Open Grants Call 2026-27: Collective Action Grants

A new stream funding not-for-profit networks, coalitions, alliances, platforms and creative collectives in eligible Commonwealth countries working together on climate and environmental justice, economic inclusion or freedom of expression. Grants run from £15,000 to £20,000 per year for up to two years, with projects starting between August and September 2027. An unregistered collective can apply through a registered member organisation acting as lead applicant.

Amount: £15,000–£20,000
Eligible countries: Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, Rwanda, Uganda +32 more
Who can apply: NGO / nonprofit

Climate & Environment
Gender & Inclusion

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Eligibility rules

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
Funder's wording
“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.”
If the network or collective is not registered, a registered civil society member organisation must apply as lead applicant on its behalf
Funder's wording
“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.”
Lead applicant must be registered in an eligible country; organisations registered in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand may only join as partners
Funder's wording
“*If your organisation is registered in a country that has an asterisk (*) next to it in the list above, you are ineligible to apply for a grant as a lead applicant. Please note that while organisations registered in these countries cannot apply for a grant as a lead applicant, they can participate in a project as partners, so long as the lead applicant is from another eligible country.”
Network or collective must have at least three years' demonstrable experience relevant to the project and the Foundation's impact areas
Funder's wording
“Networks or collectives must have a minimum of three years’ demonstrable experience relevant to the proposed project and our strategic impact areas.”
Registered applicant must have been registered and operating for at least three years
Funder's wording
“Newly registered organisations, networks, coalitions or collectives that have been registered and operating for less than three years are not eligible to apply.”
Project must be implemented at least in the network's or lead applicant's country of registration; multi-country projects need strong local participation in each country
Funder's wording
“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.”
Collective's or lead applicant's average annual income over the past two years must be under £2.5 million
Funder's wording
“The collective or lead applicant organisation’s average annual income over the past two years must be less than £2.5 million.”
Requested grant must not exceed 70% of the collective's or lead applicant's average annual income over the past two years
Funder's wording
“The requested grant must not exceed 70% of the collective’s or lead applicant organisation’s average annual income over the past two years.”
Applicant must not currently be implementing a Commonwealth Foundation grant or awaiting final payment on one
Funder's wording
“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.”
Project must advance at least one impact area: freedom of expression, economic inclusion, or climate and environmental justice
Funder's wording
“All proposals must seek to advance at least one of the Foundation’s strategic impact areas: freedom of expression, economic inclusion, or climate and environmental justice.”
Project must be expected to begin between 1 August and 30 September 2027
Funder's wording
“Projects are expected to begin between 1 August 2027 and 30 September 2027.”
The project is solely aimed at building the capacity of government officials or the private sectorExclusion — must not apply to you
Funder's wording
“Activities that are solely targeted at building the capacity of government officials and/or the private sector.”
The project focuses on service delivery, such as distributing medicines, building facilities or installing water pumpsExclusion — must not apply to you
Funder's wording
“Projects that focus on service delivery (for example, the distribution of medicines, construction of facilities, and installation of water pumps).”
The project primarily generates private profit, or shows no clear public-interest or advocacy outcomeExclusion — must not apply to you
Funder's wording
“Activities that primarily generate private profit or that do not demonstrate a clear public interest or advocacy outcome.”
The project involves electioneering or partisan political communicationsExclusion — must not apply to you
Funder's wording
“Electioneering or partisan political communications.”

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