What HIVOS does

Hivos (legal name Stichting Hivos) is a Dutch nonprofit foundation founded in 1968 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, with a regional hub in Nairobi, Kenya. The organization funds and supports activists, journalists, entrepreneurs, artists, and civil society organizations across more than 40 countries, operating through a network of local partner organizations rather than a centralized technology platform. Its programmatic portfolio is organized around three intersecting themes: LGBTQI+ rights (Free to be Me, Bessy Ferrera Emergency Fund), gender equality (We Lead, Gendergelijkheid, Voice with Oxfam Novib), and climate justice (Voices for Just Climate Action with WWF, GreenWorks, All Eyes on the Amazon, Urban Futures). Notable program outcomes include monitoring 7 million hectares of Amazon rainforest, training 10,000+ North African youth for green jobs, and supporting 1,300 women entrepreneurs through the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund. The organization does not sell commercial products and instead operates a grant-making and advocacy model.

Hivos' revenue derives from two principal streams: donations from approximately 20,000 individual Dutch supporters (with monthly options starting at €3-€6 via SEPA direct debit) and institutional grants from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Postcode Loterij, the US State Department (historically), and other international donors. The organization reports that 90% of donations go directly to programs, with 10% covering operational costs. It holds CBF fundraising certification and ANBI public benefit status, providing tax-deductibility for Dutch donors. The organization is governed as an independent Dutch foundation with no parent company or external equity ownership.

Recent strategic dynamics show both expansion and contraction. Hivos continues to launch new programs and expand into new geographies, with the Bessy Ferrera Emergency Fund scaling since 2022 and GreenWorks supporting 422 startups in North Africa. However, the abrupt withdrawal of US State Department funding forced termination of the Global Girls Creating Change program, eliminating operations in Brazil, Indonesia, Uganda, and Nepal. This single-funder dependence on bilateral and lottery funding represents the principal concentration risk in Hivos' operating model.

Name

HIVOS

Legal name

Stichting Hivos

Website

https://hivos.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hivos is a Dutch nonprofit foundation founded in 1968 that funds and supports activists, journalists, and civil society organizations across 40+ countries working on LGBTQI+ rights, gender equality, and climate justice. It operates through a grant-making and advocacy model financed by individual Dutch donors and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development and Human Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Civil society advocacy
• International development
• LGBTQI+ rights programs
• Gender equality initiatives
• Climate justice advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations from individual supporters: Hivos raises funds from individual donors in the Netherlands. The organization states that roughly 20,000 donors provide regular support. Donations can be made as one-time or monthly contributions via the website, with amounts starting at €5.
2. Institutional and foundation funding: Hivos receives funding from institutional donors including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US State Department (which funded Global Girls Creating Change), the National Postcode Loterij (Dutch National Postcode Lottery), and other international donors. These grants fund specific multi-year programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hivos is a Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting Hivos) that operates international development and human rights programs in more than 40 countries. It provides grant funding, knowledge, networks, and protection to activists, journalists, entrepreneurs, artists, and civil society organizations working on three interconnected themes: LGBTQI+ rights (Free to be Me), gender equality (We Lead, Gendergelijkheid), and climate justice (Voices for Just Climate Action, All Eyes on the Amazon, GreenWorks, Urban Futures). It also administers emergency assistance funds, awareness awards, and arts/media programs (R.O.O.M.) on behalf of institutional and individual donors.

Product overview

HIVOS is a Dutch human rights organization operating as a multi-program NGO rather than a unified product platform. Its portfolio consists of distinct advocacy and grant-making programs addressing LGBTQI+ rights (Free to be Me), gender equality (Gendergelijkheid), climate justice (Klimaatrechtvaardigheid, Voices for Just Climate Action, GreenWorks, Urban Futures, All Eyes on the Amazon), and support for courageous people. Key programs include We Lead for young women, the Bessy Ferrera Emergency Fund for LGBTQI+ activists, and initiatives like R.O.O.M., Voice, and Global Girls Creating Change. The organization also confers awards such as the Hivos Free to Be Me Award and Megaphone Activism Award. These programs function as standalone initiatives connected by shared humanistic values rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hivos Free to Be Me Award: Award program recognizing filmmakers who enhance LGBTQI+ acceptance and visibility
• Bessy Ferrera Noodfonds
• We Lead
• Voices for Just Climate Action
• GreenWorks
• All Eyes on the Amazon
• Urban Futures
• Voice
• R.O.O.M.

