EFCSN Temporary Call for Protection Grants

EFCSN Temporary Call for Protection Grants provides rapid, direct lump-sum support to independent fact-checking organisations facing harassment, legal threats, cyberattacks or physical danger. The call, administered by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network with EU support, offers a total temporary budget of €80,000 with typical grants up to €20,000 and exceptional awards up to €40,000, funded at a 50% rate and with indirect costs capped at 10%. Eligible applicants are single legal entities (for‑profit or non‑profit) certified by or committed to EFCSN standards and based in EU Member States or Digital Europe Programme‑associated countries, and grants run for up to 12 months. Applications are submitted by email to grants@efcsn.com with an incident description, completed budget template and quotes or urgency justification; the call opened 11 May 2026 and operates on a rolling basis until funds are depleted with a published round close of 1 September 2026.

What it funds

Rapid protection and security for fact-checkers

Grants provide fast, targeted support to certified or qualifying fact‑checking organisations facing harassment, threats, cyberattacks, legal pressure, or other emergency risks. Eligible uses include psychological support, legal defence, secure workspace and security equipment, emergency relocation, and targeted cybersecurity measures.

Who can apply:Single legal entities (for-profit or non-profit) that are EFCSN certified fact-checking organisations or can demonstrate intent to comply with the European Code of Standards; based in EU or DEP-associated countries.

1. 1Psychological support (incident-linked counselling and training)
2. 2Legal aid for defamation, harassment, SLAPPs, copyright disputes
3. 3Safe workspace and security equipment
4. 4Emergency relocation and transport/housing
5. 5Targeted cybersecurity upgrades and risk assessments

Applications:send an email with the support request, incident details, budget template and quotes (or justification) to grants@efcsn.com. Urgent requests are processed within 48 hours. Decisions follow a two‑step review (expert evaluation and EFCSN governance approval). Disclosure of awarded grants will be published, with confidentiality possible for high‑risk cases ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call text and application details are published on the EFCSN site: EFCSN call page.

Key facts

Opportunity Title:EFCSN Temporary Call for Protection Grants. Call opens 11 May 2026 and remains open on a rolling basis until funds are depleted; formal closing date for this published round: 1 September 2026 (deadline 2026-09-01T23:59:00+00:00). Total programme budget: €80,000. Grants are lump sums, funded at a 50% funding rate. Maximum normal award per request: €20,000. Exceptional awards (e.g. large-team relocation) can be up to €40,000. Expected number of grants: approximately 2 to 4. Maximum grant duration: 12 months.

Purpose and scope

This temporary protection scheme, administered by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) with EU support, provides rapid, targeted financial and practical assistance to independent fact-checking organisations facing harassment, legal threats, cyber attacks, physical threats, or other immediate risks that endanger their ability to operate safely and independently. The scheme is designed to preserve individual and organisational safety, operational continuity, and editorial independence by funding activities that mitigate imminent risk.

Support and eligible activities

Eligible activities are narrowly targeted to address security and emergency needs directly tied to harassment or threat incidents. Activities and costs that can be funded include:

1. 1Psychological support directly linked to harassment or traumatic incidents: counselling, burnout prevention and specific training for coping with harassment. General staff wellbeing not linked to a specific incident is ineligible.
2. 2Legal aid related to fact-checking activities: defence against defamation, harassment, Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), and copyright disputes. Legal costs unrelated to fact-checking work (commercial disputes, employment matters) are not eligible.
3. 3Safe workspace measures tied to security incidents: installation of security systems, purchase or rental of security equipment, rental of secure office space, or costs enabling staff to work remotely during a period of risk. For fact-checkers, workspace is explicitly interpreted to include the reporting assignment and the immediate physical space around it.
4. 4Emergency relocation: transport, temporary housing, crisis coordination and related costs to enable relocation of individuals or teams at immediate risk.
5. 5Cybersecurity measures necessitated by targeted threats or incidents: encryption, security tooling, risk assessments, incident response. General IT infrastructure upgrades not linked to a specific security threat or incident are ineligible.

Eligibility and applicant requirements

Eligible applicants must be legal entities (for-profit or non-profit) that are EFCSN-certified fact-checking organisations or organisations that can demonstrate clear intent and capacity to comply with the European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organisations. Applicants must be based in the European Union or in Digital Europe Programme (DEP) associated countries (see the DEP participating countries list for the most up-to-date scope). The call is for single applicants only: consortia are not permitted to apply.

Geographic eligibility and DEP-associated countries:Primary eligibility: organisations established in EU Member States and DEP-associated countries. Relevant DEP-associated participants (as reflected in the DEP participation list referenced by EFCSN) include EEA/EFTA participants Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein; EU neighbouring and accession/candidate participants such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine; and Switzerland under specific arrangements ¹.

Funding modality, amounts and financial rules

Form of support:lump-sum grants paid in two instalments. Funding rate: 50% of eligible costs. Payment schedule: 75% advance payment upon approval of the grant request; remaining 25% upon approval of the final report. Indirect or administrative costs are capped at 10% of total direct costs. Retroactive costs are eligible from the date of the application submission if a grant is later approved. Applicants must use the EFCSN budget template to calculate exact requested amounts and to justify finances; quotes should be attached when available, and a justification provided when urgency prevents obtaining quotes.

