Journalismfund Europe – Pascal Decroos Fund for Investigative Journalism in Belgium 2026

The Pascal Decroos Fund is an investigative journalism grant programme established in 1998 by Journalismfund Europe. It was created to strengthen investigative journalism by providing journalists with the financial resources needed to conduct in-depth research and produce impactful stories.

The programme particularly supports investigative projects that cannot be adequately completed within the normal resources or deadlines available to journalists. Funding can help cover the additional time, research, reporting, and other project-related expenses required to bring an investigation to completion.

The fund is open to both experienced investigative journalists and journalists at the beginning of their careers, providing opportunities for professionals at different stages to pursue meaningful investigative work.

A key requirement is that the outcome of the funded investigation must be published in a Flemish medium and address issues that are relevant to the Flemish public.

A total of €270,000 is available through the Pascal Decroos Fund in 2026.

The funding is distributed across four application rounds, with approximately €67,500 available during each round.

The amount awarded to an individual project is not necessarily fixed. Funding decisions can depend on factors such as:

• The quality and originality of the proposed investigation.
• The scope and complexity of the project.
• The amount of research and reporting required.
• The project's overall funding needs.
• The available budget during the relevant application round.

Applicants should therefore clearly explain their proposed investigation, why it is important, what resources are required, and how the funding will contribute to completing the project.

The Pascal Decroos Fund is intended for professional investigative journalists, including both early-career journalists (starters) and experienced journalists (seniors).

Applicants should ensure that their proposed project meets the fund's publication requirements. In particular:

• The applicant should be a professional investigative journalist.
• The proposed project should involve meaningful investigative research.
• The results of the investigation must be published through a Flemish media outlet.
• The investigation should be relevant to a Flemish audience.
• Applicants should demonstrate why financial support is necessary to complete the proposed investigation.

The strongest applications are likely to clearly demonstrate the importance of the investigation, its potential public interest, the reporting methodology, and the resources needed to carry it out.

Interested journalists should apply through the official application website for the Pascal Decroos Fund.

Applicants should carefully review the current application guidelines and prepare the required project information before submitting their application. The proposal should clearly communicate the investigation's objectives, relevance, planned approach, expected outcomes, and funding requirements.