Diabetes Fonds

What Diabetes Fonds does

Diabetes Fonds (legal entity: Stichting Diabetes Fonds) is a Dutch charitable foundation founded in 1978 and headquartered in Amersfoort, Netherlands. It is the primary national non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and cure of diabetes, holding both ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status from the Dutch Tax Authority and CBF recognition from the Centraal Bureau Fondsenwerving. The organization operates as a public-benefit entity funded through individual donations, bequests, corporate partnerships, webshop product sales, and major grants — most notably a €4 million award from the Postcode Loterij in June 2026 for a joint national prevention program with the Dutch Heart Foundation (Hartstichting).

The foundation delivers its mission through three principal channels: scientific research funding (fellowships, project grants, and awards such as the Terpstra Award for young researchers), public education (828 dietitian-approved recipes, free brochures, an 8-question online Diabetes Risicotest, and e-learning modules for diabetes type 1 lifestyle management), and community wellness programs (notably the Nationale Suiker Challenge, a 7-day sugar-reduction initiative that has engaged over 80,000 participants). Its core digital products are content- and screening-based rather than technology-driven: no proprietary AI, API, or software platform is operated by the organization itself.

Diabetes Fonds operates within a dense institutional ecosystem that includes Hartstichting, the Nederlandse Diabetes Federatie (NDF), Diabetesvereniging Nederland, Radboud Universiteit, Amsterdam UMC, Diabeter, the Bas van de Goor Foundation, and Stichting Je Leefstijl Als Medicijn. It serves an addressable population of approximately 1.2 million people in the Netherlands living with diabetes, alongside healthcare professionals (the DIY closed-loop training has reached professionals from roughly 80 hospitals), corporate partners via the 'Doe mee als bedrijf' program, and the broader Dutch public through awareness campaigns and the Nationale Suiker Challenge. Leadership is provided by CEO Diena Halbertsma and a Supervisory Board chaired by André ten Damme.

Name

Diabetes Fonds

Legal name

Stichting Diabetes Fonds

Website

https://diabetesfonds.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Diabetes Fonds (Stichting Diabetes Fonds) is a Dutch charitable foundation founded in 1978, headquartered in Amersfoort, that funds diabetes research and delivers free public education, screening tools, and community wellness programs to the approximately 1.2 million people in the Netherlands living with diabetes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Nonprofit / Disease-Focused Charitable Foundation

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Diabetes (General) (HLAKADAA), Diabetes & Blood Sugar Nutrition Coaching (HSADAFAF)

Keywords

• Diabetes research funding
• Health charity services
• Diabetes education programs
• Chronic disease prevention
• Nonprofit fundraising campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Amersfoort

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and gifts: The primary revenue stream comes from individual donors who make financial contributions to support scientific research and prevention programs. Donations are tax-deductible in the Netherlands given the organization's ANBI status.
2. Legacies and bequests: The organization receives inheritance gifts (nalaten) from supporters who include Diabetes Fonds in their wills, contributing to long-term research funding.
3. Webshop product sales: Revenue generated from the sale of branded products including the Suiker Challenge Magazine, Weekplanner, Voordeelpakket, and diabetes wisdom cards.
4. Corporate partnerships and large gifts: Companies can partner with Diabetes Fonds through the 'Doe mee als bedrijf' (Participate as a company) program, providing corporate donations and sponsorship.
5. Postcode Loterij grant: A €4 million grant from the Postcode Loterij was awarded in 2026 for a national prevention approach that makes risks of heart disease and diabetes visible earlier, in partnership with the Hartstichting (Heart Foundation).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Diabetes Fonds is a Dutch charitable foundation that funds scientific research toward preventing and curing diabetes, provides free public education on diabetes management and prevention, and runs national awareness campaigns. It delivers content such as an online diabetes risk test, a 7-day sugar-free challenge, dietitian-reviewed recipes, brochures, and e-learning modules for individuals living with or at risk of diabetes, alongside funding programs for researchers and healthcare professionals.

Product overview

Diabetes Fonds is a Dutch non-profit organization (ANBI-certified) focused on preventing and curing diabetes through scientific research funding, public education, and wellness programs. The organization operates primarily as a content and program platform rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include: the Diabetes Risicotest (an 8-question online screening tool), the Nationale Suiker Challenge (a 7-day sugar-free wellness program with 80,000+ participants), a database of 828 dietitian-reviewed healthy recipes, free educational brochures, and e-learning modules for diabetes type 1 management. Revenue-generating products include the Suiker Challenge Magazine, Weekplanner, and Voordeelpakket sold through the webshop. The foundation also funds research through fellowships, awards, and project grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nationale Suiker Challenge: A 7-day challenge encouraging participants to eat and drink without added sugars, organized by Diabetes Fonds
• Het Beste Diabetesidee
• Diabetes Risicotest
• DIY Closed Loop Training

