A large number of Dutch charity foundations are involved in fund raising for projects in the South. Not all of these funding agencies explicitly focus on sustainable development. Some of them allocate money for emergency assistance, rural development, health care or media projects. Nevertheless most of these agencies do allocate some funding to sustainable development projects. This section provides a limited review of existing funding agencies. Readers are advised to refer to funding directories for a more comprehensive review of existing funds.

The Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF) is a private foundation established in 1949 that supports early childhood development activities (children younger than eight years old). The Foundation takes a holistic approach to young children's development, addressing a range of issues that include education, health, and nutrition. The Foundation endeavours to strengthen the circles of support around each child as well as advocating for young children’s rights and for their voices to be heard.

CARE Nederland used to work under the name DRA (Dutch Relief & Rehabilitation Agency). Since 2001 it is a member of CARE International, hence it has changed its name in CARE Netherlands. CARE seeks to attain a world of sustainable peace where people can live in security and dignity. CARE's main activities are:

1. assistance to refugees and internally displaced people;
2. rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in countries hit by war or a natural disaster;
3. disaster management during preparation for, or in the alleviation of the effects of disaster.

CARE Netherlands also strengthens local institutional capacity and seeks effective cooperation with international organisations.

The Netherlands Association of Journalists, the Dutch Society of Chief Editors and the Dutch Newspaper Association founded CAF/SCO in 1986. The objective of the Foundation is to contribute to the democratisation processes by promoting freedom of information, plurality in the media and the forming of opinion in the developing world. CAF/SCO plays a pivotal role with regard to the transfer of knowledge.

CAF/SCO works with regional coordinators in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In general, the individual regional coordinators give regular presentations in the South in order to pass on their expertise to the local partners. Knowledge accrued in the South is disseminated in the Netherlands through (government) organisations involved with the media and development. CAF/SCO is also asked for expertise in specific situations.

The DOEN Foundation provides funding to organizations and projects in the fields of Sustainable Development, Welfare and Culture. DOEN Foundation achieves its objective through the revenues it receives from the Dutch National Postcode Lottery, the Sponsor Lottery and the BankGiro Lottery. DOEN’s primary focus in the area of Sustainable Development consists of social-cultural aspects, economic aspects and ecological aspects. DOEN Foundation created the following programs that represent all aspects:

• Financial Sector Development: DOEN supports initiatives that contribute to a better access to financial services, including setting up and developing existing microfinance institutions (MFIs);
• Production and Consumption: Various product chains receive financial support from DOEN (coffee, fsc wood/timber, fish, soy and palm oil, fruit);
• Nature & Environment: This programme is active in The Netherlands and The Netherlands Antilles;
• Culture & Media: Support of organizations that work on the professional and artistic development of artists, groups of artists and artists’ initiatives in developing countries;
• Climate and energy: One of DOEN’s financial priorities is to help shift the energy balance towards sustainability by creating an energy supply chain that is preferably carbon-free. Furthermore DOEN assists developing countries in accessing clean and sustainable energy sources;
• Economic and Social Human Rights Programme: The program aims at creating and maintaining ethical working environments, good working conditions and social services for micro-entrepreneurs and small producers. DOEN also focuses on projects that exploid natural sources and the economic and social rights of workers.

Dorcas is a Christian relief and development organisation that was established in 1980. Dorcas is committed to take care of the poor and oppressed by partnering with local Christian organisations and churches, promoting self-reliance through development and providing assistance in emergency situations. The organisation operates worldwide, providing social, development and relief aid through over 100 projects in more than 20 countries East and South Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Dorcas provides aid in four ways:

1. through relief and rehabilitation operations Dorcas serves to lessen the effects of disasters by providing food, clothing and medical assistance, and assisting refugees in resettling;
2. through material aid in social projects to support the poor and vulnerable in former communist countries;
3. through structural development projects, local communities are supported in becoming self-sustaining and less dependent on foreign aid in five specific areas: agriculture, water supply, health care, housing, and income generating projects; and
4. via projects especially focusing on children.

The Face Foundation (Forests Absorbing Carbon dioxide Emission) was set up in 1990 by the Dutch Electricity Generating Board (SEP), to fix (sequester) some of the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere when generating electricity in the Netherlands from fossil fuels.

It takes several decades to convert from a fossil fuel based electricity generation system to a more sustainable one. To bridge the gap SEP decided to sequester some of the CO2 emission in biomass.

Face is co-funding the afforestation or restoration of damaged forested areas to benefit the landowner and the inhabitants of the region in terms of labour, erosion control, timber production, improved watershed management, biodiversity and the environment. The forest and its products remain the property of the forest owner. Face supports additional research and training.

