Commonwealth Foundation Grants 2026 for Civil Society Organisations

If you’re part of a civil society organisation keen on influencing policy, advocating for justice, or driving community action, the Commonwealth Foundation Grants 2026 are now open. These grants provide up to £60,000 to support civil society’s engagement with decision-makers and work on issues of social change, equity, and justice across Commonwealth countries.

What are these Grants about?

The programme is designed to fund projects that strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) to:

• Engage constructively with policymakers and government structures.
• Drive policy development and institutional change (not just service delivery).
• Address priority areas set out by the Commonwealth Foundation that matter deeply to many communities.

For 2026, the grant call focuses on three priority themes:

1. Health Justice — including universal access to medicine, quality health services, addressing discrimination in health systems, social determinants of health, and ensuring marginalised groups are included in decision-making.
2. Freedom of Expression — strengthening legal and regulatory environments that protect free speech, artistic expression, access to information, and civil society’s ability to speak freely.
3. Climate Justice — ensuring climate mitigation and adaptation policies are fair, inclusive, and consider those who are most vulnerable to climate change; holding governments to account; addressing injustice related to environmental harm.

Who can apply

To be eligible, your organisation must:

• Be a not-for-profit civil society organisation registered in a Commonwealth member state.
• Have at least three years of demonstrable experience in participatory governance, advocacy, or related work. Newer organisations (less than three years) are not eligible.
• Not currently implementing (or having recently completed without final payment received) another Commonwealth Foundation grant.
• Propose a project that begins after 1 August 2026 and before the end of September 2026.

ALSO APPLY FOR:
beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship 2026/2027 [Cohort 4]

How much funding & what it covers

• Organisations selected may receive up to £60,000.
• The grant is intended to cover project costs related to the theme(s) you apply under — activities like advocacy campaigns, policy development, research, community engagement, workshops, etc.
• The funding does not cover projects starting before August 2026.

Timeline & Important dates

Why this is relevant for Nigerian CSOs

For Nigerian civil society groups, this grant is a strong opportunity because:

• It can help amplify voices on major issues like health care access, environmental justice, youth involvement, and human rights.
• Enables CSOs to engage directly with policymakers — potentially influencing legislation or public policy.
• Funding this size (up to £60,000) can allow for impactful, sustained activity rather than short-term interventions.
• Builds credibility and experience, which can help attract other grants, donors, and partnerships.

Tech FoundHer Africa Challenge 2025 for Women Tech Founders

Tips for a strong application

• Clearly align your project with one (or more) of the stated themes. Don’t try to cover everything — focus helps.
• Demonstrate a strong track record: show past projects, impact, community engagement, and outcomes.
• Show how you plan to engage decision makers (not just deliver services).
• Be realistic with timeline and budget — you’ll need to show your project starts after August 2026.
• Submit all required documents, and ensure your registration, mandate, and organisational governance are clear.

Quick Summary

• What: Commonwealth Foundation Grants 2026 — civil society grant up to £60,000
• Who: CSOs in Commonwealth countries with ≥3 years of work in advocacy/governance
• Themes: Health Justice • Freedom of Expression • Climate Justice
• Deadline: 23 October 2025

APPLY FOR THE COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR CSOs