SENSE Foundation Brussels Grants 2026

The 2026 call for SENSE Foundation Brussels grants is closed: the second and last 2026 deadline was 5 pm CEST on 30 September 2026. The foundation says the 2027 call will open in March 2027, so a non-profit can use the months before to prepare. Note that the grants fund work carried out between January and December 2027.

SENSE Foundation Brussels is a Belgian foundation whose Latin motto translates as "Science and Education Preserve Nature and Health". It supports projects, initiatives and non-profit organisations in Belgium and abroad, so an Indian registered non-profit can apply. It is a funder for non-profits; it is not an investor and it does not take equity.

What the program offers

A grant can cover up to 25% of a project's total annual cost, including staff costs where relevant, and is capped at €25,000 (about ₹27.3 lakh). Up to 10% of the grant can go to overheads. Contributions are usually one-off and not repeated. The foundation targets projects of 9 to 12 months, and a 9 to 12 month phase may be one part of a longer project. Because the grant covers only a quarter of the annual cost, you must raise the rest from other sources. The foundation wants its grant to act as a "booster" that helps you attract other funding. Once a grant agreement is signed, funds are transferred within 30 days of signature, though the foundation may change that timeframe if circumstances require.

Who can apply

The applicant must be a legally registered non-profit, registered for at least two years, with at least 24 months of activity. Organisations registered after 1 January 2024 are not accepted. The project must be impactful and fit the foundation's objectives: scientific research, the environment and sustainable development, and health with a focus on genetics and nutrition (mental health projects are not currently a priority). The best fit addresses two or more of those objectives and reflects the foundation's values of inclusion, equality and diversity. Projects led by or benefiting women and minorities get particular attention.

You are excluded if your overhead ratio is above 20% (human resources, advertising and fundraising count as overheads, but staff working directly on projects do not), if you have not supplied a required impact report for a past or current foundation-supported project, or if your project or charity is tied to a political or religious organisation or promotes a faith or ideology. The foundation also rejects commercial sponsorship requests, sponsorship of sports or cultural events, sponsorship of fundraising for other charities, incomplete submissions and projects it has already rejected. Only one application per organisation per calendar year is allowed.

How to apply

1. Check that your non-profit meets the age and legal registration rules.
2. Design a 9 to 12 month project for 2027 that fits at least one, ideally two or more, of the foundation's objectives.
3. Complete the online application form linked from the foundation's Submit Your Project page when a call is open.
4. Describe the needs the project addresses, the positive impact and how the funds will be used effectively.
5. Reply quickly to any questions: the team asks for answers within two working days, and one working day just before a deadline.

For 2026 there were two rounds, 30 April (decisions over the summer) and 30 September (decisions at the end of December 2026).

How applications are judged and what happens next

The foundation team first checks that an application is complete and fits the objectives, and may email you for more information. A Steering Committee then selects proposals. It looks at whether the project addresses two or more objectives and reflects the inclusion values, whether the support will lead to a lasting and sustainable impact, whether the methodology is realistic, coherent and well described, and whether the grant boosts your ability to attract other funding. Selected organisations sign a grant agreement. Selected projects later receive a link to an online impact report in English, typically sent in October or November 2027, showing how the funds were used.

About SENSE Foundation Brussels

The foundation supports charities, scholarships for students in genetics, nutrition, environmental protection and sustainable development, and ad hoc assistance for charities helping people in specific or temporary hardship. Its project grants for non-profits are what this page covers.

Things to check before you apply

• Co-funding: the grant is at most 25% of the project's annual cost, so show where the rest comes from.
• Overheads: the 20% organisational overhead ratio is an exclusion test, so check your own accounts first.
• Foreign funds: Indian non-profits receiving money from abroad should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser before applying.
• Resubmission: a rejected project cannot be resubmitted, so make your first application complete.
• A practical tip: if your project is longer than 12 months, apply for a clearly bounded 9 to 12 month phase.