Open grants call

1. Climate and environmental justice

   Read less

   Projects could address the following areas through constructive engagement and/or creative advocacy:

   • Addressing the social, political, and economic root causes and impacts of climate and environmental injustice, particularly on marginalised groups, and communities
   • Promoting the representation and participation of those most affected by the climate crisis and environmental injustice in climate policy and decision-making and ensuring the protection of their rights
   • Developing, reviewing, improving, and monitoring laws, policies and practices promoting climate and environmental justice
   • Promoting policies and programmes that support a just, clean energy transition that protects the rights and livelihoods of affected communities, including those most marginalised
   • Promoting localised and indigenous knowledge, solutions and practices to influence environmental policies and promote sustainability
   • Promoting accountability, access to justice, and effective remedy for environmental and climate-related harms and human rights violations

   Please note: this is not an exhaustive list but rather a set of examples to demonstrate the range of possible areas of focus under this theme.

2. Economic inclusion

   Read more

   Projects could address the following areas through constructive engagement and/or creative advocacy:

   • Promoting initiatives to strengthen regulatory frameworks to reduce socio-economic inequalities, including income inequality, and support equitable access to resources, assets, services, and opportunities
   • Promoting programmes and policies that protect and strengthen labour rights, including against forced labour in all its forms
   • Promoting the participation of women, youth and marginalised groups to ensure their needs are reflected in economic policy and decision-making, including in development planning, budgeting, and public expenditure tracking
   • Promoting policy reforms that advance sustainable livelihoods, entrepreneurship, inclusive economic opportunities, and decent jobs, particularly for young people and marginalised groups
   • Advocating for systemic reforms that prioritise health and wellbeing as an integral component of inclusive economic policies
   • Advocating for policies supporting the growth (and recognition) of creative industries [music, film, performance arts etc] to create sustainable livelihoods (creative economy)
   • Fostering economic inclusion through youth-led initiatives

   Please note: this is not an exhaustive list but rather a set of examples to demonstrate the range of possible areas of focus under this theme.

3. Freedom of expression

   Read more

   Projects could address the following areas through constructive engagement and/or creative advocacy:

   • Advancing a legal and regulatory framework that protects and upholds freedom of expression, association, assembly, and access to information, to challenge laws used to stifle dissent, and promote self-regulatory mechanisms for the media and civil society
   • Promoting access to information, information literacy and transparency in governance, including through a free and independent press, robust freedom of information laws and their practical application
   • Advancing civil society engagement in national, regional and/or international mechanisms and processes to promote freedom of expression (for example, national human rights institutions; Universal Periodic Reviews)
   • Promoting digital rights and inclusion, protecting women and youth from online violence and reducing gender bias in artificial intelligence (AI)
   • Removing barriers to public participation in matters of public interest and advancing open civic dialogue
   • Promoting public information ecosystems that ensure public decision making is based on credible and well documented information (for example, community documentation, monitoring of environmental harms)

   Please note: this is not an exhaustive list but rather a set of examples to demonstrate the range of possible areas of focus under this theme.

4. Other important funding considerations

   Read more

   Our strategic impact areas overlap and connect in myriad ways. Applicants are encouraged to explore their intersections: for example, a project could focus on using freedom of information legislation to ensure access to reliable information on the state of the environment, climate finance, or to promote government accountability in relation to climate laws and policies.

   The strategic plan 2026–2031 defines two cross-cutting priorities: ‘small states’ and ‘gender and intersectionality’ and further emphasises the importance of ensuring that the Foundation’s programme delivery resonates with young people’s vision for the future of the Commonwealth.

   Gender and intersectionality

   The Foundation’s commitment to inclusive participation recognises that social structures and systems are shaped by power dynamics that can create and perpetuate inequality, discrimination and exclusion. Understanding how different and overlapping forms of inequality affect people is essential to supporting inclusive participation and ensuring that marginalised voices are represented in public dialogue and decision-making.

   Applicants are required to articulate how gender and intersectionality will be integrated throughout the project. This may include identifying and addressing barriers to participation, ensuring that the project is informed by differing perspectives and experiences, and allocating resources to support inclusive participation.

   For example, a project promoting economic inclusion could consider how gender and other forms of inequality affect access to employment, social protection, and other essential services. This

   understanding could inform which groups participate in the project, the barriers it seeks to address and the policies or practices it aims to influence.

