Commonwealth Foundation Grants

Funder: Commonwealth Foundation

Program summary

The Commonwealth Foundation's projects are divided into three areas: Governance and Democracy; Sustainable Development; and Culture and Diversity. Grants are awarded under each of the programmes.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate how the activity for which funding is being sought meets the priorities of one of the Foundation's programmes. Reference should be made to the Foundation's 2006/07 Annual Workplan and 2005/08 Strategic Plan.

Key dates

Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis.

The deadlines for receiving grant applications during the period covered by the current guidelines are 31 December 2007 and 31 March 2008. 

Who can apply?

Follow this link for a list of Commonwealth Foundation member countries (opens in a new browser window).

All applicants for grants must have an organisational base and the activity must benefit the organisation. Applying organisations must:

• be registered or incorporated as non-profit civil society organisations;
• be engaged in work relevant to Commonwealth values, strategic objectives and priorities;
• demonstrate accountability and good governance;
• not practice or tolerate any form of racial, ethnic, gender or other discrimination;
• be able to provide evidence of obtaining funding from sources other than the Foundation.

Who can't apply?

Non-Commonwealth Foundation members:

Commonwealth countries that are not members of the Foundation are as follows:

1. Antigua and Barbuda
2. Bangladesh
3. Fiji Islands
4. Maldives
5. Nauru
6. St Kitts and Nevis
7. South Africa
8. Tuvalu
9. Vanuatu

What will be funded?

The Foundation's responsive grants are intended to promote co-operation and sharing of skills, knowledge and ideas between Commonwealth countries.

They are therefore available primarily for activities that involve the participation of people and organisations from more than one Commonwealth country.

In general, grants are to support participation from Commonwealth countries other than that in which an activity is taking place.

Grants can only be made for in-country activities if it can be clearly demonstrated that they relate specifically to one of the Commonwealth objectives .

Grants are given for participation in training courses, workshops, seminars and study visits.

Preference is given to support regional level activities as opposed to large, international ones.

What will NOT be funded?

Support cannot be provided for:

• long-term projects;
• participation by citizens of developed countries;
• academic study or research;
• result of an activity supported by the Foundation;
• publication of books and films, unless these are learning tools developed as a result of the project

Current priorities

The Foundation gives priority to activities where the direct beneficiaries are women and men who:

• are young (35 years old or under) or mid-career staff;
• are working in civil society organisations directly engaged in development and/or cultural work;
• are employed in work which has direct relevance to the subject of the activity;
• are in a position to transfer their learning to others.

Where funding is to support the participation of individuals in an event, at least half of the beneficiaries receiving Foundation support must be women.

How much funding is available?

More information

Follow this link to Commonwealth Foundation Grants (opens in a new browser window)

Contact

Related Categories

• Community development
• Education & training