Landelijke Stichting voor Blinden en Slechtzienden (LSBS)

What Landelijke Stichting voor Blinden en Slechtzienden (LSBS) does

Landelijke Stichting voor Blinden en Slechtzienden (LSBS) is a Dutch ANBI-certified charitable foundation (RSIN 002882942) established on 22 October 1864 in Utrecht, currently headquartered at Galvanistraat 1, Ede, Netherlands. It serves as one of the oldest continuously operating foundations for the blind and visually impaired in the Netherlands, providing means-tested financial grants to three beneficiary groups: (i) Dutch private individuals meeting WHO criteria for severe visual impairment, (ii) Dutch institutions and organizations serving blind and visually impaired people, and (iii) ophthalmology researchers via the UitZicht consortium.

LSBS's core operational product is a digitized, application-based grant program covering ICT equipment (laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, MacBook/iMac, with limits up to €1,100), sport subsidies (Running Blind €500, Showdown/Goalball €250-€1,000), holiday and day-trip grants (€175-€350), home furnishing (up to ~€3,000), tandems, wheelchairs, study support, and dream wishes. Applications are submitted via a Pivio.net-powered online form (lsbs.pivio.net) featuring mid-process save and 240-day auto-deletion; approved grants are typically delivered in-kind, with LSBS ordering and paying suppliers directly. Standard processing time is 6 weeks (2 weeks for holidays, up to 4 months for amounts over €5,000). The website incorporates the ReadSpeaker text-to-speech tool for accessibility.

LSBS operates with an extremely lean footprint of 2 paid employees (1.63 FTE) plus an 8-member volunteer board (each receiving €1,900/year), processing approximately 700 applications annually. Income is wholly passive, derived from investment returns on the organization's endowment plus unsolicited legacies, inheritances, and donations — there is no active fundraising. LSBS administers the secretariat for three multi-foundation collaborative funds (ICT fonds, Vakantiesuppletiefonds, CV-fonds), participates in the UitZicht ophthalmology research consortium, and has absorbed two prior foundations — Moeder Catharina Fonds in 2017 and Groningse Blindenstichting in 2022 — whose assets and activities are now consolidated under LSBS. The foundation complies annually with the FIN Code Goed Bestuur governance standard.

Name

Landelijke Stichting voor Blinden en Slechtzienden (LSBS)

Legal name

Landelijke Stichting voor Blinden en Slechtzienden (LSBS)

Website

https://lsbs.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1864

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LSBS is a Dutch ANBI-certified charitable foundation established in 1864 that provides means-tested financial grants to visually impaired individuals, supporting institutions, and ophthalmological researchers in the Netherlands, processing approximately 700 applications per year across ICT, sport, holiday, and home-furnishing categories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation / Disability Assistance Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Charitable grantmaking
• Disability financial assistance
• Visually impaired support
• Assistive equipment grants
• Ophthalmology research funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Ede

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Endowment / Beleggingsresultaat (Investment Returns): Income from the organization's own endowment portfolio is the primary source of revenue. Returns from beleggingsresultaat (investment returns) fund ongoing grant-making activities.
2. Legaten, Erfstellingen en Giften (Legacies, Bequests, and Donations): LSBS receives unsolicited legacies, inheritances, bequests, and donations from donors. The organization does not actively solicit funds.
3. No Active Fundraising: LSBS does not engage in active fundraising campaigns. Income is passive, derived from endowment returns and unsolicited contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LSBS is a Dutch charitable foundation that provides means-tested financial grants (delivered primarily in-kind) to visually impaired individuals, Dutch institutions serving the blind/visually impaired, and ophthalmological scientific researchers. Grants cover ICT equipment (laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, MacBooks), sports equipment, holidays and day trips, home furnishing, tandems, wheelchairs, and study/education costs. The foundation also administers collaborative funds (ICT fonds, Vakantiesuppletiefonds, CV-fonds) jointly with other blindness foundations.

Product overview

LSBS is a Dutch foundation established in 1864 providing financial and material support to visually impaired individuals and organizations. The core offering consists of an application-based grant system for individuals (particulieren), organizations, and scientific research. Key product categories include ICT equipment (computers, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches), sports support (Running Blind, Showdown, Goalball), vacation/day trip assistance, and general aids. LSBS also administers collaborative funds including the ICT Fonds, Vakantiesuppletiefonds, and CV-Fonds (with Bartiméus Fonds and Visio Foundation). After absorbing the Moeder Catharina Fonds (2017) and Groningse Blindenstichting (2022), LSBS processes approximately 700 applications annually through its online application system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Moeder Catharina Fonds: A merged fund focused on providing support for deaf-blind individuals for wishes, living conditions, communication, development, independence, and recreation.