SKN (Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland) is concerned with raising and allocating funds for the benefit of children under the age of eighteen, in the Netherlands and abroad. Physically, mentally or socially handicapped children constitute its target group. SKN considers projects from organisations irrespective of race, religion or political conviction. SKN raises funds by selling special stamps and greeting cards. Every year the Dutch Postal Service issues a series of children's stamps. These stamps are a little more expensive than regular stamps. The surcharge is transferred to SKN.

The Haella Foundation was established in 1967. The objective of the Haella Foundation is to provide financial support in the form of donations, guarantees and loans to innovative activities related to people and society. The underlying principle of the Haella Foundation is to work towards a new economic order based on an ecumenical approach. Projects should raise awareness and contribute to the building of society and projects should be inspired by the local welfare needs of people and be replicable. The Foundation makes grants for activities in the following areas: ecumenical, peace, human rights, environment, and development cooperation. Besides supporting small-scale projects for people in developing countries, Haella also supports the Third World Movement and environmental and women’s groups that work on awareness raising in the Netherlands.

HIMOS is a development organisation rooted in the Hindu-Muslim community that develops relations primarily with Hindu-Muslim organisations in the South. Groups of persons, social federations, cooperatives, village councils and organisations can seek support from HIMOS for the co-financing of their initiatives aimed to improve their situation. Participation by the local population in shaping and executing project activities that will lead to better conditions and living environment is of key importance to HIMOS.

The project policy of HIMOS is aimed at financial support of development projects for the most neglected groups in the developing countries. These projects are executed by local organisations of the target groups. HIMOS mainly works in India (the states of Maharastra, Andra Pradesh and Bihar), the Caribbean (Surinam and Guyana) and Eastern Turkey.

Kerkinactie was founded in 1995 as Kerken in Aktie (Churches in Action). In 2001 the current name was adopted. Kerkinactie is a joint organisation of ten ecumenically oriented churches and organisations in the Netherlands. Kerkinactie is active on a national level as well as in the international field. It supports hundreds of ecclesiastical partner organisations all over the world.

Kerkinactie believes in a fair, peaceful and sustainable future. It considers it important that people organise themselves in order to fight for their rights. Therefore Kerkinactie supports local churches, women’s organisations, trade unions and human rights organisations. It prefers long term cooperation that will enable mutual inspiration and help. Internationally, Kerkinactie concentrates on four fields of activity:

1. emergency aid;
2. a missionary programme, including health care and educational projects;
3. a development programme (support of structural projects in the field of agriculture and environment, food security, health care and human rights); and
4. a child programme.

KICI was founded in 1975 in the wake of a private initiative to collect door-to-door second hand goods. Nowadays, the financial resources still come from the collection of second hand and used goods such as clothing. With the revenues KICI supports activities that improve the living conditions of the most needy in society, notably through development projects in the Netherlands and abroad. In funding decisions KICI focuses on sustainability and also tries to create opportunities for people to generate their own resources by themselves. Following the principles of socially just enterprises, KICI adheres to the principles of reliability and transparency.

Founded in 1982, Mama Cash was the first independent funding organisation for women. It strives for a peaceful and just world, a world where women are free to make their own choices and to develop their myriad talents and skills. Mama Cash supports women's groups that blaze the trails with self-initiated projects. In fact, it is heeding such trail-blazing or groundbreaking projects, and often supporting new and smaller women's groups, that sets Mama Cash apart from other grant-making organisations. Applications for The Netherlands and Europe as well as the Global South (Asia and the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean) and the former Soviet Union, can be submitted throughout the entire year. Mama Cash relies on gifts and loans from individuals.

Since its foundation in 1968, during the war era, the MCNV has given practical and material medical aid to the people of Vietnam. During the last ten years the focal point of this aid has been shifting towards the training and teaching of workers in local health organisations. These projects aim at strengthening the basic health care systems and are being carried out mainly by Vietnamese. MCNV's role is to advise and provide onsite technical support. For this reasons the Committee has two offices in Vietnam with Dutch and Vietnamese staff. MCNV focuses its attention on the very poor provinces in the central regions of Vietnam.

Melania was established in 1921 as a Catholic lay organisation for women. During the years it evolved into a organisation for volunteers with an emphasis on projects for and by women. Since 1999 Melania cooperates with Cordaid. The Foundation focuses on underprivileged women and supports them financially and morally with the setting up of small-scale projects, projects that are too small for larger development agencies. Empowerment of women is the central concern of the foundation. Melania informs the general (women’s) public in the Netherlands about its activities and the position of women in the South.

OneMen is an initiative of MIVA (Stichting Missie Verkeersmiddelen Aktie), a Dutch charity that has been striving to improve the rights and well being of people in developing countries for more than 65 years. Originally, MIVA mainly supported missionaries and their assistants by providing means of communication and transport. Today the focus lies primarily upon local pioneers who, regardless of their religious convictions, stand up for justice and fight poverty. OneMen believes in the power of the individual. Throughout the world, there are people actively working to make a difference to their own community. These are local pioneers who are working on small-scale projects to improve their immediate surroundings. OneMen wants to show these pioneers that they are not on their own. OneMen does that by publicising their initiatives on the internet and by giving them practical support.

