What Bartiméus Fonds does

Stichting Bartiméus Fonds is a Dutch charitable foundation (stichting) founded in 1915 and headquartered in Zeist, Utrecht, that exists to improve independence and participation for people with visual impairments in the Netherlands — a population estimated at roughly 300,000 to 350,000. The foundation operates as the principal fundraising and project-financing vehicle that supports Bartiméus, the affiliated expertise organization providing research, diagnostics, treatment, education, and residential services. Beyond passing capital to Bartiméus, Bartiméus Fonds directly commissions and develops assistive-technology products across three program domains: mobility and innovation (LUNA Glass night-vision glasses, Smart Walker module, facial-recognition doorbell, OOrion navigation app, Tactile Topographic Maps built on Kadaster and Esri GIS data), education and employment (De Werkconferentie, Onbeperkt Ondernemen, Inclusive Design & Engineering lectorate at Hogeschool Arnhem Nijmegen), and leisure/sport (Uniek Sporten Thuis platform, Accessibility Communication Toolkit, heritage-site inclusion programs).

Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic channels: one-time and recurring individual donations, legacies and bequests, five-year periodic gifts (Periodiek Schenken) eligible for Dutch tax deduction, project sponsorship for specific innovations such as LUNA Glass and audio description, and event-based giving (e.g., Dineren in het Donker contributes €15 per participant). The foundation is ANBI-registered and CBF Erkend Goed Doel-certified, and was the advocacy partner that helped secure €1 million of annual Dutch parliamentary funding for audio description starting in 2023. Distribution is domestic-only and runs through the foundation website, direct mail, phone, iDEAL QR, community events, ambassador-led campaigns, and school partnerships via Young Impact.

The organization runs a small team — approximately 32 employees supplemented by named program managers across education, mobility, recreation, and sport — and operates with five named full-time programme leads reporting to a Director (Martin van Arendonk) and Deputy Director/Head of Programmes (Remke Brand). As a non-profit, the entity is not publicly traded and has no investors, parent company, or subsidiaries; residual income funds the foundation's project pipeline rather than equity holders.

Name

Bartiméus Fonds

Legal name

Stichting Bartiméus Fonds

Website

https://bartimeusfonds.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stichting Bartiméus Fonds is a 1915-founded Dutch charitable foundation that funds Bartiméus expertise services and develops AI-enabled assistive technologies (LUNA Glass, OOrion app, Smart Walker, audio description) for the roughly 300,000 visually impaired people in the Netherlands, financed via donations, bequests, and project sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Accessibility Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Visual impairment support
• Assistive technology
• Accessibility advocacy
• Charitable foundation services
• Audio description services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zeist

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters. The organization conducts fundraising campaigns and accepts donations through its website and direct mail.
2. Legacies and Bequests: Inheritance gifts and bequests from donors who include Bartiméus Fonds in their wills. The organization offers various legacy options including naming as heir, specific bequests, and right of usufruct.
3. Periodic Gifts (Periodiek Schenken): Recurring donations with tax benefits for donors, allowing tax deductions for regular contributions over a minimum 5-year period.
4. Project Sponsorship: Funding for specific projects and innovations such as LUNA Glass, accessibility tools, and educational programs.
5. Event Revenue Sharing: Revenue from events like Dineren in het Donker where €15 per participant is donated to the foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bartiméus Fonds is a charitable foundation that raises donations to fund projects supporting people with visual impairments in the Netherlands. The foundation develops and funds assistive technologies (LUNA Glass night vision glasses, OOrion AI app, smart walker, tactile maps), provides audio description services for media, runs programs for mobility, education, employment, and accessible leisure, and supports the broader work of the Bartiméus expertise center.

Product overview

Bartiméus Fonds is a charitable foundation supporting people with visual impairments in the Netherlands. The organization funds Bartiméus, a center of expertise for visual impairment, and develops innovative products and services. Key offerings include LUNA Glass (night vision glasses), the OOrion-app (AI-powered daily assistance on Meta AI glasses), Audio Description services via Earcatch, Tactile Maps, and the Accessibility Communication Toolkit. Additional initiatives include the Inclusive Design & Engineering Lectorate, Uniek Sporten Thuis platform, Smart Walker, and the Grondslagen Visuele Toegankelijkheid accessibility guidelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LUNA Glass Night Vision Glasses
• OOrion App
• Audio Description Services
• Tactile Topographic Maps
• Accessibility Communication Toolkit
• Uniek Sporten Thuis Platform
• Smart Walker Module
• Face Recognition Doorbell
• Indoor Navigation App
• Picoo Movement Game (Accessible Edition)
• Grondslagen Visuele Toegankelijkheid (Visual Accessibility Guidelines)