1. 1Total budget available for this temporary call: €80,000
2. 2Typical maximum grant: €20,000
3. 3Exceptional maximum grant for major cases (e.g., relocation of a large team): €40,000
4. 4Funding rate: 50%
5. 5Indirect costs cap: 10% of direct costs
6. 6Payment: 75% on approval, 25% after final report

Call timing, application type and deadlines

This call opened on 11 May 2026 and operates on a rolling basis:applications will be accepted and processed until funds are depleted. The published round indicates a formal close date of 1 September 2026, after which a new call will be published. Urgent requests will be prioritized and can be processed within 48 hours.

Application process and required documentation

How to apply:submit a support request via email to grants@efcsn.com. Required elements of the application include:

1. 1A narrative description of the support requested and the incident(s) or threats motivating the request, including details about the type of harassment, attack, or security incident.
2. 2A description of how requested funds will be used (detailed budget) using the EFCSN budget template table mentioned in the call documentation.
3. 3Quotes for goods/services where available; where quotes cannot be obtained due to urgency, provide a clear justification in the application.
4. 4Organisational financial and administrative details demonstrating absorptive capacity to receive and report on funds.
5. 5Any supporting evidence of threats, harassment, attacks, legal actions or cybersecurity incidents where available and safe to share.

Template and form structure:Applicants must complete the EFCSN budget template table to calculate the exact requested amount (the call text specifies this template). The template should break down eligible direct costs by line item (psychological/legal/cybersecurity/relocation/safe workspace), include quotes or justifications, indicate any indirect costs up to the 10% cap, show the total project cost, and indicate the requested EFCSN contribution at the 50% funding rate. The call text instructs applicants to attach quotes and to justify missing quotes if urgency prevents procurement. No additional standard portal form is required; submission is by email with the completed template and supporting documents.

Selection and evaluation procedure

The selection process has two stages:Phase 1 Expert Evaluation and Phase 2 Governance Approval. Phase 1: consortium experts evaluate each request against four award criteria scored up to 10 points each (Need, Urgency, Regional Vulnerability, Absorptive Capacity). Phase 2: final approval by the EFCSN Governance Body; any member with a conflict of interest must be recused under EFCSN rules. Successful applicants must submit a narrative and financial outcome report at the conclusion of the grant.

Consortium, project stage and target sector

Consortium requirement:single applicant only; consortia cannot apply. Target recipients and sector: independent fact-checking organisations and initiatives operating in the media/journalism and information integrity sector, with an emphasis on cybersecurity, legal protection, psychosocial support and emergency relocation. Expected project stage: emergency response / protection and operational continuity (intervention at crisis or acute threat stage rather than research, development, or commercialization).

Eligible applicant types and beneficiary scope

Eligible applicant types:legal entities, including non-profit and for-profit fact-checking organisations, independent media organisations acting in a fact-checking capacity, and other legally constituted bodies that carry out independent fact-checking and can demonstrate adherence or commitment to EFCSN standards. Geographic scope: EU Member States and DEP-associated countries as listed by the Digital Europe Programme participation list; applicants must be based in one of those jurisdictions.

Co-funding, costs and financial compliance

Co-funding requirement:the call specifies a 50% funding rate. This implies recipients must demonstrate co-funding for the remainder of eligible costs (from own resources or alternative funding), unless specific exceptional arrangements are communicated by EFCSN in individual cases. Indirect costs are allowed but capped at 10% of direct eligible costs. Retroactive eligibility: if a grant is approved, eligible costs incurred from the date of application submission can be covered.

Application stages and timeline expectations

Number of evaluation stages:2 (Phase 1 Expert Evaluation, Phase 2 Governance Approval). Timeline expectations: urgent requests are flagged for rapid processing and the call promises that requests for urgent support will be processed within 48 hours where feasible; standard processing times are not explicitly defined beyond the two-stage evaluation and governance approval.

Success rates and likely number of awards

The call documentation does not provide a formal historical success rate. Based on the total available budget (€80,000) and the stated typical maximum grant (€20,000), the programme expects to fund approximately 2 to 4 awards in this temporary round. Actual success rates will depend on the number and size of eligible and approved requests; no percentage success rate is published.

Confidentiality, disclosure and transparency

Transparency notice:awards will be disclosed on EFCSN's funding opportunities page (efcsn.com) with recipient name, amount and grant duration. If a recipient operates in a high-risk environment or handles sensitive data, they may request confidentiality during implementation; disclosure can be arranged after the funding cycle ends per EFCSN policy.

Contact point and where to apply

Submit applications and questions by email to grants@efcsn.com. Applications must include the completed budget template, supporting quotes (or justification for missing quotes due to urgency), a description of the incident and how funds will be used, and administrative documentation demonstrating legal status and absorptive capacity.

Mentioned countries and participating jurisdictions

The call text references EU Member States and DEP-associated countries. The DEP participation list referenced in the call includes (not exhaustive; consult the latest DEP list for definitive eligibility): Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Switzerland ¹.

