A foundation is basically an institution whose aim isn’t to gain profit for themselves but to be able to provide aid for those who are in need, similar to the inhabitants of many developing countries. As of 2012 in all of Europe, the Netherlands ranked number four in terms of the most generous government donors. These foundations have not only been supporting the citizens of the Netherlands, but also the underprivileged people from all over the globe. These foundations have different focuses on the various issues the world is facing. A number of these foundations have been working on issues such as food security, poverty, and the environment. Among the numerous foundations that give assistance on those matters, here’s a list of 24 Dutch foundations which can be of interest to your organization.
ICCO Cooperation – NGO for Development
The ICCO Cooperation is an international NGO which mainly focuses on the issue of development. According to their website, they stressed the facts that there are numerous malnourished individuals as well as a growing gap between the rich and poor, therefore depriving the poor of many opportunities for growth. Because of these issues, ICCO Cooperation decided to work with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, or otherwise known as the countries in serious need of help in the sectors mentioned.
The development issues they focus on are mainly on righteous economy which has the ambition to partner small producers to the big businesses, human dignity to make sure a woman’s role in the economy isn’t assigned to them but chosen for themselves, relief and reconstruction for those who are in need, and lastly food security for thousands who aren’t able to eat on a daily basis.
DOEN Foundation
The DOEN Foundation focuses mainly on areas related to environmental issues and human rights. They have ongoing programs which are meant to address the issues they have decided to focus on. First is the Green and Inclusive Economy where corporations and big businesses are encouraged to adopt practices that could potentially reduce the hardships our planet is currently experiencing. The next ongoing program would be Culture and Cohesion which aims to develop individual through various practices. The DOEN foundation also puts emphasis on the issue of equity, as it has been a rising issue over time.
As the DOEN foundation may seem to have very ambitious goals, ultimately, cooperation from various parties and individuals, as well as international grant funding, is what they need in order to achieve the green, socially-inclusive, and creative society they believe to be the Zbest globally.
Melania Development Foundation
The Melania Development Foundation is a volunteer organization that shares a common goal with many other foundations; namely to eradicate poverty mainly in areas in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, especially for their women.
Being that this foundation isn’t as big as others, the funding received goes directly to their projects. These projects usually teach women to stand on their own two feet and be able to do things people in some societies believe are mainly for men. This is to educate women on the other roles they can play in society apart from raising a family and doing all the household chores. Part of this also aims to give women the capability to provide for their families and possibly get away from abusive partners due to financial dependence.
Oxfam Novib
Similar to the Melania Foundation, and thousands of other foundations, Oxfam Novib wants to eradicate world poverty. They also prefer that people live without dependence on others such as their husbands, or financial support from agencies. Basically, this is a foundation who wants to teach people to fish, and not simply give them fish on a daily basis.
Some issues that concern the Oxfam Novib are climate change and food security. Climate change affects a lot of people, particularly the livelihood of farmers, among others. This foundation teaches farmers to adapt to the situation and to come up with techniques that can help them withstand the reality. Another concern they have is that many people all over the world don’t have enough food to eat and suffering from malnourishment. Through their projects, they aim to one day lessen and even eradicate hunger through joint efforts with partner organizations.
Foundation Everywhere
Foundation Everywhere recognizes the disadvantageous spot many women are put into. Their jobs do not give them income for independence, especially those living in developing countries. Apart from trying to address this issue, Foundation Everywhere would also like to help the environment on the side.
Part of what they do is teaching women entrepreneurship by learning to sell second-hand items. This not only encourages people to reduce, reuse, and recycle the profit they earn from reselling but is also intended to provide care for other environmentally friendly projects all over the globe.
Talent Peter van Tilburg Foundation
It has been a known fact to many that children are the future of the world. However, it is of great concern that not everyone is given the opportunity to develop their skills to their full potential. Talent Peter van Tilburg Foundation is a foundation that plans to address this issue and consequently empower the youth.
This foundation is aware that not all youths share the same strengths and dreams, and therefore have developed ways to teach them various tracks such as education, sports, small business, and many more.
As much as the foundation would like to support a larger amount of people, they have been very strict in choosing their beneficiaries. For instance, they will only support those who do not have other means for these projects. This is because the foundation will not be capable of accommodating too many people because there is one on one ratio for a student ad mentor, to maximize the progress each beneficiary can get, and to ultimately shape the youth to be good examples to the younger generations in their area.
Patricia Foundation
The Patricia Foundation aims to give more opportunities to the underprivileged individuals living in rural areas. Many of them do not have access to equal opportunities as compared to others, particularly access to technology. The introduction of technology can be a serious enhancement in the lives of these individuals.
The foundation started out just wanting to provide clean and sanitary water sources at a low cost for underprivileged communities. In time, as they grew, they have also ventured out in other areas such as sources of renewable energy, which can also help with the livelihood of the inhabitants of certain areas.