   Small states

   The Foundation is committed to tailoring its approaches to the varying needs and distinct challenges faced by Commonwealth small states, including economic vulnerability, limited resources, institutional capacity and disproportionate exposure to climate change and environmental degradation.

   We seek to strengthen the participation of civil society, grassroots communities and creative actors, amplify issues that disproportionately affect small states and support their engagement in public discourse and policy processes at national, regional and international levels. Applications from eligible civil society and creative organisations in Commonwealth small states are strongly encouraged.

   A note on young people

   Young people remain central to the Foundation’s mission and its vision for the future of the Commonwealth. Many young people face structural inequalities and barriers that limit their opportunities to influence public dialogues and decisions that affect their lives and futures.

   The Foundation recognises young people as agents of change whose perspectives, leadership and lived experiences can help shape responses to pressing issues, including inequality, exclusion, climate risk and democratic erosion. We seek to support meaningful youth participation that goes beyond representation or consultation and enables young people to contribute to public discourse, policy processes and decision-making. Applications from youth-led organisations are encouraged, as are projects that strengthen young people’s agency and leadership.

5. Exclusions

   Read more

   The Foundation will not fund:

   • Exchanges between developed countries.
   • Activities that are solely targeted at building the capacity of government officials and/or the private sector. If the project requires activities such as training of government officials, funding for such components should be separately sourced.
   • Projects that focus on service delivery (for example, the distribution of medicines, construction of facilities, and installation of water pumps).
   • Creative projects that do not aim for social or political change.
   • Activities that promote hatred, discrimination or violence; or those that may endanger participants or communities.
   • Electioneering or partisan political communications.
   • Activities that primarily generate private profit or that do not demonstrate a clear public interest or advocacy outcome.

   The Foundation will only fund the following activities where they meet the relevant conditions:

   • Attendance at, or hosting of, training courses, workshops, conferences or events, where they are:
     • part of a larger project funded by the grant (Individual Organisation Grant); or
     • closely aligned to or support the project’s advocacy objectives (Collective Action Grant).
   • Academic study or research, where it is:
     • part of a larger project funded by the grant (Individual Organisation Grant); or
     • an integral part of the project’s advocacy strategy (Collective Action Grant).
   • Publication of books or films, where they:
     • are part of a larger project funded by the grant (Individual Organisation Grant). This provision does not apply to a creative element of a grant; or
     • form part of a creative advocacy initiative undertaken by a creative organisation (Collective Action Grant).

1. Individual Organisation Grants

   Read less

   Open to not-for-profit civil society organisations and creative organisations registered in eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries.

   Applicants must have been registered and operating for at least three years, with a minimum of three years’ demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and our strategic impact areas. This may include constructive engagement between civil society and decision-makers, or using arts and creative expression to influence narratives, policy or public discourse.

   Applicants should also have significant experience of working in the communities where their proposed project will be delivered.

   The proposed project must, at minimum, be implemented in the applicant organisation’s country of registration. Projects may also be implemented in other eligible countries. Multi-country projects must demonstrate strong local participation by organisations, communities and other relevant actors in each country of implementation.

   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.

   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.

2. Collective Action Grants

   Read more

   Open to not-for-profit networks, such as coalitions, alliances or platforms of civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), groups, creative actors or creative collectives in eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries.

   If the network or collective is not a registered organisation, a registered civil society organisation that is a member of the collective must act as lead applicant on its behalf.

   Networks or collectives must have a minimum of three years’ demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and our strategic impact areas. They must also have a minimum of three years’ demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and strategic impact area. This may include experience in participatory governance, advocacy, civic participation, community engagement, or using arts and creative expression to influence narratives, policy or public discourse.

   Applicants should also have significant experience of working in the communities where their proposed project will be delivered.

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

   The collective or lead 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 collective’s or lead applicant organisation’s average annual income over the past two years.

   Networks, collectives or lead applicant 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.

How to apply

1. Check your eligibility

   Read less

   Before you apply, please ensure you have completed the eligiblity quiz and checked that your country is eligible in the dropdown menu on the eligible countries map.

   Only applications that meet our eligibility criteria can be considered.

2. Register with SurveyMonkey Apply

   Read more

   Survey Monkey Apply are the providers of the online platform we are using for grant applications. We will only consider completed applications that have been submitted using the online application system.