Templates and application structure guidance

Required templates and structure:the call requires completion of an EFCSN budget template table to calculate the exact requested grant amount and to demonstrate cost breakdown. The recommended structure for submissions (per the call) is:

1. 1Cover email to grants@efcsn.com with clear subject line identifying the request as a Protection Grant request and the organisation name.
2. 2Narrative request (1-2 pages recommended) describing the incident, the specific urgent needs, the planned use of funds, and proposed timeline for implementation.
3. 3Completed EFCSN budget template: line-item direct costs, subtotal direct costs, indirect costs (max 10%), total project cost and EFCSN requested share at 50% funding rate.
4. 4Supporting quotes for major purchases or services (or written justification explaining why quotes could not be obtained due to urgency).
5. 5Organisational documentation demonstrating legal status, bank details and capacity to manage funds (as required by EFCSN).
6. 6Any evidence or supporting documentation for threats or incidents that can be shared safely, redacting sensitive material if needed to protect staff or sources.

Risks, ineligible costs and caveats

Ineligible costs include general staff wellbeing not linked to a specific harassment incident, legal costs unrelated to fact-checking activities (e.g., commercial disputes, routine employment issues), general IT upgrades not tied to a documented security threat or incident, and any costs falling outside the specific protection remit. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures and certain excluded entities as defined in DEP guidance are not eligible to participate.

Final summary: what this opportunity is about and who should apply

This temporary EFCSN Protection Grant call is a rapid-response, limited-budget scheme designed to help independent fact-checking organisations in the EU and DEP-associated countries survive and continue their work when confronted with harassment, legal threats, cyberattacks, or physical danger. It supplies lump-sum grants (typically up to €20,000; exceptional cases up to €40,000) to pay for psychological care tied to incidents, urgent legal defence related to fact-checking, emergency relocation costs, targeted cybersecurity measures, and physical security for workspaces. Applicants must be legally constituted fact-checking organisations that are EFCSN-certified or willing to adhere to EFCSN standards, apply as single entities, and submit requests by email with a completed EFCSN budget template and supporting documentation. Applications are evaluated rapidly by experts using clear criteria (need, urgency, regional vulnerability, absorptive capacity) and require governance approval. The call emphasizes confidentiality provisions for recipients operating in high-risk contexts and discloses awarded grants publicly unless confidential treatment is requested and justified.

Footnotes

1. 1Digital Europe Programme (DEP) participation list and guidance (version referenced in the call): List of Participating Countries in the Digital Europe Programme (V7.0, 01.12.2025). Consult the DEP participation document for the authoritative and most up-to-date list: DEP Participation list

Purpose and Target Audience

This emergency grant scheme provides rapid, direct support to fact-checking organizations facing harassment, threats, SLAPPs, hacking, or physical violence due to their work ¹. The initiative is led by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) with €5 million EU backing to protect independent fact-checkers across the EU and associated countries ².

Eligible Support Activities

1. 1Psychological Support: Counseling, burnout prevention, and specialized training linked to specific harassment incidents ¹
2. 2Legal Aid: Defense against defamation, SLAPP suits, harassment, and copyright disputes related to fact-checking ¹
3. 3Safe Workspace: Security systems, equipment, rental of secure spaces, or remote work costs during risk periods ¹
4. 4Emergency Relocation: Transport, temporary housing, and crisis coordination for teams in danger ¹
5. 5Cybersecurity: Encryption upgrades, security tools, and risk assessments tied to specific threats ¹

Eligibility Criteria

Budget and Funding Terms

Total Budget:€80,000 for this temporary call, open on a rolling basis until funds are depleted ¹³.

Maximum Grant Amount:€20,000 per request; exceptional cases (e.g., large team relocation) may receive up to €40,000 ¹⁴.

Funding Rate:50% co-funding as lump sums ¹⁴.

Payment Structure:75% upon approval, 25% after final report approval ¹.

Grant Duration:Maximum 12 months ¹⁵.

Application Process and Timeline

Applications are submitted via email to grants@efcsn.com with a support request, harassment details, budget template, and quotes (or urgency justification) ¹. Urgent requests are processed within 48 hours ¹.

1. 1Opening Date: 11 May 2026 ¹³
2. 2Closing Date: 1 September 2026 (or when funds depleted) ¹³
3. 3Evaluation: Two-step process (Expert Evaluation on need/urgency/vulnerability + EFCSN Governance Approval) ¹

Transparency and Confidentiality

Funding recipients will be disclosed on the EFCSN website with organization name, amount, and duration ¹. However, recipients in high-risk environments can request identity confidentiality during implementation, with disclosure only after the funding cycle ends ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call details: EFCSN Temporary Call for Protection Grants
2. 2EU Commission grant announcement: Commission boosts independent fact-checking
3. 3Development Aid listing: EFCSN Temporary Call for Protection Grants - Development Aid
4. 4EU Funding & Tenders Portal: General Information - EU Funding & Tenders Portal
5. 5Cascade Funding Hub: EFCSN - Temporary Call for Protection Grants