Hivos General Grants
Hivos is similar to international funding agencies for NGOs, one that grants support to particular causes in line with the foundation’s principles. Their principles would include equality for all persons and caring for the environment. Applying for a grant from Hivos wouldn’t be very simple because they will first analyze and access if the proposed project is in line with what they want to achieve and how successful or feasible the project can be. When they have confirmed that the proposed project is indeed feasible and will benefit many individuals, that’s the only time they will approve their grant.
Rabobank Foundation
The Rabobank Foundation is focused on aiding farmers from different parts of the world. Instead of just farming their entire lives and letting others dictate what they do, farmers are taught to sell their products on their own, process their goods, and develop some entrepreneurial skills.
Similar to Hivos, the Rabobank Foundation also offer funds to NGOs for various projects mainly on the underprivileged areas of the world. For their funding programs, the Rabobank Foundation still chooses to support their own country as well, which is why half of the funding support they give is still dedicated to serving the Netherlands, while the other half for other countries with underprivileged populations.
H.G. Boumeester Foundation
Another foundation who offers grants to projects would be the H.G. Boumeester Foundation. Specifically, they offer these grants to areas like education, Asian culture, and Flora & Fauna.
In terms of education, the foundation seeks for individuals in Asia and Africa who have proven talent and potential but are unable to develop their skills due to financial concerns. These individuals are then sent to either the Netherlands or the United Kingdom and pursue areas in agriculture, forestry, water management, art, as well as medicine.
The world is slowly westernizing and therefore preserving cultures, particularly Asian culture, is a significant concern. Because of that, the foundation aids events such as exhibitions, performances, concerts, or publications in selected Asian countries. Charities or organizations who have projects similar to the ones cited above may apply for this grant.
Over the years, our planet has been slowly depreciating in value. Many of our natural resources have vanished and many animals are endangered. The H.G. Boumeester Foundation have realized the need to address this issue and has supported several projects concentrated on preserving flora and fauna in the United Kingdom, Benelux, Hungary, and South-east Africa. To apply for a grant, it is important for proposals to prove long-term effects, have specific objectives and can be self-sufficient after a period of time, among other requirements.
Plan Netherlands
Like many grant-funding organizations, Plan Netherlands is deeply concerned with issues regarding poverty in places like Latin America, Africa, and Asia, especially the many opportunities which aren’t given to girls. Together with their partners, Plan Netherlands desires for all children, girls, and boys to have equal access to proper education, clean food and water, be educated in terms of emergencies and to be provided with aid, as well as the eradication of violence.
Triodos Foundation
The Triodos Foundation concentrates on issues regarding nature and the environment, people and society, and international cooperation.
For nature and environment, the Trios Foundation isn’t interested in short-term effects, but rather the opposite. Examples of projects they have previously supported were those of organic farming, renewable energy projects and those relating to health.
In terms of people and society, it’s difficult to provide specifics on the projects they’re interested in for it is a particularly wide topic, but organizations need to keep in mind that for this sector, the Triodos foundation’s goal is to improve the quality of living for many inhabitants of the world.
Lastly, for international cooperation, the foundation is interested in funding organizations whose projects basically teach individuals to get their own means of income and hence not rely on others too much. Part of what they’re educating is agriculture and basic trade.
In order to apply for a grant, look into the three aspects and make sure to have feasible and effective proposals.
Marjan Rens Foundation
The Marjan Rens Foundation encourages research and is known for the Marjan Rens thesis award given to deserving students who study overseas. Research funds have constantly been given to women who have proven to have enough substance in order to promote and give people a better understanding of feminism. The maximum amount the foundation gives is EUR 750 and information regarding the research, even the timeframe in which the research will be published should be provided.
Foundation to Earth, Mankind, through Inspiration and Initiative (FEMI)
The FEMI foundation aims to provide a decent living for individuals, regardless of age. They have been supporting projects based in India, Peru, Nepal, Kenya, and Tanzania. They want to make sure that proper healthcare is provided to all, as well as avoiding malnutrition, and assuring that everyone gets proper income and infrastructures. At current, the FEMI foundation is looking for partners who can help serve communities with them.
Bernard Van Leer Foundation
Many say it’s essential for everyone to experience a good childhood. However, for some, their financial instability simply cannot provide for it. The Bernard Van Leer Foundation plans to address this issue by providing grants to projects that can help give opportunities to children. Last 2014, the foundation has made a total of EUR 15,605,000, which has already helped children in many areas.
Apart from improving the quality of living for children, the Bernard Van Leer Foundation seeks to discourage violence, for them to grow up not rely on it.