Products and services

• Particuliere Aanvragen (Individual Financial Support Grants) Means-tested financial grants for visually impaired individuals (severe visual impairment meeting WHO criteria) in the Netherlands for items such as ICT equipment, sporting activities, vacations, day trips, general aids, home furnishing, tandems, wheelchairs, lighting, and dream wishes. Applications are submitted by the individual, social worker, curator, or parent/guardian for minors. Approved grants are primarily delivered in-kind by LSBS ordering and paying suppliers directly.
• Organisatie Aanvragen (Organization Support Grants) Project-based grants for Dutch-registered institutions and organizations serving blind and visually impaired people, covering cultural, leisure, sports, welfare, and international development projects in developing countries. Applications must be submitted at least 2 months before planned activities and not for operational/exploitation costs. The CV-fonds vehicle (with Bartiméus Fonds and Visio Foundation) caps at €10,000 with one-third co-funding required for recreational activities.
• Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Scientific Research Funding) Funding for ophthalmological scientific research on origins, prevention, and treatment of eye conditions, including dissertation printing costs and international internships. Administered through the UitZicht consortium partnership where LSBS handles secretarial duties. Research applications are submitted via the UitZicht platform.
• ICT Hulpmiddelen Grants (ICT Equipment Funding) Grants for assistive ICT equipment for visually impaired individuals, with category caps: laptop/desktop up to €650, iPad up to €600, iPad Pro or iPad Air 13 inch+ up to €750, Android tablet up to €600, smartphone (iPhone 15+/Samsung Galaxy S24+) up to €750, smartwatch up to €400, and MacBook/iMac up to €1,100 (€600 with WLZ). Combination pricing available (laptop+smartphone or tablet+smartphone up to €1,200). 5-year reapplication waiting period for same product type.
• Sportondersteuning (Sport Participation Grants) Financial grants for sports participation by visually impaired individuals: Running Blind up to €500, Showdown/Goalball €250 (recreation) / €500 (competition) / €1,000 (selection), and other sports up to €500. Limited to one sport per year. No nutrition supplements covered. Funds transferred to recipient's bank account or directly to sports club; requires annual accountability with receipts.
• Vakantie- en Daguitstap Grants (Holiday and Day-Trip Grants) Grants to support holidays and day trips for visually impaired individuals: €300 within the Netherlands, €350 abroad, €175 for a day out. Applications must be submitted at least 2 months before planned departure. Funds can be paid directly to travel organizations. Travel to red/orange-coded countries under Ministry of Foreign Affairs advisories will not be honored.
• Algemene Woninginrichting en Hulpmiddelen Grants (General Home Furnishing and Aids Grants) Grants for general home furnishing (up to approximately €3,000), tandems, wheelchair vans, study/education, lighting, household appliances, glasses, and other assistive aids. Requests exceeding category maximums require detailed motivation. Applicants referred to other funds (e.g., municipality WMO) when applicable.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 700 applications processed per year for financial and material assistance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Groningse Blindenstichting (merged)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The Groningse Blindenstichting (RSIN 805141431) merged with LSBS in 2022. LSBS took over and manages the GBS's capital/endowment. Applications for financial support from persons and institutions in the three northern provinces are processed according to GBS criteria. Activities are continued in line with the GBS's original purpose.
• Moeder Catharina Fonds (merged)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017The Moeder Catharina Fonds (RSIN unknown) merged into LSBS on February 13, 2017. The merger transferred the remaining capital of the Moeder Catharina Fonds to LSBS, which continues to allocate funds in line with MCF's objective of supporting deaf-blind individuals with heart's wishes, living conditions, communication, development, independence, and recreation.
• BartiméuscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBartiméus is a regional institution for blind and visually impaired people in the Netherlands. Its social workers and ergotherapists support LSBS applicants by providing assessments, ICT/OTC reports, and low-vision examination documentation, strengthening applications. Bartiméus also collaborates with LSBS in the CV-fonds (Cultuur- en Vrijetijdsfonds).
• Koninklijke VisiocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKoninklijke Visio is the national expertise center for blind and visually impaired people. Social workers and ergotherapists from Visio support LSBS applicants with professional assessments and documentation. Visio also partners with LSBS in the CV-fonds and Visio Foundation receives referrals from LSBS for organization-only funding.
• Visio FoundationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVisio Foundation receives referrals from LSBS for organization-level funding requests. LSBS and Visio Foundation collaborate within the CV-fonds (Cultuur- en Vrijetijdsfonds) on culture and leisure projects.
• Bartiméus FondsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBartiméus Fonds receives referrals from LSBS for organization-level funding requests. Collaboration in the CV-fonds for culture and leisure.
• UitZicht (Ophthalmological Research Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSBS participates in UitZicht, a consortium supporting ophthalmological scientific research on disease mechanisms, prevention, and treatment. LSBS handles secretarial duties for UitZicht and Stichting Steunfonds UitZicht. Research applications are submitted via the UitZicht platform.
• ICT fonds (specialized fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSBS administers the secretariat for the ICT fonds, a specialized fund for ICT equipment for the visually impaired. Multiple blind foundations collaborate through this fund. Applications are submitted via LSBS.
• Vakantiesuppletiefonds (Holiday Supplementary Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSBS administers the secretariat for the Vakantiesuppletiefonds, a specialized fund for holiday and day-trip assistance for the visually impaired. Several blind foundations collaborate through this fund. Applications are submitted via LSBS.
• CV-fonds (Cultuur- en Vrijetijdsfonds)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSBS collaborates with Bartiméus Fonds and Visio Foundation within the CV-fonds for culture and leisure activities. Maximum application amount is €10,000. Participants must contribute at least one-third of costs for recreational activities.
• Nationaal Fonds voor de SportminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLSBS refers top athletes with visual impairments to the Nationaal Fonds voor de Sport (Fonds voor Talenten met een Visuele Beperking). LSBS also refers sports clubs to the Fonds Breedtesport for people with visual impairments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Stichting Oranje Fonds: Large Dutch ANBI foundation strengthening social cohesion through grants to community projects. Comparable as a sizable ANBI-compliant Dutch grantmaking foundation, broader in mandate than LSBS but similar governance and grant-application model.
• KWF Kankerbestrijding: One of the largest Dutch ANBI-certified private health grantmaking foundations, funding cancer research and patient support. Comparable as a major Dutch health-research/nonprofit grantmaker with mature ANBI governance, though operating at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Johan Cruyff Foundation: Dutch foundation enabling sport participation for children, including those with disabilities. Comparable in its grantmaking role for sport and disability in the Netherlands, though with a broader (non-visual-impairment-specific) mandate.

