Helios Foundation opens call for projects on preventive wellbeing at work

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Helios Foundation opens its second call for projects, “Advancing Preventive and Systemic Approaches to Wellbeing at Work”. The foundation funds projects in any sector that strengthen mental wellbeing at work in Belgium before people fall ill, with at least 50.000 euros per project per year over 18 to 24 months. Organisations can submit a letter of intent until Monday 30 November 2026.

This call for projects aims to support preventive, evidence-based and systemic initiatives that strengthen mental wellbeing at work across Belgium.

Timing: Submit your letter of intent until 30/11/2026 (23:59 CET)
Support: From 50.000 euros per project per year, for 18 to 24 months
Selection criteria: Please find the criteria in the call document

Apply here

Why this call

Since 2017, Belgium has had more people on long-term incapacity for work than unemployed, and mental health is the largest cause. Belgium invests seriously in helping people return to work, and a legal framework for psychosocial prevention has been in place for over a decade. Yet most of what the country knows how to do still begins once someone has already fallen ill. Helios Foundation funds the harder half of the question: how work is designed, how it is led and how people behave within it, at the moments that decide how a working life unfolds.

What we fund

With “Advancing Preventive and Systemic Approaches to Wellbeing at Work”, Helios Foundation supports projects that act upstream, before people fall ill: on work design, leadership and wellbeing literacy. Every project connects at least two of our three pillars:

Healthy Work Design & Organisational Prevention. The structure of work: psychosocial risk prevention, workload and work organisation, role clarity and autonomy, organisational culture and preventive HR policies.
Leadership Development & Relations at Work. Leadership and management practices that support early detection and prevention, and inclusive relations at work in which everyone can thrive.
Workforce Wellbeing Literacy. What workers know and do about wellbeing at work: peer support, employee-led initiatives, and self-care, resilience and early-help resources.

The call gives priority to the moments when working lives are most exposed: early careers, young parenthood and the 20 to 40 age group, and organisations going through rapid growth, restructuring, high pressure, understaffing, downsizing or a merger. Projects in all sectors are welcome.

Curative approaches, projects that are primarily therapeutic or advocacy-driven, and interventions aimed at individuals apart from their work context fall outside this call.

Who can apply

Any organisation that can drive real impact can apply: companies, academic and research institutions, non-profit organisations and foundations, sectoral organisations and social partners. Consortia that bring research, practice and the target group together are strongly encouraged where they strengthen relevance, co-creation and implementation.

Every project needs to show a clear impact in Belgium. International collaborations are encouraged where relevant. Co-funding is allowed but not required. Each proposal does need to show why the project cannot be sufficiently funded through regular public or market channels.

How to apply

The call runs in two phases, and the first step is light. At this stage, we are asking for the ambitious version of an idea, and for a team that can carry it.

Phase 1: Letter of intent (deadline Monday 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET)

A letter of intent of up to three pages and 2.000 words, following the outline in the call document
A video of up to three minutes, simply recorded on a smartphone, so we can meet your team
Ideally, a signed endorsement from a sponsor who can confirm your team’s capacity to deliver

You can write in Dutch, French or English. If you don’t write in English, please add an English summary. No polished grant application is needed at this stage.

Phase 2: Detailed proposal (deadline Monday 8 March 2027)

On Monday 1 February 2027, shortlisted teams are invited to develop a detailed proposal of up to 15 pages, including methodology, work plan, budget, team and impact strategy.

Selection

The Advisory Board reviews the letters of intent and draws up the shortlist, then reviews the detailed proposals. Proposals are scored on nine criteria set out in the call document. The Helios Foundation Board of Directors makes the final selection, based on overall quality, strategic fit and portfolio balance.

Apply here