OPORA Foundation

What OPORA Foundation does

OPORA Foundation is a Dutch nonprofit organization (ANBI status) founded in 2022 and headquartered at Singel 373B in Amsterdam, with a team of 38 international professionals from Ukraine, Poland, India, Hungary, and the Netherlands. The organization applies a social innovation methodology to improve public systems — health access, justice access, democratic engagement, and social inclusion — for displaced and vulnerable populations, with an initial focus on the approximately 115,000 Ukrainians registered under Temporary Protection in the Netherlands.

Its service portfolio comprises five interconnected programs: the Empatia Program (mental health helpline and a placement network that has placed 50+ Ukrainian mental health professionals into Dutch healthcare organizations); the Civil Society Hub (an 8-month capacity-building program for grassroots organizations); the Legal Advice Program (free legal aid addressing labor exploitation and administrative issues, supported by Bird & Bird, Dentons, EY, and HVG Law through Pro Bono Connect); the IARI project (an 18-month EU-funded analysis of refugee integration in Poland and Italy, 2024–2026); and a Research & Policy Consultancy that produces applied research publications for the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security and EU institutions.

The business model is grant-funded: services to displaced Ukrainians are provided free of charge, with revenue sourced from institutional funders including Oranje Fonds, Nationale Postcode Loterij, the EU European Social Fund Plus, and Dutch government ministries. The core technology is a methodology (gap analysis, pilot testing, applied research validation, capacity strengthening) rather than proprietary software; distribution is via direct helplines, municipal partnerships, and civil society intermediaries rather than commercial channels.

Name

OPORA Foundation

Legal name

Opora Foundation

Website

https://oporafoundation.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OPORA Foundation is an Amsterdam-based Dutch nonprofit (ANBI status, founded 2022, 38 staff) that applies social innovation to improve access to health, justice, and social inclusion systems for displaced Ukrainians in the Netherlands and across the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Refugee Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Refugee integration services
• Mental health support
• Legal aid services
• Civil society capacity building
• Migration policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: As an ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling - Public Benefit Organization) registered in the Netherlands, OPORA Foundation operates primarily through grants, donations, and project funding. The organization receives support from institutional funders including Oranje Fonds, Nationale Postcode Loterij, European Union (European Social Fund Plus), and government ministries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

OPORA Foundation is a Dutch nonprofit social innovation organization that delivers free mental health support, legal aid, civil society capacity building, and applied research services for displaced Ukrainians in the Netherlands. It runs the Empatia Program (mental health helpline and professional placement), Legal Advice Program, Civil Society Hub (NGO capacity building), and cross-border research projects such as IARI. The organization does not sell a product; it operates funded programs that combine direct service delivery with evidence-based policy work.