Direct peers

• Nationaal Fonds voor de Sport (Fonds voor Talenten met een Visuele Beperking): Dutch sports-focused foundation that includes a program specifically for talents with a visual impairment. LSBS actively refers top athletes to it, indicating close mission overlap for sport grants to the visually impaired.
• UitZicht: Consortium foundation supporting ophthalmological scientific research in the Netherlands, with LSBS providing secretariat. Directly comparable grantmaking function in the same ophthalmology research niche.
• Stichting Bartiméus Fonds: Independent Dutch foundation funding activities for blind/visually impaired people, closely partnered with LSBS inside the CV-fonds. Directly comparable grantmaking mandate, beneficiary pool, and pooling arrangements with LSBS.
• Stichting Het Gehandicapte Kind: Dutch ANBI foundation funding projects for children with disabilities in the Netherlands. Comparable as a domestic disability-focused grantmaking foundation with similar ANBI/Goed Bestuur governance posture.
• Visio Foundation (Koninklijke Visio): National Dutch expertise center and foundation for blind and visually impaired people, providing both services and grants. Directly comparable target beneficiary group, ANBI status, and joint funding programs (CV-fonds).
• Stichting Oogfonds (Dutch Eye Foundation): Dutch nonprofit raising funds for ophthalmological research, prevention, and patient support. Directly comparable as a grantmaking foundation focused on visual impairment and eye research, with ANBI status and scientific advisory.

Others

• Fondsen in Nederland (FIN): Peak/industry body representing Dutch grantmaking foundations and administering the FIN Code Goed Bestuur that LSBS complies with. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a competitor; comparable for governance benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landelijke-stichting-voor-blinden-en-slechtzienden

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Landelijke Stichting voor Blinden en Slechtzienden (LSBS)