   Before applying, you need to set up a SurveyMonkey Apply account. To set up your account, click ‘register’ on the website here.

3. Complete the online application form

   Read more

   To apply, you will first need to log in to your SurveyMonkey Apply account and complete and submit an online application form on the website here.

   The application and supporting documents cannot be emailed to the Foundation.

   Applications open at 12pm GMT on 23 September 2026 and close at 12pm GMT on 26 October 2026.

4. Provide the required additional documentation

   Read more

   All applicants must submit a completed online application form. All applications must include the following additional documentation:

   1. A logic model (using the template provided here).
   2. A clear copy of the applicant’s or lead applicant’s registration certificate. If it does not state that the entity is not-for-profit, include other evidence such as articles of association. Shortlisted applicants whose original documents are not in English will be expected to provide a certified translation.
   3. A document listing the names, roles, responsibilities and contact details of the applicant’s or lead applicant’s board members or trustees. If there is no board or trustee structure, upload the relevant governance structure, including roles and responsibilities.
   4. Applicants based in India should comply with the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), or have preparations in place to obtain valid FCRA registration to receive charitable funding from outside India.
   5. For grants of exactly £15,000 per year, the applicant may choose to submit either the latest audited accounts or the most recent annual accounts. Annual accounts must include a balance sheet, profit and loss statement and notes, and be signed off by the Board or principal executive officer. The accounts must not be older than December 2024.
   6. Grants exceeding £15,000 per year, the applicant must submit the most recent audited accounts, including the accounts and the external auditor’s opinion. They must be signed by the auditor and the Board or principal executive officer and must not be older than December 2024.
   7. Collective Action Grant applicants must also provide the collective’s structure, governance, secretariat organisation where applicable, and a full list of current members.
   8. Creative applicants should submit a small selection of previous or current work that demonstrates your creative practice and its relevance to the project. You are permitted to share a maxiumum of:
      1. Six images
      2. Five minutes of video or audio
      3. Five pages of writing or relevant digital material
   9. All organisational and financial documents must relate to the same legal entity named as the lead applicant.

   Additional information on accounts is provided below. Note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

5. Check you have successfully submitted your application

   Read more

   Filling in the application form does not automatically submit it. Please make sure that after you fill in the application form you go back to the main application screen and click on the submit button to submit your application.

   You will receive an email from noreply@mail.smapply.io, the email address from SurveyMonkey Apply, acknowledging receipt of your application soon after it is submitted. If you do not receive this acknowledgement email one of three things may have happened:

   • Your application was not successfully submitted
   • The email was sent to a different email that was provided in the form
   • Your email is in your spam inbox

   Please check out all these options and if you are still experiencing problems contact the grants team at cfgrants@commonwealth.int

Changes to our open call grants

1. What has changed this year

   Read less

   In response to the Foundation’s new strategic plan, the 2026–2027 open call marks an evolution in how the Foundation supports communities, collectives and creative practitioners. Our Individual Organisation Grants will continue the work of our previous open call grants by providing support for projects delivered by civil society organisations, including creative organisations. From this year, we will also provide support for networks, coalitions, alliances, platforms and creative collectives through our Collective Action Grants.

2. Can I apply for an Individual Organisation Grant AND a Collective Action Grant?

   Read more

   No. An organisation, network or collective may only be included in one application under this open call, whether as a lead applicant or partner.

3. Can we deliver in partnership?

   Read more

   Yes. Partnerships are welcome where they enhance the scale, depth, reach, or impact of the proposed work. For a Collective Action Grant, partners are defined as those directly involved in delivering the work; you do not need to list every member of the network or collective.

4. Do partners need to be registered?

   Read more

   No. While the applicant or lead applicant must meet the relevant registration requirements and be registered in an eligible Commonwealth Foundation member country, partners may be registered civil society or creative organisations, grassroots or community-based groups, informal groups, social movements, networks, artists, storytellers, creative practitioners or advocates. An Individual Organisation Grant may be delivered by the applicant organisation alone or in partnership. The lead applicant should explain each partner’s role and contribution.

5. Can I partner with unregistered organisations, actors or collectives?

   Read more

   Yes. However, the grant agreement will be with the registered applicant or lead applicant, which will be responsible for the funding and delivery of the project.

6. I am an artist (creative actor or creative practitioner). How can I engage?

   Read more

   If you are a member of a registered organisation, non-for-profit organisation, you can apply to either type of grant as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. You can also be a partner in a proposal that uses creative advocacy to advance one or more of the Foundation’s strategic impact areas.

7. What is creative advocacy?

   Read more

   Creative advocacy is the intentional use of creative practices to influence public discourse, policy, behaviours or decision-making in pursuit of positive social, cultural or political change.

8. What should creative organisations or collectives submit?

   Read more

   Submit a small selection of previous or current work that demonstrates your creative practice and its relevance to the project. Use one or a combination of the following: up to six images, up to five minutes of video or audio, up to five pages of writing or other relevant material, or links to digital, interactive or web-based work. For each example, provide the title, date, your role and a short description of no more than 75 words.

   You do not need to create a new portfolio for this application. Existing documentation is welcome, and production quality will not be assessed. If the work was collaborative, briefly explain your contribution.

   You may include a link to a wider portfolio, but assessors will only be expected to review the material submitted within these limits.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is my organisation eligible to apply?

   Read less

   To be eligible for a grant under this call, the following criteria must be met:

   1. For an Individual Organisation Grant, the applicant must be a not-for-profit civil society organisation or creative organisation registered in an eligible Commonwealth Foundation member country.
   2. For a Collective Action Grant, the applicant must be a not-for-profit network, coalition, alliance or platform of civil society organisations, community-based organisations, groups, creative actors or creative collectives, registered in an eligible Commonwealth Foundation member country. The list of eligible countries can be found on this page. An unregistered network or collective must nominate an eligible registered member organisation to act as lead applicant.
   3. Newly registered organisations, networks, coalitions or collectives that have been registered and operating for less than three years are not eligible to apply.
   4. The proposed project must be implemented in the applicant’s or lead applicant’s country of registration but may also include activities in additional eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries. Projects can a national, sub-national, regional or international remit. For multi-country projects, strong local participation in each country of implementation is required.
   5. The project must seek to advance at least one of the Foundation’s strategic impact areas (freedom of expression, economic inclusion, or climate and environmental justice) through constructive engagement between civil society and governments or other decision-makers and/or, the use of creative practice to influence public discourse or decision-making, policy or behaviours in pursuit of positive social, cultural, or political change (creative advocacy).
   6. The applicant, network or collective must have at least three years’ demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and strategic impact area, as well as significant experience in the communities where the project will be delivered.
   7. The grant requested must be between £15,000 and £20,000 per year for a Collective Action Grant, or between £15,000 and £30,000 per year for an Individual Organisation Grant.
   8. Grants may be requested for a maximum of two years.
   9. The requested grant amount should not exceed 70% of the applicant’s or lead applicant’s average annual income over the past two years.
   10. The applicant’s or lead applicant’s average annual income over the past two years must be less than £2.5 million.
   11. The proposal must demonstrate how gender and intersectionality have informed its design and will be integrated throughout implementation, including consideration of factors such as age, disability, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status and geographical location.
   12. 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.
   13. Applications should relate to projects that are expected to begin between 1 August 2027 and 30 September 2027.

   Note that applications not meeting the above eligibility requirements will not be considered.

2. What documents must we submit?

   Read more

   All applicants must submit a completed online application form. All applications must include the following additional documentation:

   1. A logic model (using the template provided).
   2. A clear copy of the applicant’s or lead applicant’s registration certificate. If it does not state that the entity is not-for-profit, include other evidence such as articles of association. Shortlisted applicants whose original documents are not in English will be expected to provide a certified translation.
   3. A document listing the names, roles, responsibilities and contact details of the applicant’s or lead applicant’s board members or trustees. If there is no board or trustee structure, upload the relevant governance structure, including roles and responsibilities.
   4. Applicants based in India should comply with the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), or have preparations in place to obtain valid FCRA registration to receive charitable funding from outside India.
   5. For grants of exactly £15,000 per year, the applicant may choose to submit either the latest audited accounts or the most recent annual accounts. Annual accounts must include a balance sheet, profit and loss statement and notes, and be signed off by the Board or principal executive officer. The accounts must not be older than December 2024.
   6. Grants exceeding £15,000 per year, the applicant must submit the most recent audited accounts, including the accounts and the external auditor’s opinion. They must be signed by the auditor and the Board or principal executive officer and must not be older than December 2024.
   7. Collective Action Grant applicants must also provide the collective’s structure, governance, secretariat organisation where applicable, and a full list of current members. Creative organisations and collectives must provide the required portfolio or equivalent digital evidence.
   8. All organisational and financial documents must relate to the same legal entity named as the lead applicant.