Product overview

OPORA Foundation operates as a social innovation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Empatia Program (mental health support), Civil Society Hub (NGO capacity building), IARI project (labor market integration research), Legal Advice Program, and Research & Policy Consultancy services. Together, these programs provide a comprehensive ecosystem addressing the needs of displaced Ukrainians through direct service delivery, institutional capacity building, and evidence-based policy guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Empatia Program Free mental health support program for displaced Ukrainians in the Netherlands; provides a helpline, culturally sensitive psychological guidance, and connects Ukrainian mental health professionals with job opportunities in Dutch healthcare institutions and municipalities.
• Legal Advice Program Free legal assistance for displaced Ukrainians in the Netherlands covering labor exploitation, housing rights, divorce, and Temporary Protection Directive issues; delivered by an in-house Ukrainian legal team and supported by pro bono Dutch law firms.
• Civil Society Hub An 8-month capacity building program for small grassroots civil society organizations in the Netherlands working with migrants and newcomers, providing workshops, mentorship, psychosocial support, and peer learning circles to strengthen organizational capacity.
• Innovative Approaches to Refugee Integration (IARI) An 18-month EU-funded cross-border project (2024–2026) conducting policy framework analysis, needs assessments, and mutual learning to strengthen social and labor market inclusion of displaced Ukrainians in Poland and Italy.
• Research and Policy Consultancy Evidence-based research and policy advisory services for government ministries and EU institutions on migration challenges, including studies on housing, labor market integration, education, mental health, and return migration for displaced populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ Ukrainian mental health professionals placed in Dutch healthcare organizations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• VluchtelingenWerk NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Council for Refugees partnership for supporting displaced Ukrainians through shared expertise and advocacy for refugee rights in the Netherlands
• Instituut GakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute partnership contributing to evidence-based understanding of migration and integration challenges
• Ministerie van Asiel en MigratiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry of Asylum and Migration partnership for policy consultation and research contributing to Dutch migration governance
• Nederlands Rode KruiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Red Cross partnership for humanitarian support and needs assessment collaboration
• Verwey-Jonker InstituutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute partnership for employment barriers study and integration research collaboration
• Loke tot Ukraine PHSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Ukrainian displaced persons in the Netherlands
• OpenEmbassycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership implementing Civil Society Hub program, providing advisory capacity and guidance for supporting migrant communities in the Netherlands
• Pro Bono ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject of NJCM connecting OPORA's Legal Advice Team with pro bono support from leading Dutch law firms for training, case consultation, and capacity building
• Bird & BirdsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational law firm providing pro bono legal training and consultation support to OPORA's Ukrainian legal team
• DentonssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal law firm providing pro bono legal training and consultation support through Pro Bono Connect partnership
• EY BelastingadviseurssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing pro bono tax and advisory consultation support
• HVG LawsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch law firm providing pro bono legal training and consultation support through Pro Bono Connect
• FairWorksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor rights organization partnership for legal program addressing labor exploitation among displaced Ukrainians
• UpinioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for Navigating Return project conducting mixed-methods study of Ukrainians returning from EU under Temporary Protection Directive
• Laguna CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for Navigating Return project contributing to understanding return migration experiences and well-being of Ukrainian returnees
• Polska Akcja Humanitarna (PAH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish Humanitarian Action - partner in IARI project for refugee integration in Poland, contributing to needs assessment and mutual learning sessions
• Fundacja EmiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish foundation partner in IARI project contributing expertise on social and labor market inclusion of displaced Ukrainians
• RED NovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian partner in IARI project contributing innovative practices for social and labor market inclusion in Italy's Piedmont region
• Skills Alliance for UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition led by BMZ (German Ministry) and Ukrainian Ministry of Economy for coordinating international contributions to Ukraine's recovery, skills training, and reconstruction
• PosadMaxwansupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and urban planning firm collaborating on Water Cluster Masterplan for Klesiv Municipality in Ukraine
• Felixx Landscape Architects & PlannerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm partner for Klesiv water infrastructure project, contributing sustainable water management expertise
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN migration agency referenced for research methodology and policy frameworks on return migration

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Help Refugees: UK-based nonprofit coordinating grassroots aid and integration support for displaced people, including Ukrainians across Europe. Comparable as a community-led, multi-country support organization.
• VluchtelingenWerk Nederland: Dutch Council for Refugees — the largest national NGO supporting refugees in the Netherlands with advocacy, legal aid, and integration services. Direct peer given overlapping beneficiary base (refugees in NL) and OPORA's existing mutual partnership.
• OpenEmbassy: Dutch nonprofit supporting migrant communities through community-led programs. Core implementation partner on OPORA's Civil Society Hub; comparable in mission, beneficiary focus, and operating model.
• Refuge: UK charity providing specialist legal representation to asylum seekers and refugees. Highly comparable on refugee-focused legal services and policy advocacy, a core OPORA activity.
• Asylum Access: International nonprofit providing legal aid and integration support to refugees. Most directly comparable peer on the legal-aid-to-displaced-populations model that is one of OPORA's core programs.
• FairWork: Dutch labor rights organization combating exploitation of migrant workers, including displaced Ukrainians. Strategic partner on OPORA's legal program and highly comparable on labor-rights-focused service delivery.
• Polska Akcja Humanitarna (PAH): Polish Humanitarian Action — a major Polish NGO delivering aid and integration programs for displaced Ukrainians. Direct IARI project partner and the most relevant comparator for OPORA's Poland expansion.

Emerging players

• Kiron Open Higher Education: Germany-based nonprofit offering higher-education pathways for refugees and displaced people. Comparable as a European social-innovation nonprofit building capacity of displaced populations for system entry.

Broad incumbents

• International Organization for Migration (IOM): UN migration agency referenced by OPORA's Navigating Return research. The dominant institutional incumbent in migration policy research and programming, setting standards OPORA engages with.
• Nederlands Rode Kruis: Dutch Red Cross — humanitarian incumbent with established needs-assessment and emergency response capabilities for displaced populations in the Netherlands. Strategic partner to OPORA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/opora-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/empatiaprgrm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about OPORA Foundation