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of people with visual impairment indicate mobility is a problem, addressed through LUNA Glass and navigation technologies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• BartiméuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBartiméus is the expertise organization for people with visual impairments. Bartiméus Fonds supports the work of Bartiméus, which includes research, diagnostics, treatment, schools, residential facilities, and various locations for people with visual impairments to practice hobbies.
• Young ImpactstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Dutch non-profit that enables young people (12-20 years) to create positive changes in their communities. Bartiméus Fonds participates in school project days to raise awareness about visual impairments.
• EarcatchcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing audio description apps for TV, cinema, and theater. Earcatch app allows users to download audio descriptions that sync automatically with programs.
• Ieder(in)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organization for people with disabilities in Netherlands; collaborated on advocacy for audio description on television.
• OogverenigingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch eye association; collaborated with Bartiméus Fonds on advocacy for more audio description on television.
• Stichting Audiovisuele Toegankelijkheid (SAVT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation for audiovisual accessibility; collaborated on advocacy for audio description legislation.
• Komt het Zien!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing live audio description by blind interpreters at events and performances throughout the Netherlands.
• SoundfocuscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner in the collaboration that developed automatic audio description for theater productions.
• Stage EntertainmentstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor theater and entertainment company; partnered on audio description technology for their fixed theater productions.
• Het KadastercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch mapping agency providing geographic information for production of tactile maps for visually impaired people.
• Stichting AccessibilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation specializing in accessibility; partnered on tactile maps project and UNESCO world heritage accessibility plan.
• Stichting DediconcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization producing accessible materials; partnered on tactile maps project as product manager.
• Esri NederlandcoreTechnology or IntegrationGIS software provider; software converts geographic data into accessible tactile map formats for visually impaired users.
• Stichting Werelderfgoed NederlandstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation managing UNESCO World Heritage sites in Netherlands; collaborated on action plan for accessible world heritage locations.
• NHL StendenstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences; students developed action plan for accessibility at world heritage sites.
• Ministerie van OCWstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; received action plan for world heritage accessibility.
• Hogeschool Arnhem Nijmegen (HAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences hosting the Bijzonder Lectoraat Inclusive Design & Engineering; 20 researchers, 5 lecturers, and 6 graduating students work on accessibility research.
• Koninklijke VisiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpertise organization for blind and visually impaired people; partnered on Grondslagen Visuele Toegankelijkheid project.
• MaculaverenigingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient organization for people with macular conditions; collaborated on Grondslagen Visuele Toegankelijkheid.
• Robert Coppes StichtingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting visually impaired people; partnered on Grondslagen Visuele Toegankelijkheid.
• UWVstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch employee insurance agency; target audience for De Werkconferentie conference.
• Stichting Zeister FestivalsstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation organizing festivals in Zeist; partnership to make events accessible and organize Dineren in het Donker.
• PicoostrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGame developer; adapted existing movement game for children with visual impairments, winning IPON-Award.
• NOScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch public broadcaster; provided audio description for all Netherlands matches at Euro 2024 football and Paralympic Games.
• IncluvisiestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities; partnership on Onbeperkt Ondernemen project.
• RijksmuseumstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Lichaamsverhalen project bringing body stories to art collections for people with disabilities.
• KRO-NCRVstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch public broadcaster; collaborated on making The Passion event accessible for people with visual impairments.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Koninklijke Visio: Dutch expertise organization for blind and visually impaired people. Directly comparable as a peer Dutch organization addressing the same population through research, education, and support, and a documented partner of Bartiméus Fonds on the Grondslagen Visuele Toegankelijkheid project.
• Stichting Accessibility: Dutch foundation specializing in accessibility. Directly comparable as a peer non-profit focused on accessibility (digital and physical) for people with disabilities, and a documented partner on the Tactile Maps project and UNESCO world heritage accessibility plan.
• Ieder(in): Umbrella organization for people with disabilities in the Netherlands. Comparable as a peer Dutch advocacy non-profit, and a documented partner collaborating with Bartiméus Fonds on audio description advocacy.
• Stichting het Gehandicapte Kind: Dutch foundation supporting children with disabilities. Comparable as a peer Dutch disability funder, and a documented financial partner of Bartiméus Fonds on the Onbeperkt Ondernemen project.
• Maculavereniging: Dutch patient organization for people with macular conditions. Comparable as a peer non-profit serving the visually impaired population, with documented collaboration with Bartiméus Fonds on accessibility research.
• Fonds Gehandicaptensport: Dutch fund supporting sports for people with disabilities. Comparable as a peer Dutch non-profit funder, and a documented co-founder with Bartiméus Fonds of the Uniek Sporten Thuis platform.
• Stichting Dedicon: Dutch organization producing accessible materials including for visually impaired people. Comparable as a peer organization operating in the same accessibility domain, and a documented partner on the Tactile Maps project.
• Oogvereniging: Dutch patient association for people with eye conditions. Comparable as a Dutch non-profit advocating for visually impaired people, with documented advocacy partnership alongside Bartiméus Fonds on audio description policy.
• Robert Coppes Stichting: Dutch foundation supporting visually impaired people. Comparable as a peer Dutch non-profit funder focused on the same beneficiary population, with documented partnership on the Grondslagen Visuele Toegankelijkheid project.

Regional players

• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): UK-based charity for blind and partially sighted people. Comparable as a peer organization serving the same population through research, advocacy, and innovation, but operating in a different geography from Bartiméus Fonds's Netherlands focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BartimeusFonds
• YouTubeyoutube.com/BartimeusFonds/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/BartimeusFonds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bartimeus-fonds
• Instagraminstagram.com/bartimeus_fonds

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Bartiméus Fonds