King Baudouin Foundation: Grantor analysis

Belgium distributes over €202 million through a single foundation every year. 201 calls for projects annually. 1,723 active Funds under management. 5,155 individuals and organisations supported in 2025. King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) is not a standard grantmaker: it simultaneously runs its own grant programmes, manages funds on behalf of hundreds of private donors, and operates as a cross-border philanthropy platform with a global reach.

KBF is not a new actor for Ukraine. Since February 2022, the foundation mobilised over €2 million through its solidarity funds, channelled €1.23 million to Caritas Ukraine, launched fellowships for Ukrainian think-tank researchers, and supported the reconstruction of Borodianka. In 2026, KBF marks its 50th anniversary and continues to fund projects in democracy, media and civil society: areas where Ukrainian organisations have real entry points.

This analysis explains how the foundation is structured, what support formats are available for Ukraine, and where to find open calls.

What is King Baudouin Foundation: a hybrid actor in Belgian philanthropy

King Baudouin Foundation was established in 1976 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of King Baudouin’s accession to the throne. The foundation is independent and pluralistic, reporting to neither the state nor any business interest. Since 2015, Queen Mathilde has served as honorary president. Headquarters: Brussels.

KBF operates in three modes simultaneously. First: own programmes and competitive calls across six thematic pillars (201 calls per year). Second: management of 1,723 Funds on behalf of private donors, companies and organisations, each with its own mandate, thematic focus and geography. Third: a Centre for Philanthropy that helps donors and organisations build fundraising mechanisms in Belgium and internationally.

The Belgian National Lottery is a key financial partner, channelling a significant portion of its annual contributions to KBF. This structure allows KBF to fund areas that are hard to secure through corporate donors: healthcare, cultural heritage, human rights, democracy support.

KBF is a founding member of the Myriad alliance (Alliance for Borderless Giving) and holds official charitable status in France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Denmark. Through Myriad Europe, donors from different countries can route funds to KBF while claiming local tax benefits. This opens a separate mechanism for Ukrainian NGOs: attracting foreign donors through KBF’s infrastructure without a Belgian organisational requirement.

Six thematic pillars: where Ukraine has entry points

KBF’s programme activity covers six pillars. Most calls within these pillars target Belgian or locally based organisations. But several pillars have a clear international or European dimension, where Ukrainian organisations can meaningfully participate.

Democracy and civil society

The most accessible pillar for Ukrainian organisations. KBF supports the strengthening of civil society, combating disinformation, independent media, think tanks and leadership development. Sub-programmes include Civil Society (association support), Tech & Democracy (digital rights, disinformation), Media Support (protection of independent media), Civic Education and Leadership Development. This pillar is precisely where KBF launched the think-tank fellowships for Ukrainian researchers in 2022, in partnership with the Egmont Institute and European Policy Centre.

International activities: the Europe programme

A dedicated KBF programme focused on the future of the EU and democracy in Europe. Key partners are the European Policy Centre (EPC) and the Egmont Institute. The programme funds debates on EU enlargement (including Ukraine’s accession), supports humanitarian projects and the media sector in Ukraine, and backs media organisations in exile. Topics on the agenda include Europe’s security architecture, EU integration, and the role of civil society. Ukrainian organisations can become partners in projects within this programme.

Health

KBF funds quality of care, medical research, mental health and healthy ageing. 137 Funds under KBF management allocated over €16 million to biomedical research in 2023–2024 alone. Most calls in this pillar require a Belgian institutional affiliation, but Ukrainian medical organisations can explore participation through partnerships with Belgian institutions.

Heritage and culture, social justice, education

Three additional pillars primarily oriented toward Belgium. Heritage and Culture supports architectural heritage, music and the performing arts. Social Justice funds anti-poverty initiatives and social integration projects. Education supports talent development and equal opportunities. Direct access for Ukrainian organisations is limited here, but remains possible through joint projects with Belgian partners or through managed Funds that carry a relevant mandate.