   Additional information on accounts is provided below. Note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

3. What type of projects is the Commonwealth Foundation seeking to fund?

   Read more

   The Foundation will support projects advancing one or more of three strategic impact areas: freedom of expression; economic inclusion; and climate and environmental justice. Priority will be given to applications that facilitate constructive engagement between civic actors, governments and other decision-makers and/or use creative advocacy. All projects must integrate gender and intersectionality into their design and implementation.

4. Can we apply for funding in relation to a project that has already started?

   Read more

   The Foundation may support work that is not entirely new but builds on, extends or adds a component to an existing initiative that meets the open call grants criteria. Applicants should identify existing work in the application and explain the value and expected impact of the proposed extension. If the applicant is not a creative organisation or collective, a creative advocacy component added to an existing project will not be considered for funding.

5. What kind of audit report do we need to submit?

   Read more

   For grants exceeding £15,000 per year, applicants must submit their most recent audited accounts, including the accounts and the external auditor’s opinion. They must be signed by the auditor and the Board or principal executive officer and must not be older than December 2024.

   Project audits and independently verified accounts will not be accepted in place of the organisation’s audited accounts. Audited accounts for an affiliated organisation registered in a different country will not be accepted.

6. What kind of annual accounts do we need to submit?

   Read more

   For grants of exactly £15,000 per year, applicants may submit audited accounts or their most recent annual accounts. Annual accounts must include a balance sheet, profit and loss statement and notes, be signed off by the Board or principal executive officer, and must not be older than December 2024.

7. Can we submit the audited accounts/annual accounts after we have submitted the application?

   Read more

   No. The required financial documentation must be submitted together with the application form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

8. Can an organisation apply for funding for a project that is to be implemented in a country that is not the country of the registration?

   Read more

   The project must be implemented in the applicant’s or lead applicant’s country of registration, but may also include activities in other eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries. Strong local participation is required in each country of implementation (please refer to the full list of eligible countries above).

9. Are partnerships part of the selection criteria?

   Read more

   Partnerships are not compulsory, but the Foundation welcomes grant applications for partnerships that aim to enhance the scale, depth, reach or impact of the proposed work. Please note that partners do not have to be registered organisations. They may include not-for-profit community-based organisations/groups, informal alliances, social movements, individual activists or creatives such as artists, musicians, writers, poets or performers’ activities.

   Applicants should clearly explain each partner’s role and contribution. If a proposed partner is a registered organisation in a country of implementation, its registration certificate should be submitted with an Individual Organisation Grant application; for Collective Action Grants, certificates for registered partners will be requested if the application is shortlisted.

10. Who can we partner with?

    Read more

    Partners may include registered civil society or creative organisations, grassroots or community-based groups, informal groups, social movements, networks, artists, storytellers, creative practitioners or advocates whose contribution will strengthen the project.

11. Can two or more organisations submit an application?

    Read more

    Yes. One eligible organisation must be nominated as lead applicant and the others identified as partners. For an unregistered network or collective, the lead applicant must be an eligible registered member organisation.

    The lead applicant will enter into the grant agreement with the Commonwealth Foundation and will hold the relevant rights and responsibilities under that agreement.

12. Can an organisation be an applicant in one application and a partner in another? Or a partner in more than one application?

    Read more

    No. An organisation/partner can only be included in one application.

13. Can an organisation apply for more than one grant?

    Read more

    No. An organisation can only apply for one grant under this call.

14. Can an organisation that has previously been awarded a grant by the Commonwealth Foundation (as either lead applicant or partner) apply for another grant under this call as either a lead applicant or a partner?

    Read more

    Organisations that have previously received a Foundation grant may apply only after that earlier grant has ended and the final payment has been received. Applicants currently implementing a grant, or awaiting final payment, are not eligible.

15. We are planning to partner with another organisation whose average total income is more than £2.5 million. Does that affect eligibility?

    Read more

    No. The income requirement applies only to the applicant or lead applicant.

16. Can a government or business entity be a partner in the project?

    Read more

    No. Partners nominated by an applicant should not be government or business entities. However, the Foundation does welcome informal collaborations–including with government and the private sector–that might enhance the project’s effectiveness and impact.