Products and services

• Free to be Me A global program working in 12 countries to improve the socio-economic position of LGBTQI+ persons, supporting advocacy for fair legislation and influencing public opinion.
• Gendergelijkheid (Gender Equality) A core program working in more than 30 countries with feminists and women's organizations to combat gender-based violence and support female entrepreneurs.
• Klimaatrechtvaardigheid (Climate Justice) A program supporting Indigenous communities, youth, and activists working on fair climate solutions, focusing on underrepresented groups most affected by climate change.
• Moedige mensen (Courageous People) Program supporting activists, journalists, entrepreneurs, artists, and innovative organizations in over 40 countries with knowledge, contacts, funding, and protection.
• Bessy Ferrera Emergency Fund An emergency fund providing direct assistance to LGBTQI+ activists in life-threatening situations, offering financial and practical support for safe housing, mental health support, legal aid, and medical care. Has helped over 100 activists and organizations since 2022.
• We Lead A five-year program strengthening the position and influence of young women worldwide, focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with HIV, displaced persons, and those discriminated against for their sexual and/or gender identity.
• GreenWorks A program in North Africa creating green jobs and economic opportunities for youth while stimulating climate action and innovation, having trained over 10,000 young people.
• Voices for Just Climate Action A five-year program (launched 2021) ensuring underrepresented groups like women, youth, and Indigenous peoples have a central role in climate solutions, active in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Indonesia, Kenya, Tunisia, and Zambia.
• All Eyes on the Amazon A five-year program supporting Indigenous Amazon residents in Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil in their fight against deforestation, environmental pollution, and rights violations. Monitors 7 million hectares of rainforest.
• Urban Futures A program focusing on improving urban food systems, youth wellbeing, and climate action in Latin American cities.
• Voice An initiative (executed with Oxfam Novib) providing small organizations representing marginalized groups access to funding, having financed around 500 projects from 1,100 organizations in six African and four Asian countries.
• R.O.O.M. (Resources Of Open Minds) A seven-year program supporting creators in Africa and the Middle East to address urgent themes like climate change, corruption, LGBTQI+ rights, and gender norms through funding, visibility, and networks.
• Global Girls Creating Change A program to actively involve girls and young women from Brazil, Indonesia, Uganda, and Nepal in global climate action through training, seed funding, and international exchanges. Trained 1,196 girls and young women across 54 civil society organizations before termination.
• Hivos Free to Be Me Award An award recognizing filmmakers who enhance LGBTQI+ acceptance and visibility, presented at film festivals such as the Roze Filmdagen Festival. Editions held in 2022, 2025, and 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 activists and organizations helped through emergency fund since 2022
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Hivos launched the Voices for Just Climate Action program together with WWF and four other international civil society organizations in 2021. The five-year program focuses on climate justice in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Indonesia, Kenya, Tunisia, and Zambia.
• Oxfam NovibcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Hivos and Oxfam Novib jointly implement the Voice program, an initiative of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, running in six African and four Asian countries. The program provides funding and support to small organizations representing marginalized groups including LGBTQI+ persons, youth, women, indigenous groups, and people with disabilities.
• Megafone AtivismominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMegafone Ativismo is a Brazilian collective that supports artists, activists, and journalists through art activism. With Hivos support, the collective grants activism awards, creates murals, and runs campaigns to raise awareness about Amazon destruction and human rights violations in Brazil.
• Voice program partner organizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApproximately 500 projects from 1,100 organizations have been funded through the Voice program, supporting marginalized groups including LGBTQI+ organizations, youth, women, indigenous groups, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities across 10 countries in Africa and Asia.
• Global Girls Creating Change partner organizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in Brazil, Indonesia, Uganda, and Nepal implementing the Global Girls Creating Change program, which trained 1,196 girls and young women and represented 54 civil society organizations before the program was terminated due to loss of US State Department funding.
• Research centers and farmers' cooperatives in TunisiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn Tunisia, Hivos works with farmers' cooperatives and research centers to develop climate-resilient crops using indigenous seeds and traditional agricultural knowledge, including an annual seed festival where 260 farmers exchange seeds and knowledge.
• COIAB (Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHivos supports COIAB which focuses on female indigenous leaders in the Amazon region, helping them gain influence and participate in international climate forums and negotiations through training in political advocacy and public speaking.
• Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres (FCAM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCAM is an organization supporting feminist women's groups in Central America. Hivos works with FCAM in Honduras through the We Lead program, supporting young women to advocate for their rights.
• All Eyes on the Amazon consortium partnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 30 local and international organizations partnered with Hivos in the All Eyes on the Amazon program (2017-2022) supporting indigenous Amazon dwellers in Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil in their fight against deforestation, environmental pollution, and rights violations.
• Restless DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHivos collaborated with Restless Development on the We Lead program, particularly in supporting young women with disabilities to advocate for their sexual and reproductive rights at the International Conference on Family Planning in Thailand.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Both Ends: Dutch NGO supporting environmental justice, climate adaptation, and southern civil society partners. Highly comparable in grantmaking model and climate-justice mission, particularly to Hivos's Voices for Just Climate Action and All Eyes on the Amazon programs, though smaller in scale.

