The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) Foundation

What The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) Foundation does

The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) Foundation is a Netherlands-based non-profit educational organization that has operated Model United Nations conferences for secondary school students since 1968, with the Foundation formally established in 1981. Its core products are four annual conferences — THIMUN The Hague, THIMUN Singapore, THIMUN Qatar (joint project with Qatar Academy), and THIMUN MiniMUN — supplemented by a global Affiliation Programme accrediting 50+ regional MUN conferences that adopt THIMUN Rules of Procedure and branding. The Foundation holds NGO status with the UN Department of Public Information (1995) and Roster Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC (2003), lending institutional legitimacy reinforced by a 2002 endorsement from then-Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Technology infrastructure is intentionally lightweight: the MUNIS online registration system handles school applications and conference enrollment, a WEB-App supports conference operations, and during COVID-19 (2021) THIMUN developed a custom-built virtual conferencing platform. The intellectual property core consists of the THIMUN Rules of Procedure — parliamentary procedures refined over 30+ years and widely adopted internationally — and 11 proprietary educational booklets covering UN knowledge, research, debate, and resolution writing. THIMUN Singapore operates as a separately registered entity (Co. Reg. No. 2005070109D) under the Foundation umbrella.

Revenue derives from three streams: (i) annual conference registration fees paid by participating schools (published on conference websites, non-refundable after deadline), (ii) licensing-style affiliation fees from 50+ regional MUN conferences using THIMUN branding and procedures, and (iii) fees from professional-development workshops for MUN Directors and advisors held in The Hague. The Foundation is governed by a three-person Board (Alain Meidinger, Chair; Carol Berenbaum, Secretary; Kenny Favier, Treasurer) with two permanent staff (Managing Director Esmeralda van der Hout, Conference & Project Assistant Luca Coban), operating from headquarters at 2e van Blankenburgstraat 119, The Hague.

Name

The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) Foundation

Legal name

THIMUN Foundation

Website

https://foundation.thimun.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Non-profit educational foundation operating annual Model United Nations conferences (The Hague, Singapore, Qatar, MiniMUN) for secondary school students globally, with a 50+ conference Affiliation Programme, proprietary Rules of Procedure, and UN consultative status.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Conference Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Model United Nations (MUN) (EDAMAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic & Education Conference Organizers (THAHACAE), Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Model United Nations
• Educational Conferences
• Youth Leadership Programs
• MUN Affiliation Programme
• Diplomatic Skills Education

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Conference Registration Fees: Schools pay registration fees for student participation in THIMUN conferences. Fees are set in publications on the website. All fees become non-refundable after registration deadline. THIMUN Foundation provides conferences in The Hague, Singapore, and MiniMUN events.
2. Affiliation Programme Fees: Regional MUN conferences pay for THIMUN affiliation status which includes use of THIMUN branding, promotion in THIMUN publications and website, and access to THIMUN educational resources and support.
3. MUN Director Workshops: THIMUN runs workshops for MUN Directors and advisors covering policy statements, resolution writing, research, debate techniques, and curriculum integration. These workshops provide professional development for teachers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The THIMUN Foundation organizes Model United Nations conferences for secondary school students, including flagship annual conferences in The Hague, Singapore, and MiniMUN events. It also operates an affiliation programme for regional MUN conferences worldwide and provides professional development workshops for MUN Directors and educators.

Product overview

The THIMUN Foundation operates a portfolio of Model United Nations conferences for secondary school students, comprising three primary in-person conferences (THIMUN The Hague, THIMUN Singapore, and THIMUN MiniMUN), supported by an affiliation programme that accredits regional MUN conferences. The foundation also provides educational resources including preparation guides, Rules of Procedure, and professional development workshops for MUN Directors. Registration and conference management are handled through the MUNIS online system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• THIMUN The Hague: The primary THIMUN conference held annually in The Hague, Netherlands
• THIMUN Singapore
• THIMUN MiniMUN
• THIMUN Qatar

Products and services

• THIMUN The Hague
• THIMUN Singapore
• THIMUN MiniMUN
• THIMUN Qatar
• THIMUN Affiliation Programme
• MUN Directors Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,500+ participants from 104 nationalities attend THIMUN conferences annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• World Forum The HaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024World Forum The Hague is the venue partner hosting THIMUN The Hague conferences. The partnership was renewed in December 2024 for another three years. World Forum The Hague is a premier international conference venue in The Hague, known as the City of Peace and Justice.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA): Federation of national UN associations with UN consultative status. Overlaps with THIMUN on UN-aligned youth civic education and global citizenship programming at scale.
• United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Youth Programmes: Runs global youth civic engagement and education initiatives. Comparable as a UN-affiliated institution delivering global citizenship programming to school-age participants.

Direct peers

• National Model United Nations (NMUN): The world's largest university-level Model UN conference, operated as a non-profit. Directly comparable to THIMUN as a flagship MUN conference organization with global participation and educational mission.
• UNA-USA Global Classrooms: United Nations Association of the USA's Global Classrooms program runs high school MUN conferences internationally. Comparable as a UN-affiliated secondary school MUN operator with similar educational mission.
• International Model United Nations Association (IMUNA): Operates multiple secondary and university MUN conferences (including NHSMUN). Directly comparable multi-conference MUN organizer with similar Rules of Procedure and educational positioning.
• Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN): Prestigious student-run high school MUN conference hosted by Harvard. Targets the same secondary school MUN participant segment as THIMUN The Hague and competes for the same prestige-driven schools.
• European Model United Nations (EuroMUN): University-level MUN conference held in Europe. Comparable as a regional MUN organizer with similar delegate experience and educational framing as THIMUN's European conferences.
• Georgetown Model United Nations (GMUN): High school and university MUN conferences run by Georgetown University. Competes with THIMUN for prestige-driven international schools in the secondary MUN market.

Emerging players

• Best Delegate Model United Nations: MUN training, education, and conference support platform. Comparable to THIMUN's workshops and educational materials business, focused on building MUN skills and programmes in schools.
• MUN Impact: MUN community initiative linking Model UN activities to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Comparable to THIMUN's SDG-focused committees and its positioning of MUN as real-world-impact education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thimun-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/officialthimun

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) Foundation