KBF and Ukraine: what has already happened

Since February 2022, KBF actively deployed its philanthropic infrastructure in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This was not a single large grant but a series of distinct mechanisms, each targeting specific needs.

Solidarity Funds. KBF established a donor circle “Help people in Ukraine”. Six Funds under KBF management (EU Staff Fund, Euroclear Fund, Solvay Fund, R&Co4Generations Fund, Ergon Capital Fund, Fund Forbidden Colours) collectively granted over €2 million to organisations in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Areas funded: information support, language courses for displaced persons, education for children from Ukraine, support for families and LGBTQI communities.

Caritas Ukraine. In 2022, KBF transferred €1.23 million through the Caritas International network to Caritas Ukraine, one of the country’s central humanitarian organisations.

Think-tank fellowships. In 2022, KBF and the European Policy Centre launched two fellowships for staff of Ukrainian think tanks, at €24,000 each. Fellows continued their work in Brussels, hosted by the EPC. Whether this programme will be renewed in 2026 is an open question: the KBF Europe programme remains active in its Ukrainian think-tank network engagement. It is worth monitoring kbs-frb.be and epc.eu for new announcements.

Borodianka. In 2023, KBF, together with the Schréder Together fund, financed the restoration of street lighting in Borodianka, a town severely damaged during occupation. Over 100 energy-efficient streetlights were installed along with a city lighting plan. A concrete example of how KBF can fund reconstruction through managed Funds, even outside its standard programme calls.

Media support. The foundation’s Europe programme explicitly includes support for Ukraine’s media sector and media organisations in exile. Specific calls in this area are published on kbs-frb.be/en/europe and do not always receive wide publicity outside Belgium.

King Baudouin Foundation: key parameters

How Ukrainian organisations can engage

KBF differs fundamentally from donors like USAID or EU framework programmes: most of its calls require Belgian organisational ties or a Belgian-based lead applicant. A direct application from a Ukrainian NGO with no Belgian connection will only work in a narrow subset of calls. But several realistic paths exist.

1. Direct calls under Democracy and Europe

Think tanks, media organisations, NGOs in the democracy, digital rights and civil society space are the most natural candidates. The Europe programme explicitly includes Ukraine in its agenda: humanitarian projects, the media sector, think-tank networks. Calls in this programme appear on kbs-frb.be/en/europe and do not always require a mandatory Belgian organisational structure.

2. Fellowship programmes (when open)

The KBF-EPC fellowships for Ukrainian think-tank researchers (2022) were open to any Ukrainian working at a think tank committed to democratic values. Application: CV and cover letter to cv@epc.eu. A new round for 2026 has not been confirmed, but the KBF Europe programme remains active in this area. Monitor kbs-frb.be and epc.eu for new announcements.

3. Partnership with Belgian organisations

For most KBF calls requiring a Belgian lead applicant, the path is to become a partner or sub-grantee in a project run by a Belgian organisation. This is particularly relevant for medical research, cultural projects and social initiatives. Partners in Belgium can be found through Third Sector Network Belgium, NBBE or the EPC network.

4. Myriad Europe: attracting foreign donors through KBF

Myriad Europe is not a grant competition but a cross-border philanthropy platform. It allows donors in various countries to route funds to organisations in other jurisdictions while claiming local tax benefits. For Ukrainian NGOs, this is a fundraising tool to attract Belgian, Dutch, French or Danish donors through KBF infrastructure. Contact KBF’s Centre for Philanthropy as a first step: info@kbs-frb.be.

5. How to monitor new opportunities

KBF publishes all active calls on kbs-frb.be/en/answer-call-projects, filterable by programme and status (Open / Soon to be closed). Subscribing to KBF’s e-newsletter (kbs-frb.be/en/preference-center) delivers notifications about new calls ahead of public announcements. The Europe programme deserves dedicated monitoring: new Ukraine-related calls will most likely appear there as the EU enlargement agenda for 2026–2027 develops.