What Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation does

The Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation (Fondacija Ana i Vlade Divac) is a private, non-profit charitable foundation established in 2007 in Belgrade, Serbia, by former NBA basketball player Vlade Divac and Ana Divac. Building on 25+ years of prior humanitarian work by its founders, the organization operates four strategic program areas: emergency humanitarian aid, economic empowerment, democracy and local community development, and philanthropy development. Its core portfolio comprises seven programs — Divac Scholarships, Youth Funds (Omladinski fondovi), Odvažna (Brave) women's entrepreneurship, Agricultural Greenhouses (Divac poljoprivredni fondovi), Social Cafe for refugees and migrants, the USAID-funded Framework for Giving initiative, and Emergency Relief — collectively serving vulnerable families, youth, women entrepreneurs, smallholder farmers, and refugees across Serbia, Kosovo and Metohija, and Republika Srpska.

The foundation does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint consists of a standard website (divac.com) for donations, program applications, and communications, supplemented by email newsletters and Facebook for outreach. It delivers programs through direct staff implementation, 130 volunteers, formal partnerships with 20+ Serbian municipalities, and co-funding arrangements with bilateral/multilateral donors including USAID, EU Delegation, SDC, Royal Norwegian Embassy, UNHCR, and corporate partners such as NCR Voyix, Intesa Foundation, and Banca Intesa.

The foundation is funded entirely through donations and grants rather than commercial revenue. Its revenue streams include contributions from 800,000 individual donors (including a Serbian diaspora network), 775 corporate donors, and institutional grants from bilateral and multilateral agencies. Beneficiary access is mediated by formal calls for applications, public tenders, and selection criteria based on socioeconomic need and merit. The foundation also operates a US-affiliated 501(c)(3) entity (Humanitarian Organization Divac) to enable tax-deductible giving from US-based donors. In 2025, it disbursed USD 1 million in direct support to vulnerable populations, while cumulatively it has delivered 1,000+ scholarships since 2017, 500+ youth initiatives since 2013, and 300+ agricultural support packages over the past decade.

Name

Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation

Legal name

Fondacija Ana i Vlade Divac

Website

https://divac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation is a Belgrade-based charitable foundation operating since 2007 that delivers humanitarian aid, scholarships, women's entrepreneurship grants, agricultural support, and refugee services across Serbia and the wider Balkans. It is funded by 800,000+ individual donors, 775 companies, and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation and Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid programs
• Educational scholarships
• Women entrepreneurship grants
• Rural agricultural support
• Philanthropy infrastructure development

Headquarters

HQ city

Belgrade

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The foundation receives donations from individual donors, with 800,000 individuals from Serbia and diaspora contributing. Donations are accepted via credit card, PayPal, bank transfer, and standing order.
2. Corporate Donations and Sponsorships: Companies donate to foundation programs. Notable corporate donors include McDonald's, BlackRock, Roche, ABB, Coca-Cola Hellenic, NCR Foundation, and others. The foundation has 775 company donors.
3. Institutional Funding: Bilateral and multilateral donors provide grants for specific programs. Major institutional donors include USAID, EU Delegation, embassies (USA, Canada, Norway, Japan), UNHCR, and international NGOs.
4. Diaspora Donations: Philanthropists from the Serbian diaspora contribute significantly to programs. Long-term donors Anka and David Erne have financed nearly half of all scholarships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation is a private charitable foundation that delivers humanitarian aid, educational scholarships, economic empowerment grants, and community development programs to vulnerable populations across Serbia, Kosovo and Metohija, and Republika Srpska. Its core offerings include the Divac Scholarships (monthly stipends for students from vulnerable families), the Odvažna (Brave) women's entrepreneurship program with grants up to EUR 6,000, agricultural greenhouse support for smallholder farmers, the Omladinski fondovi (Youth Funds), Social Cafe services for refugees and migrants, and emergency humanitarian aid. Programs are funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and institutional grants from USAID, the EU, and other bilateral donors.