Simavi
The international development organization named Simavi focuses on communities in Africa and Asia who aren’t as stable as they’d like to be. It is Simavi’s goal that by the year 2020, ten million people will have improved health. To be able to achieve this, improving the health care system in many communities as well as educating the people of proper hygiene, safe pregnancy, and sanitation, among others.
Simavi has already granted several foundations who have implemented projects focused on water, toilets, hygiene, and pregnancies.
Liliane Foundation
Like many other foundations, the Liliane foundation is concentrated in underprivileged areas in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Their main focus is to support children with disabilities. Liliane Brekelmans-Gronert, founder of Liliane Foundation was a disabled child herself, but grew up to be independent and would like for all children with disabilities to be capable of the same. Over 80,000 children have already been given assistance by this foundation. Every child supported by the foundation costs an estimated EUR 135 and the foundation chooses to approve grants through email. Projects are supposedly going to help disable children succeed in life behind their disabilities and not always needing to be reliant on others for support.
Turing Foundation
The Turing Foundation has a very general approach and a wide variety of areas to focus on. The foundation supports projects both in the Netherlands and outside as well. Similar to others, the Turing Foundation also seeks to provide quality education to children all over the world. The foundation also sees the effects of global warming and climate change has brought into this world and would like to reserve nature as much as possible. Furthermore, the foundation has also witnessed the difficulty leprosy patients go through and would like to aid them as much as possible.
In order to apply for funding from the Turing Foundation, project proposals for exhibitions, performances, agriculture, research projects for leprosy, and proposals for providing education in developing countries will be entertained.
Cordaid Organization
Since 1914, the Cordaid Organization has already been funding and helping communities who were then affected by war all across Europe. The main goal for the Cordaid Organization is for the voices of those who are normally ignored to be heard. They aim to give equal opportunities to all regardless of social status, religion, or race. They want to create a world wherein diversity is present alongside inclusivity. It is an organization that works both in and out of the Netherlands.
As much as they have focus areas, the organization has a wide variety of areas in which each grant seeking organizations can choose from. Given the history of the organization, healthcare, disaster response, food security, and security are all inherent priorities of the organization. They have, however, other projects in entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, investments, and private initiative to help people have a better standard of living.
Wilde Ganzen
Similar to many organizations, Wilde Gazen shares the goal of eliminating poverty in many parts of the world. As a foundation who grants funds, they usually work alongside other organizations in projects for less fortunate communities. Apart from just providing support, inhabitants of a community are put through training, to give them decent livelihood to one day will no longer need support from various organizations. In a year, Wilde Gazen supports an estimated 450 projects and is happy to support more should the proposals be good and well thought of.
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
As many organizations have been focusing on eradicating poverty or promoting education for children, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research is something more unique. This organization saw the need for supporting research and innovation, specifically in universities. With the grants they provide, they aim to produce well-written research that can one day contribute to society. This grant is open for those who can prove to have promising research capabilities and contribute to may world developments. Apart from that, the organization also sees potential in many organizations and individuals in terms of research, some of which can even save many lives. However, it’s an unfortunate fact that not everyone’s potential is maximized to the fullest due to the lack of funds for facilities. With that, an open grant has been provided by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research. Proposals can include developing research or computer facilities in underprivileged communities, given that the proposals should be strong enough to facilitate and maintain the projects.
Refugee Foundation
While many migrants seem to feel homesick from time to time, refugees have it worse. For people who no longer have permanent homes, it is a challenge to get through day-to-day life. What others may take for granted, such as water, shelter, and healthcare, mean a lot to refugees and are therefore provided by the Refugee Foundation. Those who are interested in applying for a grant should come up with projects that would benefit refugees given their vulnerable state, especially children and orphans.
ASML Foundation
Some people wish for a do-over in life, while others aren’t even given the chance to live it to the fullest once. An example of this would be some of the underprivileged community children who barely have anything, to begin with. Many of these children grow up without access to proper education or even vocational training. With that, the foundation, alongside a partner organization, will lead projects to educate individuals about the advancements of the world. Organizations from all across the world can apply for this grant through their website and inherently improve the quality of living for many children.
Alert Fund
The Alert Fund is specified for the youth to give them access to information about several diverse topics, which can be useful to them at different stages of their lives. These topics would include protests and rallies, political debates, refugee camp art projects, theater about social taboos, student congresses, and even a coming out LGBT book. A total of 40% of funds are dedicated to projects for the youth in the Netherlands while the rest are for the youth all over the world. In order to apply for a grant, a proposal is needed for activities that will be participated by the youth, and with the assurance that they will gain a lot from it. Above are 24 grant-funding organizations focused on different areas. In order to fully benefit from them and ultimately be able to support your desired cause, it is important to partner with the right foundation to maximize the aid you can give each other. Taking a look at their websites and studying their history is relevant to get a better understanding and potentially partner with them.