Direct peers

• Plan International Netherlands: Dutch affiliate of Plan International, a global children's-rights and gender-equality NGO. Directly comparable to Hivos's We Lead and gender-equality programs, with similar donor mix, ANBI status, and country footprint.
• Restless Development: Youth-led development agency operating in Africa and Asia, and an explicit Hivos partner on the We Lead program. Comparable mission focus on youth-led advocacy, gender equality, and SRHR, with shared geographies and donor ecosystems.
• Oxfam Novib: Direct Dutch development NGO co-implementing the Voice program with Hivos. Operates an almost identical model — Dutch-headquartered, multi-program, government- and lottery-funded, focused on gender equality, civic space, and inclusive development — making it the closest operational peer.
• Cordaid: Major Dutch international development organization operating across similar geographies on health, governance, and economic inclusion. Comparable in funding model (Dutch MFA, Postcode Loterij), headquarters (The Hague), and program themes (gender, inclusive governance, humanitarian response).
• ILGA World: International federation of LGBTQI+ rights organizations, headquartered in Geneva. Closest thematic peer to Hivos's Free to Be Me program, operating in many of the same geographies with overlapping advocacy and grantmaking activities for LGBTQI+ movements.
• Heifer International: International sustainable-development NGO with a similar multi-program model spanning agriculture, climate adaptation, gender, and youth livelihoods. Comparable to Hivos's GreenWorks and Voices for Just Climate Action on green entrepreneurship and smallholder farmer support.
• Freedom House: US-headquartered international human rights and civic-space NGO. Comparable to Hivos's advocacy and protection work for human rights defenders (Bessy Ferrera Emergency Fund), though operating from a different donor base and geographic center.
• Outright International: Global LGBTQI+ human rights organization providing grants, advocacy, and capacity-building to LGBTQI+ movements worldwide. Highly comparable to Hivos's Free to Be Me and Bessy Ferrera Emergency Fund on funding model, beneficiary profile, and geographic reach.

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: Large global grantmaking foundation funding many of the same human rights and civic-space causes Hivos supports. Functions partly as a funder of Hivos-adjacent organizations rather than a like-for-like operator, but highly comparable in mission and in addressing shrinking civic space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hivos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hivos

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments8 records

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

Frequently asked questions about HIVOS