17. Can a project funded under this call provide training or other support to government officials?

    Read more

    No. While the Foundation is seeking to support constructive engagement with government, project funds cannot be used to provide training to government officials. If such training is considered necessary for project aims, an alternative source of funding for those costs should be secured and this should be explained clearly in the application.

18. How should grant partners monitor and report on their projects?

    Read more

    Successful applicants will be required to develop a monitoring plan for their project. The Foundation will provide guidance for grant partners, including through the use of simplified versions of the Results Based Management and Outcome Harvesting methodologies that we use for all our work.

    For projects of one year duration, grant partners are required to provide an end of project report and a corresponding financial report. For projects of more than one year duration, grant partners are required to provide an annual report including a financial report and, at the end of the project, an end of project report and corresponding financial report.

    Reporting schedules will be agreed between the grant partner and the Foundation and set out in the grant agreement.

19. Why is my country not included in the list of eligible countries?

    Read more

    The Foundation’s arrears policy restricts eligibility for the open call to organisations from member countries that are in good financial standing with the Foundation. As in previous years, this excludes applications from several countries that are in serious arrears with respect to their contributions.

    See our map of eligible countries for more information. 

20. Can I apply for an open call grant to strengthen organisational capacity or support my organisation in other ways?

    Read more

    No. Open call grants are awarded for specific projects and do not cover core organisational costs.

    The Foundation does appreciate the importance of strengthening organisational capacity. For Individual Organisation Grants, shortlisted applicants will be invited to propose capacity strengthening initiatives as part of their project budget, costed at up to 5% of the grant amount requested. These funds may be used to cover organisational needs that are broader than the project that enhance organisational effectiveness. For Collective Action grants, shortlisted applicants are welcome to suggest capacity strengthening initiatives that support collective action work. There is no need to include capacity-strengthening proposals in the first-stage application.

21. Can I look at examples of projects funded by open call grants in previous years?

    Read more

    Past and current projects funded by the Commonwealth Foundation can be found on our website: commonwealthfoundation.com/projects  

    While these provide an overview, applicants should note that requirements and focus areas differ from year to year. Please also note that collective action grants are new for 2026-2027, so you will not find examples of projects funded under this grants stream.

22. How do I apply for a grant?

    Read more

    Login and create your Survey Monkey Apply account to complete and submit an online application. Only applications submitted through the online application system will be considered.

23. Can I submit an application via email or post?

    Read more

    No. Only applications submitted using the online application system will be considered.

24. Who are SurveyMonkey Apply?

    Read more

    SurveyMonkey Apply is the provider of the online platform used for Commonwealth Foundation grant applications.

25. I don’t have a SurveyMonkey Apply account; how do I get one?

    Read more

    You can find out how to register for an account here.

26. I’ve applied for a Commonwealth Foundation grant in the past, do I still need to create an account?

    Read more

    No. You should already have an account. Please log in using your email address and password. If you have forgotten your password, follow the guidance provided on screen to set a new one.

27. Who do I contact if I can’t log into my account?

    Read more

    If you have login problems, please send an email to: cfgrants@commonwealth.int.

28. Why am I receiving emails from noreply@mail.smapply.io?

    Read more

    This is the email address from SurveyMonkey Apply, the providers of the grants online application system. All emails relating to the submission of your grant application will be sent from this email address. Please do not reply to this email address as it’s not monitored. Send any queries to cfgrants@commonwealth.int and a staff member of the Foundation will get back to you.

29. What do I do if I have problems with my application?

    Read more

    If you have problems with your application, please contact cfgrants@commonwealth.int and a staff member of the Foundation will assist you.

    We strongly advise that applicants requiring help reach out to us as soon as possible. We receive a large volume of last-minute requests for help and we cannot guarantee responding to them all in time; you could miss the deadline. Submission after the deadline is not possible, and you should not rely on people being available to assist in the final days.

30. How do I know if my application was successfully submitted?

    Read more

    Please ensure that after you fill in the application form you return to the main application screen and click on the submit button to submit your application. Filling in the application form does not automatically submit it.

    You will receive an email from noreply@mail.smapply.io acknowledging receipt of your application soon after it is submitted. If you do not receive this acknowledgement email one of three things may have happened:

    1. your application was not successfully submitted
    2. the email was sent to a different email that was provided in the form
    3. your email is in your spam box

    Please check out all these options and if you are still experiencing problems contact the grants team at cfgrants@commonwealth.int.

