Commonwealth Foundation
Open grants call
Opens: 12pm GMT on 23 September 2026
Deadline: 12pm GMT on 26 October 2026
Projects are expected to begin between 1 August 2027 and 30 September 2027.
This is an external funding opportunity which may be suitable for WAGGGS' Member Organisations. Please check the funder's website for full details of eligibility and how to apply.
Visit Commonwealth Foundation website
This grants programme supports civil society across the Commonwealth - including grassroots communities and creative actors - to advance meaningful social, cultural and political change.
The Foundation support projects that seek change through constructive engagement with governments and other decision-makers and/or through creative advocacy: the intentional use of creative practices to influence public discourse, policy, behaviours or decision-making.
Applications must address one or more of our three funding priorities. All applicants are required to demonstrate how they intend to integrate considerations of gender and intersectionality into their project design and implementation.
Please check all of the eligibility criteria and read all of the guidance documentation before applying. You will find this on the funder's website.
There are two complementary grant streams:
Individual Organisation Grants
For eligible not-for-profit civil society organisations, including creative organisations, delivering standalone projects. Grants are available from £15,000 to £30,000 per year for up to two years.
Collective Action Grants
For eligible networks, coalitions, alliances and platforms of civil society actors, including creative collectives, working together to strengthen participation and collective action. Grants are available from £15,000 to £20,000 per year for up to two years.
Funding priorities
Applications must address one or more of the Foundation's three priority themes: climate and environmental justice, economic inclusion and freedom of expression. These areas often overlap, and applicants are encouraged to explore the connections between them. Visit the funder's website for full details of these themes.
The Foundation's strategy also identifies small states and gender and intersectionality as cross-cutting priorities. There should be demonstrable consideration of gender and intersectionality in project design and implementation. The Foundation strongly encourages applications from eligible organisations in Commonwealth small states. We welcome projects that meaningfully involve young people to strengthen their leadership.