Applications Open for EFCSN Emergency Response Microgrants

Deadline: 31-Dec-2026

The EFCSN Emergency Response Microgrants provide rapid financial support to certified fact-checking organisations and teams in the European Union and DEP-associated countries. Funded through the FACTEUR project, the microgrants support English-language fact-sheets and case studies that document, analyse, and share lessons from disinformation during information crises. What Are the EFCSN Emergency Response Microgrants? The Emergency Response Microgrants are designed to help fact-checking organisations respond quickly when disinformation surges during crises. The programme focuses on producing practical, evidence-based resources that can help other fact-checkers identify emerging narratives, understand information threats, and improve their crisis-response strategies. The initiative supports two types of outputs: Fact-sheets for rapid analysis during ongoing crises. Case studies for detailed analysis after a crisis. Both outputs must be produced in English and follow templates provided by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN). What Is the Purpose of the Microgrants? The programme aims to strengthen the European fact-checking ecosystem by enabling organisations to quickly document and analyse disinformation events. Supported outputs can help the wider fact-checking community: Identify emerging disinformation narratives. Monitor information threats during crises. Understand how false or misleading narratives spread. Identify cross-border spill-over effects. Analyse responses to disinformation. Share lessons learned from crisis situations. Improve preparedness for future information crises. What Activities Are Funded? The microgrants support the production of two specific types of resources. Fact-Sheets Fact-sheets are designed for rapid response during an ongoing information crisis. They should provide a timely overview of: Emerging disinformation narratives. Key information threats. Developments during the crisis. Relevant fact-checking responses. Potential implications for other countries or fact-checking organisations. The maximum grant for a fact-sheet is €1,000. The maximum project duration is one month. Case Studies Case studies are intended for post-crisis analysis.

They can examine:

How disinformation developed during a crisis. Major narratives and tactics. How fact-checkers responded. What worked effectively. What challenges organisations encountered. Lessons that could improve future crisis responses. Potential cross-border effects. The maximum grant for a case study is €3,500. The maximum project duration is three months. How Much Funding Is Available? The total budget for the call is €50,000.

Maximum awards are:

€1,000 for a fact-sheet. €3,500 for a case study. The funding rate is 50%. Grants are provided as lump sums and eligible costs may include direct expenses associated with producing the supported output. Up to 10% of direct costs may be used for eligible indirect administrative costs. How and When Are Grants Paid? Payment is made in full after the successful delivery of the required output. This means applicants should be prepared to complete the fact-sheet or case study according to the required specifications and templates before receiving the full payment. Who Is Eligible? Applicants must meet the programme’s specific eligibility requirements.

Eligible applicants must:

Be EFCSN-certified fact-checking organisations or teams. Be legally registered in the European Union or DEP-associated countries. Publish at least four human-authored fact-checking articles per month. Operate as either a for-profit or non-profit legal entity. Both for-profit and non-profit fact-checking organisations can therefore apply if they meet all other requirements. Can Organisations Apply as a Consortium? No. The microgrant scheme permits only single applicants per application. A consortium or multi-organisation application is therefore not eligible under this opportunity. Can an Organisation Receive Funding More Than Once? Yes. An eligible organisation may receive funding multiple times for different outputs, subject to the rules and available budget of the call. This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to fact-checking organisations that regularly respond to different information crises. What Is the FACTEUR Project? The microgrants are part of the broader FACTEUR project, which aims to strengthen Europe’s resilience against disinformation. Within this framework, the Emergency Response Microgrants provide a rapid mechanism for supporting fact-checking organisations when information crises create new or escalating disinformation threats. The programme also encourages cross-border knowledge sharing, allowing lessons from one crisis to inform fact-checking work elsewhere. Why This Opportunity Matters Information crises can cause disinformation to spread rapidly across borders and platforms. Fact-checking organisations often need to respond quickly while simultaneously documenting how false or misleading narratives develop. The microgrants address this challenge by providing targeted financial support for concise, reusable knowledge products. The resulting fact-sheets and case studies can help the wider fact-checking community: Respond faster to emerging threats. Recognise recurring disinformation patterns. Understand crisis-specific tactics. Strengthen cross-border cooperation. Improve organisational preparedness. Build institutional knowledge about information crises. Fact-Sheet vs. Case Study Fact-Sheet Best suited for an ongoing crisis where rapid information sharing is important.

Maximum funding: €1,000

Maximum duration: 1 month

Purpose: Timely overview and warning.

Output: English-language fact-sheet.

Case Study Best suited for post-crisis analysis and lessons learned. Eligible organisations should approach the application as a focused crisis-response project.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Verify that the organisation:

Is EFCSN certified. Is legally re