By the NGOs.ke Editorial Team.
Which grants can Kenyan NGOs still apply for before the end of November 2026? Three calls with firm deadlines are worth a serious look: the Commonwealth Foundation’s Individual Organisation and Collective Action Grants (26 October), the Global EbA Fund’s small-size grants of up to US$250,000 (26 October) and its medium-size grants of up to US$500,000 (16 November). A fourth, the UHAI OBSAA Fund, closes on 23 October but is aimed at LGBTIQ+ and sex worker-led groups. All details below were checked as of 13 October 2026, so the clock matters: the first deadlines are 13 days away.
Which grant deadlines are coming up for Kenyan NGOs?
| Call | Amount | Deadline | Kenya status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UHAI OBSAA Fund | US$30,000–80,000 a year (three tiers) | 23 Oct 2026 | Kenya named; LGBTIQ+ and sex worker-led groups only |
| Commonwealth Foundation, Individual Organisation Grants | £15,000–30,000 a year, up to 2 years | 26 Oct 2026 | Kenya eligible |
| Commonwealth Foundation, Collective Action Grants | £15,000–20,000 a year, up to 2 years | 26 Oct 2026 | Kenya eligible |
| Global EbA Fund, small-size grants | Up to US$250,000, up to 24 months | 26 Oct 2026 | ODA-eligible countries; Kenya not named |
| Global EbA Fund, medium-size grants | Up to US$500,000, up to 24 months | 16 Nov 2026 | ODA-eligible countries; Kenya not named |
| Interledger local impact mini-grants | Up to US$3,000 | 11 Nov 2026 | All countries, Global South prioritised |
Note that two of these are listed by an aggregator rather than checked on the funder’s own site: the UHAI figures come from the African NGO Funding Opportunities listing of 6 October, because UHAI’s website was showing a maintenance page when we looked, and the Interledger entry comes from a monthly funding recap. Confirm both with the funder before you spend time on a proposal.
Can a Kenyan NGO apply for Commonwealth Foundation grants in 2026?
Yes. Kenya is on the foundation’s list of eligible African countries, and the project must be implemented in Kenya at minimum. The foundation’s grants page says the deadline is 1pm GMT on 26 October 2026, though its application section gives 12pm GMT, so aim to submit well before noon.
The rules are strict. You need to be registered and operating on a not-for-profit basis for at least three years, with an average annual income over the last two years below £2.5 million, and your request cannot exceed 70% of that income. The project must advance freedom of expression, economic inclusion, or climate and environmental justice, build in gender and intersectionality, and start between 1 August and 30 September 2027. Governments, businesses and individuals cannot be lead applicants. For more on this funder see our Commonwealth Foundation grants guide.
Is Kenya eligible for the Global EbA Fund?
This one needs care. The fund’s pages do not name Kenya. They say projects must be global, thematic or target countries eligible for Official Development Assistance on the OECD DAC list, with small-grant priority on small island developing states and least developed countries; other ODA-eligible countries are considered only if a proposal shows “exceptional ambition.” Check Kenya’s status on the OECD list yourself and read the grants procedures manual before drafting.
If you proceed, the practical points are:
- Small-size grants are open from 28 September to 26 October 2026; medium-size grants from 12 October to 16 November 2026.
- NGOs, community-based organisations, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, universities and consortia can apply. Governments cannot receive funding directly.
- Projects must be ecosystem-based adaptation, build on existing work and partner with local institutions. Standalone field implementation is not a fit.
- Applications are in English and go through the online portal.
Our earlier Global EbA Fund guide for Kenyan NGOs walks through the logframe and partnership requirements.
What about the UHAI OBSAA Fund?
According to the 6 October listing, the OBSAA Fund (UHAI EASHRI) supports LGBTIQ+ and sex worker-led organisations, collectives and networks in seven East and Central African countries, including Kenya. Tier 1 is US$30,000 a year for three years, Tier 2 US$50,000 a year for five years and Tier 3 US$80,000 a year for five years. The deadline is 23 October 2026. If your organisation does not fit that eligibility, skip it.
How do you make a short-deadline application count?
With under two weeks left on the first calls, triage hard. Pick one call you genuinely meet every criterion for rather than submitting thin proposals to three. Gather registration certificates, audited accounts and board details first; those are what delay most submissions. Then build the proposal around the funder’s own scoring priorities. Our guide on how to write a grant proposal for your Kenyan NGO covers structure, and rolling grants with no deadline are a fallback if you miss these windows.
Frequently asked questions
What is the next grant deadline for Kenyan NGOs? The UHAI OBSAA Fund closes on 23 October 2026, followed by the Commonwealth Foundation and Global EbA small-size grants on 26 October.
Do I need to be a registered PBO to apply? Funders require legal registration; the Commonwealth Foundation asks for at least three years as a registered not-for-profit. The Global EbA Fund requires legally recognised lead and partner organisations.
Can an unregistered group apply? Only for the Commonwealth Collective Action Grants, and then it must name a registered member organisation as lead applicant.
How much does it cost to apply? We found no application fees stated on the funder pages we checked. Be wary of anyone charging to “guarantee” a grant.
Where do I confirm the details? Always use the funder’s own page, such as the Commonwealth Foundation’s annual grants page, since deadlines and times can change.
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