Al Amal

What Al Amal does

Stichting Al Amal is a Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting) established in 2003 in Utrecht, Netherlands, providing culturally sensitive social services to residents with migration backgrounds. Its origins trace to 2001, when Marzouka Boulaghbage began Arabic lessons for a group of six women in Kanaleneiland; the group quickly grew past 100, leading to formal incorporation in 2003 alongside co-founder Rachida Ibrahimi. Today the foundation operates with 26 paid staff and 65 active volunteers across three Utrecht neighborhoods—Kanaleneiland, Overvecht, and Zuilen—delivering a portfolio of approximately ten programs including Open Huis drop-in centers, Hulp aan Huis home visits, Tussen In family mediation for multiproblem households, We All pre-forensic youth guidance, De eerste 1000 dagen early childhood support, women's and children's group activities, Hoop in Overvecht financial guidance, Voedselpakketten uit het Hart food packages, Oefenplein digital skills training, and an Expertisecentrum offering external training in culturally sensitive work. The award-winning Domino-effect project, developed with Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing, was recognized with the 2024 Appeltje van Oranje and received a 2025 royal work visit from King Willem-Alexander.

Al Amal delivers services entirely through human interaction and carries no proprietary technology stack: there is no app, API, software platform, or digital product. The "Oefenplein" program trains residents on existing Dutch government digital tools rather than building new ones. The organization's core methodology combines low-threshold walk-in access, behind-the-front-door home outreach, language matching through multilingual staff (Arabic, Amazigh/Berber, Turkish, Dutch), and a "yes as foundation" relational culture. The foundation holds ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status, the Dutch public-benefit designation that confers tax advantages on charitable giving.

Al Amal's revenue model is non-commercial: all beneficiary services are free, funded primarily by municipal government grants from Gemeente Utrecht. Secondary streams include donations for the food packages program (partnered with Stichting Al Yatiem) and project-specific grants from foundations including Stichting RCOAK and Het Hofje Codde & Van Beresteyn. The go-to-market motion is community-led: word-of-mouth referrals, partnerships with Buurtteam Utrecht, schools, healthcare providers, Veilig Thuis, and active physical presence in community spaces reach migrants who are otherwise invisible to the Dutch welfare system. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, though annual reports (Jaarrekeningen) are published on the organization's website.

Name

Al Amal

Legal name

Stichting Al Amal

Website

https://al-amal.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Stichting Al Amal is a Utrecht non-profit foundation delivering culturally sensitive social services—casework, family mediation, youth guidance, women's groups, food aid, and training—to residents with migration backgrounds across three Utrecht neighborhoods, funded primarily by municipal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Municipal Government Funding: Primary funding from Gemeente Utrecht (Municipality of Utrecht) through project grants and subsidies for social welfare programs targeting migrants and multiproblem families.
2. Donations and Community Contributions: Food packages project Voedselpakketten uit het Hart relies on donations from community members, local entrepreneurs, and partner organizations. No government subsidy for food distribution.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Domino-effect project supported by Stichting RCOAK and Het Hofje Codde & Van Beresteyn, along with collaboration funding from partner organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stichting Al Amal provides culturally sensitive social welfare services to residents with migration backgrounds in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Its core offerings include low-threshold walk-in support (Open Huis) and home visits (Hulp aan Huis) for administrative help, family mediation (Tussen In), pre-forensic youth guidance (We All), early childhood support (De eerste 1000 dagen), group activities for women and children, a community food bank (Voedselpakketten uit het Hart), digital skills training (Oefenplein), and an Expertisecentrum offering training in cultural sensitivity.