Products and services

• Diabetes Risicotest Online risk-assessment tool of up to 8 questions that helps individuals determine their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Free for the public.
• Nationale Suiker Challenge A 7-day community challenge encouraging participants to eat and drink without added sugars. Includes a free recipe book and has engaged over 80,000 participants who collectively ate 27,000 kg less sugar.
• Recepten Database Collection of 828 healthy recipes with nutritional information reviewed by dietitians, filterable by meal type, dietary preferences (vegetarian, gluten-free, low-carb) and cooking methods.
• Gratis Brochures Free brochures about diabetes and healthy living providing practical tips and information, including the 'Lekker en gezond eten met diabetes' brochure used by dietitians and healthcare providers.
• E-learning Diabetes Type 1 Free online learning modules about healthy living with diabetes type 1, including e-books, diaries, animations, and training materials for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals.
• Suiker Challenge Magazine A magazine full of recipes related to the Nationale Suiker Challenge, available for purchase through the Diabetes Fonds webshop.
• Suiker Challenge Weekplanner A weekly planner to help participants organize their meals during the Nationale Suiker Challenge, sold via the Diabetes Fonds webshop.
• Suiker Challenge Voordeelpakket A value bundle containing the Suiker Challenge Magazine and Weekplanner for participants of the challenge, sold through the Diabetes Fonds webshop.
• Kaarten met Diabeteswijsheden Picture cards in a decorative tile style featuring diabetes wisdom quotes, sold via the Diabetes Fonds webshop.
• Onderzoeksfinanciering Funding for scientific research into diabetes type 1, type 2, prevention, and treatment, including fellowships and awards such as the Terpstra Award.
• Lekker Koolhydraatarm A free newsletter program with recipe books and inspirational emails that helps subscribers reduce carbohydrates, supporting weight management and blood sugar control.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80,000 people participated in the Nationale Suiker Challenge, collectively eating over 27,000 kilograms less sugar
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hartstichting (Dutch Heart Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Diabetes Fonds and Hartstichting jointly received €4 million from the Postcode Loterij for a national prevention approach that makes risks of heart disease and diabetes visible earlier. This is a flagship partnership targeting early detection and prevention of both cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
• Nederlandse Diabetes Federatie (NDF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NDF collaborated with Diabetes Fonds on developing a position statement on DIY closed-loop systems, establishing legal boundaries and possibilities for healthcare professionals in the Netherlands to support 'loopers'.
• Diabetesvereniging NederlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the DIY closed-loop training project. Diabetesvereniging Nederland will ensure the training becomes part of standard diabetes care and has worked with professional associations.
• Bas van de Goor FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBas van de Goor, former Olympic volleyball player with type 1 diabetes, founded this organization for sports with diabetes. Diabetes Fonds features the foundation's sports advice and content on their website.
• Stichting Je Leefstijl Als MedicijnmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiabetes Fonds funded Amber Heijneman's 'Best Diabetes Idea' project, developed in collaboration with Stichting Je Leefstijl Als Medicijn. The foundation provides the platform for e-learnings, e-books, and training materials on lifestyle for type 1 diabetes.
• Diabeter/Diabeter Centrum AmsterdammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates the DiaNET screening study for early detection of type 1 diabetes in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Radboud Universiteit and Amsterdam UMC, and participating hospitals.
• Radboud UniversiteitmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in the DiaNET study for psychological support around early detection of type 1 diabetes, coordinated by Dr. Henk-Jan Aanstoot and Christine Fransman.
• Amsterdam UMCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in the DiaNET study, with Dr. Giesje Nefs and Dr. Maartje de Wit working on psychological support research alongside clinical teams.
• Amber HeijnemanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning researcher and person with type 1 diabetes who developed e-learnings, e-books, and animations on healthy living with type 1, funded by Diabetes Fonds through Het Beste Diabetesidee.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Longfonds: Dutch Lung Foundation, a peer ANBI-recognized health charity funding lung research and running national awareness campaigns. Highly comparable operating model, donor base, and lottery-grant dependency.
• American Diabetes Association: Largest US diabetes nonprofit, comparable mission scope across research funding, awareness, and risk screening. Operates at much greater scale with a much larger paid staff and broader donor base.
• Alzheimer Nederland: Dutch Alzheimer's Association, a chronic-disease-focused ANBI charity combining research funding, awareness campaigns, and donor fundraising. Comparable scale, mission focus, and operating geographies.
• Nierstichting: Dutch Kidney Foundation, another ANBI-registered disease-specific charity with research funding, lifestyle programming, and Postcode Loterij grant history. Strong operational analog for fundraising mix and campaign execution.
• KWF Kankerbestrijding: Dutch Cancer Society, the largest Dutch health charity by funds raised. Operates the same ANBI/CBF-recognized model of research grantmaking, public fundraising, and lifestyle awareness, scaled to a broader disease category.
• Reumafonds: Dutch Rheumatism Fund, a comparable Dutch health charity focused on a single chronic disease. Similar scale, ANBI status, and donor-funded research grantmaking profile.

Direct peers

• Diabetesvereniging Nederland: Dutch Diabetes Association, the patient advocacy counterpart that Diabetes Fonds collaborates with on DIY closed-loop training. Comparable in mission focus on diabetes but operates as a member-based association rather than a research grantmaker.
• Hartstichting: Dutch Heart Foundation, the closest comparable Dutch health charity. Joint partner with Diabetes Fonds on the €4M Postcode Loterij prevention program; operates the same ANBI/CBF model with national awareness campaigns, research funding, and donor-driven revenue.
• JDRF (Breakthrough T1D): Global type 1 diabetes research charity. Directly comparable in mission focus (T1D cure research funding) and operates the same grantmaking-plus-advocacy model, though at international scale with corporate partnerships.

Regional players

• Diabetes UK: UK's leading diabetes charity, the international analog to Diabetes Fonds in mission focus on research, prevention, and patient support. Comparable in operating model but serves a different national donor and healthcare market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DiabetesNieuws
• Facebookfacebook.com/diabetesfonds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diabetes-fonds
• Instagraminstagram.com/diabetesfonds/?hl=nl
• Xx.com/diabetesfonds

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diabetes Fonds