The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development was established in 1996, for the purpose of 'expanding insight into cultures and promoting interaction between culture and development'. The Prince Claus Fund stimulates and supports activities in the field of culture and development by granting awards, funding and producing publications and by financing and promoting networks and innovative cultural activities. Support is given to people and in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Equality, respect and trust are the essential parameters of such partnerships; quality and originality are the preconditions of support. The Fund's chief interest is in the development of ideas and ideals and the manner in which people give form to them.

The most important objective of Solidaridad is the fight against structural poverty by means of giving more than aid only. Originally established in 1969 as a Catholic Lenten action for Latin America, it later became an ecumenical organisation. Solidaridad is a development organisation that concentrates solely on Latin America and is working for a more honest distribution of wealth and power. Solidaridad finances projects in the fields of sustainable development, fair trade, civic society and human rights. With campaigns in the Netherlands on these themes Solidaridad tries to promote a fair exchange between North and South. Solidaridad also provides information about Latin America to the Dutch public.

Save the Children Netherlands is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, the worlds leading children's rights organisation, with operational programmes in over 100 countries. The objective of Save the Children is to listen to what children and young people say, to fight violations of their rights and to deliver immediate and lasting improvements to their living conditions. Save the Children seeks to achieve this by: supporting child-centred programs and organisations, public information, analysis of actions, and campaigns calling on politicians and decision makers. Save the Children strives to actively involve children and young people in all these issues.

Tear fund (The Evangelical Alliance Relief fund) was established in 1973 in the United Kingdom as Christian development organisation. Tear fund is committed to working in partnership with evangelical Christians, enabling them to fulfil their ministry to the poor. Tear fund’s approach to partnership is based on capacity building: working with organisations to strengthen them and to enhance their effectiveness. The focus is on strengthening internal organisation through management training, strategic planning, evaluation and staff development. Where the projects themselves need strengthening, Tear fund may provide financial help, consultancy advice or personnel in the form of volunteers.

War Child Netherlands is part of the worldwide network of independent organisations working across the world to help children affected by war. War Child was founded upon a fundamental goal: to advance the cause of peace through investing hope in the lives of children caught up in the horrors of war. The aims of War Child are to:

1. alleviate the suffering of children by bringing material aid into war zones;
2. support those children who have been evacuated into refugee camps;
3. initiate rehabilitation programmes once children return safely to their homes; and
4. be instrumental in healing the psychological damage caused to children by their experiences of war.

In order to achieve its aims War Child operates as an implementing agency for aid projects and programmes, it provides funding and logistical support for other NGOs and the organisation acts as a pressure group to promote awareness of the problems facing children in war zones and mobilise public support on their behalf.

Word and Deed is working on structural poverty reduction in the South. The organisation is working with local Christian partners in Africa, Asia and Central America. Word and Deed is committed to work among the poorest of the poor, with a focus on their empowerment. An important field of activity of the organisation is education. Via a financial adoption programme more than 28.000 children are reached worldwide. Next to this, the organisation is active in the fields of water, food and health, agriculture, income generation, micro credit and employment. It also actively works on awareness raising among grassroots supporters, and carries out lobbying and advocacy activities.

World Vision Netherlands is a member of World Vision International, a Christian relief and development organisation working for the well-being of all people, especially children. Through emergency relief, education, health care, economic development and promotion of justice, World Vision helps communities help themselves. Established in 1950 to care for orphans in Asia, World Vision has grown to embrace the larger issues of community development and advocacy for the poor in its mission to help children and their families build sustainable futures.

XminusY is an independent progressive funding agency established in 1968. XminusY provides political as well as financial support to various grassroots movements and organisations worldwide that fight for fundamental changes in their own societies or at the international level. These changes may be pursued at a political, economic, social, ecological or cultural level. Priority issues for support are: justice, equality, emancipation, and the right to self-determination. Precedence is given to groups that have no chance of obtaining support from government agencies or from other more conventional funding agencies because they are too radical or too political. Support is largely given to groups or projects in the East and the South, while those in the North receive smaller amounts.

ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) was established in november 1956 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in order to provide more purposeful assistance in disaster areas and to contribute to the development of the third world. Until the mid-seventies ADRA concentrated exclusively on assistance in disaster areas. Gradually however ADRA started getting engaged in more structural forms of aid such as educational and health projects and other forms of development aid.

The ADRA’s throughout the third world ‘see’ what is particularly necessary. They do propositions regarding development projects and send them to their colleagues in the donor countries. ADRA-Netherlands judges suggestions for projects from the other ADRA’s carefully and makes a choice based on whether there’s financial support available in the Netherlands. When the financial criteria are met ADRA-Netherlands stays continually involved in the monitoring of the project.

 

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