IJ4EU Freelancer Support Scheme 2025

The IJ4EU’s Freelancer Support Scheme offers grants of up to €20,000 to cross-border investigative teams made up predominantly of freelance journalists.

This is the third and final call of the current edition of the IJ4EU programme, which spans two years ending in November 2025.

Register to attend a free Cross-Border Masterclass, aimed at helping journalists craft work plans for investigations and write stronger grant applications, on 11 February, 13:00 to 15:30 CET.

Eligibility criteria

• Teams must include journalists based in at least two eligible European countries (EU member states and Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Ukraine).
• Eligibility is based on residency, not nationality.
• Projects must focus on topics of cross-border relevance and aim for publication in at least two countries.
• Open to all media types, including print, broadcast, online media, and documentaries.

Funding and support

• Grants can cover salaries, research, travel, translation, and administrative costs.
• Additional benefits include mentoring, training, legal assistance, and opportunities to participate in specialist conferences.

The deadline for applications is eight weeks after the launch of the call, on March 10 at 23:59 CET.

Questions?

• Join an info webinar on Wednesday, on January 22 at 14:00 CET.
• Visit the IJ4EU website and the FAQ page before applying.