Who can apply
- Legally registered nonprofit organisations in Belgium and other countries worldwide
- NGOs and nonprofit organisations
- Eligible research institutes
- Eligible universities
- Organisations legally registered as nonprofits no later than 1 January 2024
- Organisations with at least 24 months of demonstrated activity
- Organisations with an average overhead ratio of no more than 20%
- Organisations implementing projects aligned with SENSE Foundation objectives
- Organisations able to demonstrate financing for the portion of the project not covered by SENSE
Focus areas
- Health
- Nutrition
- Genetics
- Environmental protection
- Sustainable development
- Scientific research
- General education
- STEAM education
- Support for people facing specific or temporary hardship
- Inclusion and reduction of inequalities
- Women and girls
- Underrepresented and vulnerable populations
Requirements
- Applicant must be legally registered as a nonprofit and must not have been registered after 1 January 2024
- Applicant must have an activity track record of at least 24 months
- Proposed project should normally run for 9–12 months
- Current guidance targets projects implemented during 2027
- Requested grant must not exceed EUR 25,000
- Requested grant must represent no more than 25% of the project's total annual cost
- Applicant must explain how the outstanding project funding balance will be financed
- Organisation's average overhead ratio must not exceed 20%
- No more than 10% of the SENSE grant may be used for project overheads
- Only one application per organisation per calendar year is permitted
- Projects previously submitted and rejected by SENSE are not eligible for resubmission
- Projects or organisations directly affiliated with political or religious organisations or actively promoting a faith or ideology are excluded
- Application must be completed in English
- Sources for data used in the application must be identified, preferably through a bibliography annex
- A full project budget, implementation timeline, latest annual report and nonprofit registration certificate are required
- Applicant must provide information on its five largest institutional donors during the previous two years and grant confirmation letters where available
Application steps
- Review the official eligibility, exclusion and financing rules and confirm that the organisation was legally registered as a nonprofit no later than 1 January 2024
- Develop a 9–12 month project aligned with at least one SENSE priority area and preferably addressing two or more Foundation objectives
- Prepare the full project budget and identify confirmed or pending sources covering at least 75% of the project's total annual cost
- Prepare the required supporting documents, including timeline, annual report, registration certificate, donor information and evidence or sources supporting the problem analysis
- Complete the official online application form in English, including impact indicators, sustainability, risks, partners and financing information
- Submit the complete application before 30 September 2026 at 5:00 PM CEST
The most important issue in this opportunity is co-financing. SENSE will contribute no more than 25% of the project's total annual cost. Applicants should therefore not begin with the maximum EUR 25,000 request unless they can credibly demonstrate a total annual project budget of at least EUR 100,000 and explain where the remaining EUR 75,000 will come from. The application form specifically asks applicants to identify how the outstanding balance will be covered and to distinguish other funding as approved or pending. A realistic financing plan, recent institutional-donor history, clear impact evidence and a sustainable project model are therefore important readiness factors. Projects addressing more than one SENSE objective and demonstrating inclusion, equality and diversity are viewed favourably. Applicants should also note the strict nonprofit-registration date, 20% organisational overhead ceiling, one-application-per-year rule and exclusion of organisations or projects directly affiliated with political or religious bodies or actively promoting a particular ideology.