Product overview

Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation is a charitable organization that operates a portfolio of social impact programs rather than a traditional product. The core offerings include: Divac Scholarships for youth education support; Youth Funds for youth-led community initiatives; Odvažna (Brave) for women's economic empowerment; Agricultural Greenhouses for rural development; the Framework for Giving for philanthropy infrastructure development; Social Cafe for migrant support; and Emergency Relief for humanitarian aid. These programs work together to address poverty, youth development, gender equality, rural sustainability, and refugee support across Serbia and the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Divac Scholarships: Monthly scholarship program for students from vulnerable and poor families, launched in 2017.
• Divac Omladinski Fondovi
• Odvažna (Brave)
• Framework for Giving
• Social Cafe
• Divac Poljoprivredni Fondovi

Products and services

• Divac Scholarships (Divac stipendije) Monthly scholarship program for talented youth from vulnerable and poor families, providing financial support for education along with psychological and motivational assistance. Targets orphans, children of single parents, and households with sick family members. Over 1,000 scholarships have been awarded since launch.
• Youth Funds (Omladinski fondovi) Program providing grants to youth-led initiatives and projects aimed at increasing youth participation in local development processes. Operational since 2013 in partnership with GIZ and the Ministry of Youth and Sport in selected Serbian municipalities.
• Odvažna (Brave) – Women's Entrepreneurship Program Economic empowerment program supporting women entrepreneurs through non-refundable financial grants (up to EUR 6,000), mentorship, expert guidance, training, and networking opportunities. Aimed at women-led micro and small enterprises, cooperatives, and associations.
• Agricultural Greenhouses Program (Divac poljoprivredni fondovi) Program providing greenhouses with galvanized construction, irrigation systems, and ventilation doors to registered family farms to improve agricultural production stability and resilience to climate challenges. Implemented jointly with Serbian municipalities.
• Framework for Giving Project USAID-funded project implemented by the Coalition for Giving, led by the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, aimed at developing philanthropy infrastructure, improving legal frameworks for giving, and expanding a transparent giving culture in Serbia.
• Social Cafe Support program for refugees and migrants providing creative workshops, language courses, IT training, eco workshops, music activities, sports, and movie screenings at Reception Center Obrenovac and Asylum Center Krnjača. Over 1,500 workshops organized with 4,000+ participants since launch.
• Emergency Relief and Humanitarian Aid Humanitarian assistance program helping the poorest and socially vulnerable families across Serbia, Kosovo and Metohija, and Republika Srpska with shelter, food packages, clothing, scholarships, and other crisis support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 scholarships awarded to vulnerable youth since 2017
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NCR VoyixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026NCR Voyix partners with the foundation for workplace giving and volunteer programs. On Global Day of Service 2026, NCR Voyix employees prepared 100+ meals and donated 100 school supply packages in Serbia. The foundation provides organizational and logistical support.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025GIZ partners with the foundation on the 'Perspektive za mlade u ruralnim sredinama u Srbiji' (Perspectives for Youth in Rural Areas in Serbia) project. The foundation's Omladinski fondovi program is implemented within this GIZ-led initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Serbia. Municipalities covered: Obrenovac, Prokuplje, Zaječar, Vlasotince, and Vladičin Han.
• Intesa Foundation (Banca Intesa)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Intesa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Banca Intesa, partners with the foundation on the 'Odvažna' (Brave) women's entrepreneurship program. This is the second consecutive year of partnership. The program provides grants up to EUR 6,000 and mentorship to women entrepreneurs across Serbia.
• NCR Atleos FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCR Atleos Foundation partners with the foundation on STEM education support, providing modern equipment to improve STEM education in Serbian secondary schools.
• Swiss Cooperation Office in Serbia (SDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDC provides financial support for the Social Cafe program in Reception Center Obrenovac and Asylum Center Krnjača, serving refugees and migrants.
• Royal Norwegian Embassy in BelgradecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Royal Norwegian Embassy co-funds the Social Cafe program for refugees and migrants in Serbian reception centers.
• Grop 484minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrop 484 partners with the foundation on the Social Cafe refugee assistance program.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRC co-finances the Social Cafe program for refugee support services in Serbia.
• Coalition for Giving MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition includes Trag Foundation, Catalyst Balkans, SMART Kolektiv, Serbian Philanthropy Forum, Responsible Business Forum, and Serbian Chamber of Commerce. They work together to improve Serbia's philanthropy infrastructure, legal framework, and culture of giving.
• MGI/Complete GenomicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGI/Complete Genomics partners with the foundation on scholarships for students at STEM faculties (Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Biology) at University of Belgrade and other universities. Scholarships range from $80-120/month for undergraduate to PhD students.
• City of UžicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Užice has partnered with the foundation since 2016 on agricultural support programs. Over 10 years, RSD 45+ million invested, with 300+ farmers supported. The 2026 greenhouse program has a total value of RSD 6 million.
• Municipality of MedveđacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Medveđa partners with the foundation on the 'Divac poljoprivredni fondovi - Medveđa 2026' project, providing RSD 2.8 million for greenhouse support to at least 10 farmers.
• Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland (ASB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASB is a partner in the Help on the Route project (2016-2018) for migrant human rights protection in Serbia and Macedonia.
• Macedonian Helsinki Committee (MHC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHC partners with the foundation on the Help on the Route migrant rights project covering Macedonia and Serbia.
• Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre (NSHC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSHC partners with the foundation on the Help on the Route migrant protection initiative.
• Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of SerbiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ministry partners with the foundation on youth programs including Omladinski fondovi within the GIZ-led rural youth project.
• Youth Bank Hub Network (Western Balkans and Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation leads the Serbian hub of this network with partners from Montenegro (NVO Prima), North Macedonia (Mladiinfo), Albania (Partners Albania), and Turkey (TOG Foundation). The 18-month program provides training and grants to 15 CSOs advocating for youth participation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Catalyst Balkans: Western Balkan-focused foundation operating in the same Coalition for Giving network. Directly comparable as a regional grantmaking, capacity-building, and data intermediary serving civil society and philanthropy in Serbia and neighboring jurisdictions.
• Trag Foundation: Serbia's longest-standing grantmaking foundation and active Coalition for Giving member alongside Divac. Directly comparable as a domestic philanthropic grantmaker distributing funds to local civil society, with overlapping funder base (USAID, EU, corporate Serbia).
• SMART Kolektiv: Serbian foundation focused on corporate social responsibility and responsible business — also a Coalition for Giving co-member. Directly comparable in addressing the same intersection of corporate Serbia, philanthropy infrastructure, and community development.
• Responsible Business Forum (Serbia): Serbian CSR coalition member with Divac in the Coalition for Giving network. Comparable as a domestic platform promoting corporate giving, ESG, and community impact partnerships — overlapping in funder base and CSR partnership focus.