31. When will I find out if my application was successful?

    Read more

    Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the end of February 2027 and invited to provide further information, including a detailed project budget. If you have not been contacted by then, it means that your application has not been shortlisted.

    Shortlisted applicants will be informed of the outcome by the end of June 2027. Grant agreements are expected to be concluded soon afterwards, allowing implementation to begin between August and September 2027.

32. Can I request feedback on my application?

    Read more

    The Foundation receives a large number of applications each year and is therefore unable to provide individual feedback for unsuccessful applicants.

    If you have not been contacted by the end of February 2027, it means your application has not been shortlisted.

33. Where can I find more information?

    Read more

    You can find out more information by downloading our application guidance documents which include:

    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Grant Application Form
    • Guidlines for Applicants
    • Logic Model Template
    • How to Submit an Online Application
    • What is Constructive Engagement?

    Organisations may email cfgrants@commonwealth.int with any queries that are not covered within these documents.

Ethical considerations

1. Safeguarding

   Read less

   The Foundation is committed to ensuring all activities supported through its grants protect the safety, dignity and wellbeing of the people involved. Applicants are expected to identify any safeguarding risks associated with their proposed project and explain how these risks will be prevented, managed and responded to. Safeguarding measures should be appropriate to the nature of the project, the people involved and the context in which activities will take place.

   Shortlisted applicants will be required to provide relevant safeguarding policies or procedures or, where these are not already in place, to develop appropriate safeguarding measures as a condition of funding.

2. Guidance on the use of AI

   Read more

   The Foundation’s grants programme exists to support civil society and creative voices to constructively engage in policy processes; to help people to participate in and transform the policies and systems that shape their lives. We are conscious that many potential applicants are drawn to these tools to prepare applications more quickly and with less effort.

   The Foundation would like to advise prospective applicants to use AI merely as a support tool for editing, grammar, research, improving readability, and summarising.

   The Foundation values proposals that are grounded in the knowledge, experience and perspectives of the communities affected, not generic narratives. Consequently, applications must still demonstrate organisational understanding of the problem being addressed, institutional knowledge of the community being served as well as the organisational journey to grow and create change for beneficiaries.

   The Foundations assessment process remains centred on human judgement, expertise, and decision-making, to preserve the integrity of the process. The use of AI tools will neither disadvantage nor advantage applicants in our assessment process.

   Good applications are grounded in verifiable evidence, real lived experience in the thematic area, genuine community engagement, realistic planning, and the insight that only comes from the organisation’s direct experience, learning and knowledge.

What happens next

1. Assessment criteria

   Read less

   We typically receive around 3000 applications which are assessed in line with the eligibility criteria.

   The assessment criteria for applications are as follows:

   1. Your organisation meets all eligibility criteria
   2. Your organisation has a good track record of advocacy work
   3. Your application provides a clear description of the problem that the applicant is seeking to address
   4. Your application provides a clear explanation of how you plan to address the problem and contribute to its resolution
   5. Your organisation provides good evidence of having consulted with the project’s supposed beneficiaries
   6. Your application makes a persuasive case for the proposed approach to the problem. It is timely, relevant and feasible.
   7. Your organisation demonstrates that it has the capacity to undertake the project and complete it successfully within the stipulated time
   8. Your organisation demonstrates a serious commitment to gender equality.

2. Shortlisting

   Read more

   Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by Foundation staff by the end of February 2027. These applicants will be invited to provide further information in support of their application, including a detailed project budget.

   If you have not been contacted by the end of February 2027, it means that your application has not been shortlisted.

3. Approval process

   Read more

   Shortlisted applicants will be informed of the result of their application by the end of June 2027, and it is expected that grant agreements will be concluded soon thereafter, allowing for implementation to begin in the third quarter of 2027 (August- September).

4. Monitoring and reporting

   Read more

   Successful applicants will be required to develop a monitoring plan for their project. The Foundation will provide guidance and support to grant partners as required.

   Reporting schedules will be agreed between the grant partner and the Foundation and set out in the grant agreement.

   Grant partners who are implementing a one-year project will be asked to provide an end of project narrative report, along with a financial report. Grant partners who are implementing a two-year project will submit a narrative and financial report at the end of the first year as well as an end-of-project narrative and financial report. Reporting schedules will be agreed between the grant partner and the Foundation and set out in the grant agreement.