FAQs for Grantseekers
Frequently Asked Questions for the Civil Society Responsive Grants scheme
Our grants scheme helps people from developing Commonwealth countries learn from each other. We give grants to non-governmental organisations – including faith based organisations, community based organisations, research, labour and cultural organisations – working in areas of governance, development and culture.
We give grants to encourage the sharing of skills, knowledge and ideas between developing Commonwealth countries. We believe that it is important for people to be able to learn from and be inspired by the work of others.
What does the Commonwealth Foundation do?
The Foundation is an inter-governmental organisation that supports non-governmental organisations in Commonwealth countries.
We support NGOs and cultural organisations in their work with governments, and provide opportunities for NGOs to meet and share experiences and ideas.
How big are the Foundation's grants?
We mostly award grants of up to £10,000, though the average size is about £5,000.
Why 'responsive' grants?
Grants help us 'respond' to development initiatives taking place around the world. They help non-governmental organisations explore new areas of work, while also helping us to learn about concerns of NGOs and how we can best help them.
Can I apply?
You need to:
• belong to a non-profit or cultural organisation
• be based in a developing Commonwealth country
• be engaged in work relevant to the Foundation's programmes.
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.
What sort of activities do you support?
We give grants to help people run and participate in workshops, seminars, conferences, cultural festivals, exchanges and study visits.
What sort of grants are successful?
We look for initiatives that fit with the programme work we do. You will need to check the current work plans of each programme on our website to make sure your project fits.
We give particular priority to activities:
• that include an international or intercultural aspect;
• where the learning generated can be shared with others;
• where there is clear plan for follow-up (perhaps an advocacy plan, or a network, or sharing the learning).
We expect all activities to consider issues of youth and gender and include equitable participation of women, men and young people.
How can I apply?
1. Read the full guidelines on our website to check whether we can support your activity
2. Complete an application form. You can submit the form online, by email, or by post, together with the extra information requested.
If you are seeking funding for an activity to do with voter education there is an additional form to complete.
Is there deadline by which I should apply?
Applications are processed four times a year. There are four deadlines for applications: 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, and 31 December.
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 award grants to about a quarter of applicants.
What are the reporting requirements?
All successful grant applicants are expected to submit a short report after the activity has taken place to show how the participants benefited from the activity in which they took part and whether the initiatives provided any lessons that could be shared.