Product overview

Al Amal is a social welfare organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of community support services for residents with migration backgrounds in Utrecht. The organization operates through multiple interconnected programs including Open Huis and Hulp aan Huis (low-threshold walk-in and at-home support), Tussen In (multiproblem family approach), We All (pre-forensic youth guidance), De eerste 1000 dagen (early childhood development), and group activities for women and children. Additional services include Hoop in Overvecht (financial advice), Voedselpakketten uit het Hart (food bank), Oefenplein (digital skills), and an Expertisecentrum offering training in culturally sensitive work. The organization also developed the award-winning Domino-effect project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hulp aan Huis & Open Huis Low-threshold walk-in consultation hours across four Utrecht neighborhoods (Kanaleneiland, Overvecht Zuid, Overvecht Noord, Zuilen/Ondiep) and at-home volunteer support for residents with migration backgrounds. Helps with light administrative tasks such as reviewing mail, explaining documents, scheduling appointments, and navigating Dutch society. Open hours between 9:00 and 12:00 on weekdays.
• Aanpak Multi Probleemgezinnen (Tussen In) Family support and mediation service for multiproblem families with migration backgrounds. Bridges families to regular Dutch care services and provides direct culturally sensitive assistance where mainstream services fall short.
• We All (Pre-forensisch jongvolwassenen begeleiding) Pre-forensic youth guidance program for young adults with migration backgrounds, often with suspected mild intellectual disability, debts, lack of structure, or risk of involvement in undermining activities. Delivered in collaboration with Leger des Heils.
• De eerste 1000 dagen van een kind Support program for expectant mothers and fathers with migration backgrounds and limited social networks, providing personal guidance from volunteer 'ma'atjes' during pregnancy and the first 1000 days of childhood to build a healthy and stable environment for the child.
• Groepsactiviteiten voor vrouwen Group activities for women with migration backgrounds experiencing distance from society, focusing on empowerment, network building, reducing loneliness, and increasing self-reliance through activities such as walking, sewing, sports, and educational sessions.
• Groepsactiviteiten voor kinderen Day care activities for children up to 12 years with migration backgrounds attending special education, promoting self-confidence, resilience, and developing personal skills through social skills and creativity activities.
• Hoop in Overvecht Project in Overvecht providing residents with a safe environment to discuss their financial situation, offering advice, support, and guidance to improve their financial situation.
• Voedselpakketten uit het Hart Community food bank project delivered in collaboration with Stichting Al Yatiem, providing food packages every two weeks to families in need as a temporary safety net while supporting sustainable solutions. Funded by donations, not government subsidy.
• Domino-effect Award-winning project that brings women with migration backgrounds out of isolation by training them as volunteers and role models for others, developed in collaboration with Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing.
• Oefenplein (Digimaatje) Digital skills training program where volunteers help residents learn to use digital services independently, supporting tasks such as applying for U-pas, making payments, and writing emails to authorities.
• Expertisecentrum Expertise center offering professional development programs in culturally sensitive work, including training, workshops, masterclasses, and 'prikkels' (brief inspirational sessions) for organizations working with diverse cultural backgrounds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transformed from 6 women in 2001 to 100+ women group, growing to organization with 26 staff and 65 volunteers across 3 Utrecht neighborhoods
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Leyden Academy on Vitality and AgeingflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration on Domino-effect project targeting women with migration background experiencing loneliness. Al Amal provides community access and culturally sensitive methodology; Leyden Academy contributes research and program design expertise. Project won Appeltje van Oranje award.
• Stichting Al YatiemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Joint initiative for Voedselpakketten uit het Hart (Food Packages from the Heart), providing food parcels to families in need. Al Yatiem handles international orphan projects while jointly supporting food distribution.
• Gemeente UtrechtcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary municipal funder providing grants and subsidies for various social welfare projects including family support, youth programs, and integration services across Utrecht neighborhoods.
• Het Leger des Heils (Leger des Heils)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on We All project for pre-forensic young adult guidance. Jointly helps youth in complex situations with debts and potential undermining activities.
• Buurtteam UtrechtcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNeighborhood teams in Utrecht providing referrals and coordination for families needing social support services.
• Veilig ThuiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch child protection organization that actively sought collaboration with Al Amal founders in early years and continues to refer families requiring culturally sensitive support.
• UMC UtrechtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAcademic hospital collaborating on health-related activities for women, including programs addressing cancer awareness and healthy living.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VluchtelingenWerk Nederland: National Dutch Council for Refugees, the leading organization supporting asylum seekers and refugees with legal aid, integration guidance, and advocacy. Directly comparable to Al Amal as both deliver culturally sensitive support to newcomers navigating Dutch systems, though VluchtelingenWerk operates nationally and focuses more on asylum/legal pathways.
• Stichting Leergeld: National Dutch foundation supporting low-income families with children to access sports, education, and cultural activities. Comparable as a volunteer-driven organization addressing material and social barriers for vulnerable Dutch families, including migrant families, similar to Al Amal's Hoop in Overvecht and Voedselpakketten programs.
• Buurtteam Utrecht: Municipal neighborhood social-work teams operating across Utrecht delivering family support, youth guidance, and welfare referrals — overlapping directly with Al Amal's Tussen In and We All programs. It is both a competitor and an active referral partner that funnels clients into Al Amal.
• Humanitas Nederland: Large Dutch welfare association providing home visit support, mentoring, and social integration services for vulnerable groups including migrants, families, and youth. Comparable as a community-led, volunteer-driven organization helping residents navigate Dutch society with culturally attuned support.
• Leger des Heils (Salvation Army Netherlands): Dutch branch of the Salvation Army providing social welfare, youth guidance, and family support across the Netherlands. Direct peer as it is an existing Al Amal partner on the We All pre-forensic youth program and offers overlapping services in family support and reintegration.
• DOCK (formerly STIP): Dutch social-broker organization running community centers and resident outreach across Rotterdam, The Hague, and other cities — directly comparable because co-founder Marzouka Boulaghbage also works at DOCK, and both organizations deploy multilingual social brokers into neighborhoods to reach vulnerable residents.

Emerging players

• Pharos: National Dutch knowledge center focused on health equity for refugees and migrants, providing expertise, training, and program design for organizations serving these populations. Comparable because Pharos offers Expertisecentrum-style capacity building and is an emerging thought-leader in culturally sensitive service delivery for newcomers.

Others

• Movisie: Dutch knowledge institute for social welfare, providing research, training, and methodology development to welfare organizations including migrant-services providers. Adjacent peer because it builds the evidence base and training infrastructure (similar to Al Amal's Expertisecentrum) that welfare organizations like Al Amal draw upon, but does not deliver direct services itself.

Regional players

• Stichting Nieuw Thuis Rotterdam: Rotterdam-based foundation supporting newcomers with integration, language practice, and participation activities. Comparable as a regional counterpart delivering culturally sensitive newcomer orientation in another major Dutch city, though Al Amal operates in Utrecht and Rotterdam's migrant population dynamics differ.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting Vluchteling (Refugee Foundation): Dutch foundation providing emergency aid and structural support to refugees and displaced people globally and domestically. Comparable as a national-scale Dutch NGO serving refugee populations, though its focus skews more toward humanitarian aid and emergency relief than Al Amal's neighborhood-level integration work.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/alamalutrecht
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/al-amal

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Al Amal