The Halt Foundation operates at the intersection of civil society and criminal justice: it provides non-criminal sanctions for young people, as well as extensive preventive work in schools—ranging from education to (group) interventions addressing inappropriate behavior. “On the criminal justice side, we are funded by the Ministry of Justice and Security,” explains Jolan Van den Broeck. “On the prevention side, we offer interventions to municipalities and schools, but when it comes to innovation and developing new projects, we often have to find our own funding somehow—that’s when it makes sense to submit a proposal to a grant fund.”
From fund scan to award
When Jolan started at Halt, he had little experience with fundraising. The partnership with 2MakeItHappen immediately gave him direction. “They always provide an immediate overview of the conditions and why it’s a good fit for what we want to achieve,” he says. “Thanks to that connection, I was able to submit a grant application within the first two months and had it approved—by ZonMw, an implementation grant for the JIM approach.”
The collaboration also proved valuable for European grant applications. “We thought: there must be opportunities there, but we didn’t know how it all worked. It was really helpful that 2MakeItHappen connected us with that opportunity and helped us get started: what are the key points to remember, and how do you set it up properly? That project was also approved.”
Language, Structure, and Trust
What Jolan appreciates most is the combination of expertise and linguistic intuition that 2 Make it Happen brings to the table. “They really have a wealth of expertise and knowledge about the language you need to use in fundraising,” he says. “And sometimes also how to put together a solid budget—all of that has been very relevant.”
That guidance not only gave him practical tools, but also boosted his confidence. “For me, it was really a crash course. Working with them also made me feel a lot more confident. Now I can more easily use that language in my own applications.”
He therefore sees 2MakeItHappen as the ideal bridge between content and form: “They translate your content into the language of funders, and that makes all the difference. Then, as an organization, you can immediately move forward.”
Why Collaboration Pays Off
According to Jolan, fundraising is often a maze where it’s easy to get lost. “You can waste a lot of time sifting through terms and conditions,” he says. “That’s why it’s so valuable to have a sounding board—someone who can spot opportunities, contribute ideas, and help draft proposals when you’re not sure where to start.”
He smiles: “They’re real jack-of-all-trades—they know a little bit about everything and just enough to always point you in the right direction. That’s what makes the difference.”
In conclusion
We wrap up the conversation with the same question we ask everyone: How would Jolan describe 2MakeItHappen in three words? He laughs. “I always find that so hard; I say:
