Journalismfund Europe vzw is an independent, non-profit intermediary organisation based in Brussels, founded by citizens in 1998. Its aim is to strengthen democracy in Europe by facilitating independent, cross-border investigative journalism.
At the heart of Journalismfund's commitment to hard-hitting investigative journalism is a comprehensive risk management approach. Journalismfund's robust security measures ensure the safety of donors, journalists, and media outlets.
Providing direct support to the media and journalists inevitably carries risks. Journalists who accept funding from third parties are often scrutinised for potential conflicts of interest. They may be criticised publicly on social media, with their funding sources being used by critics to undermine the credibility of their investigative work. Similarly, donors may also become the target of public criticism following the publication of articles they have funded.
Journalismfund allows donors to fulfil their important role in supporting one of the pillars of democracy without taking any risks. Its commitment to transparent project reporting fosters closer relationships between donors and media professionals, while maintaining the editorial independence that journalists and media organisations require.
By striking this careful balance, Journalismfund creates an environment in which fearless journalism can flourish and democracy can thrive.
Journalismfund is only able to operate in a strong and independent manner thanks to the generous support of its many donors (2026): Arcadia (€1,949,886), Veronica Vereniging (€8,529), the European Union (€2,865,138), the Flemish Government (€642,317), Limelight Foundation (€100,000), the King Baudouin Foundation (€148,992), the Meliore Foundation (€117,431), Coefficient Giving (€438,000) and some individual donors (€3,978).