commonwealth governments. It is not possible for an individual or organisation to join the Commonwealth Foundation.
Can individuals apply for support?
Only organisations of Commonwealth Foundation member countries are eligible for support. For more information about whether your organisation qualifies for a grant from the Commonwealth Foundation, click here.
As in individual, how can I get involved?
You can join the Friends of the Commonwealth, a dedicated charity whose aim is to promote good work around the Commonwealth. Members of Friends are able to network, fundraise and build support for projects around the Commonwealth.
How can I keep in touch?
Please join our mailing list to receive occasional updates about our work.
How do I make a complaint?
If you are unhappy with any aspect of our work, please outline the nature of your concern in writing. Send your message via the contact form or by post to the address at the foot of this page and it will be forwarded to the appropriate person for a response.
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What is the Commonwealth?
How many people are there in the Commonwealth?
Which countries are members of the Commonwealth?
What is the ‘British Commonwealth’?
What is meant by the ‘modern Commonwealth’?
Is there a voting system in the Commonwealth?
What is the Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 countries that support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development.
How many people are there in the Commonwealth?
More than two billion citizens.
Which countries are members of the Commonwealth?
Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belize; Botswana; Brunei Darussalam; Cameroon; Canada; Cyprus; Dominica; Fiji Islands; The Gambia; Ghana; Grenada; Guyana; India; Jamaica; Kenya; Kiribati; Lesotho; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Malta; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Nauru; New Zealand; Nigeria; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Rwanda; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Solomon Islands; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Swaziland; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Uganda; United Kingdom; United Republic of Tanzania; Vanuatu; Zambia.
What is the ‘British Commonwealth’?
The ‘British Commonwealth’ refers to the Imperial British Empire. The ‘British Commonwealth’ ended in 1949 and a new union of what were defined as ‘freely and equally associated states’ was created.
We include seven French-speaking countries - Cameroon, Canada, Dominica, Mauritius, St Lucia, Seychelles and Vanuatu - and one Lusophone – Portuguese-speaking – which is Mozambique.
All countries are independent today and with equal votes. It is from history that our association emerged, but it is our shared values and goals that unite Commonwealth countries today.
What is meant by the ‘modern Commonwealth’?
On 26 April 1949, eight Commonwealth leaders from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom met and adopted what has become known as the ‘London Declaration’, which changed membership in the Commonwealth from one based on common allegiance to the British Crown to one in which members agreed to recognise King George VI as the Head of the Commonwealth. (So, the Headship is vested in the person and not the position.) This marked the end of the colonial British Commonwealth and the birth of what is now referred to as the modern Commonwealth, an association of independent countries united as ‘free and equal members’.
Is there a voting system in the Commonwealth?
No. All decisions are reached by consensus.
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Can I work for the Commonwealth Foundation?
All citizens of Commonwealth countries are eligible to work for the Commonwealth Foundation. Working for us whether as a member of staff, intern or volunteer is a rewarding career path. Visit the working for us page for details on how you can get involved. Any current vacancies we have will always be advertised here.
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What sort of activities do you fund?
What activities don’t you support?
What if I miss a deadline?
How do I know whether I have been successful?
Is there much competition for grants?
How do I increase my chances of success?
What sort of activities do you fund?
We give grants to help people run and participate in activities such as workshops, seminars, conferences, cultural festivals, exchanges and study visits.
What activities don’t you support?
We do not support costs for study (including scholarships), presentation of academic papers, awards to individuals, or costs for government representatives, political parties or the private sector. We also do not fund the participation of citizens from developed countries.
What if I miss a deadline?
If you miss a deadline your application will be held over to the next round.
How do I know whether I have been successful?
We aim to contact all applicants regarding their application, whether successful or not, about eight weeks after each deadline.
Is there much competition for grants?
We tend to receive more than 600 applications each year, of which around a quarter are successful.
How do I increase my chances of success?
We look to fund initiatives that fit with our own programme objectives. We give particular priority to activities that include an international or intercultural aspect and where there is clear plan for follow-up activities (such as a plan for further advocacy and shared learning).
You should refer to objectives contained in our Annual Workplan and Strategic Framework. You may also wish to refer to the latest Commonwealth People’s Forum Civil Society Statement or statements from CHOGMs or Commonwealth Ministerial Meetings. We expect all activities to consider issues of youth and gender and include equitable participation of women, men and young people.
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Can I apply?
How big are your grants?
Why are they called 'responsive' grants?
When is the deadline for applications?
What are your reporting requirements?
What are the six Commonwealth regions?
Can I apply?
To be eligible for a responsive grant you must represent a non-profit or cultural organisation, be based in a developing Commonwealth country and be engaged in work relevant to our programmes.
How big are your grants?
The average size is about £5,000.
Why are they called 'responsive' grants?
The grants help us 'respond' to development initiatives taking place around the world. They help non-governmental organisations explore new areas of work and help us to learn about the concerns of NGOs and how we can best help them.
When is the deadline for applications?
Applications for each quarter should be submitted by 30 June, 30 September, 31 December or 30 March.
What are your reporting requirements?
All successful grant applicants are expected to submit a report after the activity has taken place to show how the participants benefited and whether any lessons can be shared.
What are the six Commonwealth regions?
The six regions are: Caribbean and Canada, Europe, East and Southern Africa, West Africa, and Asia and Pacific.
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Can I apply?
How big are your grants?
Can I apply for core funding only?
When is the deadline?
What are your reporting requirements?
What happens if we fail to meet the reporting requirements?
Can I apply?
To be eligible for an annual grant you must represent an officially accredited Commonwealth association. Your association must have membership in 25 Commonwealth countries across each of the six Commonwealth regions. For more information on accreditation, please visit the Commonwealth Secretariat’s website.
How big are your grants?
We award grants of up to £20,000.
Can I apply for core funding only?
No. At least 50 per cent of the funds applied for must be dedicated for specific programme activities.
When is the deadline?
Applications for annual grants must be submitted by 31 December for the following financial year (from July to June).
What are your reporting requirements?
Associations must submit audited reports as a condition of annual grant funding. The reporting must include audited accounts, a financial statement and a narrative report on the funded activities. For full terms and conditions on reporting, please read our Commonwealth association annual grant guidelines.
What happens if we fail to meet the reporting requirements?
If an association fails to fulfil our reporting requirements it will not be eligible to receive further funding tranches.
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