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: Large global grantmaker historically active across the Western Balkans on democracy, education, and rights. Comparable as a multi-program, founder-driven philanthropic institution but operates at much larger scale and broader geographic scope than Divac.
• Mastercard Foundation: Large corporate-affiliated grantmaker with global youth education and entrepreneurship programming. Comparable via stakeholder overlap (Mastercard supported Odvažna's predecessor) and parallel focus on youth and women economic empowerment.
• IKEA Foundation: Corporate-affiliated grantmaker that funded the predecessor of the Odvažna program. Comparable as a grantmaker combining direct program delivery with strategic philanthropy development, though operating globally rather than regionally.

Regional players

• Philanthropy Foundation (Czech Republic): Czech private foundation similar in structure and mission (private grantmaking, diaspora/network-based). Comparable as a Central European philanthropic institution working to professionalize giving culture, though operating primarily in a different national market.

Others

• UNHCR Serbia: Multilateral partner that co-finances Divac's Social Cafe program for refugees and migrants. Categorized as OTHERS because UNHCR is an institutional funder/partner for the foundation's migration portfolio rather than a peer grantmaker.
• USAID Serbia: Major institutional donor and capacity-building partner for Divac's Framework for Giving and broader programs. Categorized as OTHERS because USAID is the foundation's primary funder and infrastructure enabler rather than a competitor or peer grantmaker.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fondacijadivac
• Facebookfacebook.com/fondacijadivac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation