Stichting senior&student

What Stichting senior&student does

Stichting senior&student is a Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting) founded in May 2014 in Amsterdam with ANBI status. It operates volunteer matching programs that connect lonely seniors aged 65 and older with student volunteers aged 17–30 across six Dutch cities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Delft, and Den Haag. The foundation's core products are the Jong+Oud=Goud matching program (six-month companionship engagements), the MDT tegen eenzaamheid program funded by the Ministry of OCW's Maatschappelijke Diensttijd initiative, and a seasonal Zomerproject. All services are delivered free of charge to both seniors and students.

The foundation has no proprietary technology platform of its own. Its operations are executed end-to-end by Careibu — a commercial matching bureau co-founded by sisters Lotte and Anne van Oudheusden, who also founded the foundation — which provides office space, software, volunteer coordination, project leadership, and access to a national database of more than 20,000 students. The foundation itself has no direct employees and is governed by a four-member holacratic board that receives only a €1,200/year volunteer allowance. Matching is described as based on personal compatibility and shared interests rather than any algorithmic system.

The foundation's revenue model is entirely non-commercial. Operating funds come from government grants (primarily the Ministry of OCW's MDT program — €1.6M in 2022 and €1.4M in 2024), supplemented by ANBI-tax-deductible donations and contributions from charitable funds (Fonds 1818, Vaillant Fonds). Seniors and students participate free of charge, though MDT participants receive a €90 activity allowance. Distribution relies on referrals from six partner municipalities, healthcare institutions (Cordaan, Amsta, Domus Valuas, Saffier), social district teams, GPs, and earned media coverage. Since 2015 the foundation has facilitated over 3,000 senior-student matches, with approximately 400 matches per year in recent years and a stated ambition of 1,000 per year.

Name

Stichting senior&student

Legal name

Stichting SeniorenStudent

Website

https://stichtingseniorenstudent.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Amsterdam-based Dutch non-profit foundation that matches lonely seniors (65+) with student volunteers (17–30) for companionship and practical support across six Dutch cities; funded by government MDT grants and donations, with all operations executed by Careibu.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Companionship and Intergenerational Volunteer Matching

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Companion Care & Social Support (non-clinical) (HLADAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Companionship & Social Engagement Visits (HSABAAAA), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Senior companionship programs
• Intergenerational volunteer matching
• Elder loneliness services
• Youth volunteer programs
• Nonprofit community matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: The foundation receives government funding from the Actieprogramma Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT) of the Ministry of OCW and other public programs to fund its matching projects. Major grants include €1.4 million for the MDT extension (2024) and €1.6 million for a 2-year project extension (2022).
2. Donations: The foundation accepts donations from individuals and organizations. As an ANBI-certified institution, donations are tax-deductible. Donations are made to the ING Bank account NL63 INGB 0006 5636 52.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stichting senior&student is a Dutch non-profit foundation that matches seniors aged 65+ experiencing loneliness with student volunteers aged 17-30 for 6-month companionship and practical support relationships. Its flagship Jong+Oud=Goud program, government-subsidized MDT tegen eenzaamheid program, and seasonal Zomerproject together deliver intergenerational matching services free of charge to participants across six Dutch cities. Operations are executed end-to-end by Careibu, which provides the office, staff, software, and student database underpinning the matching.

Product overview

Stichting senior&student operates as a non-profit foundation that runs volunteer matching programs connecting elderly seniors with student volunteers. The core offerings include the 'Jong+Oud=Goud' matching program, the government-funded 'MDT tegen eenzaamheid' (Social Service Against Loneliness) program, and a seasonal summer project. Students volunteer to visit seniors, providing practical assistance (shopping, computer help, household tasks) and companionship (walking, playing games, museum visits, dining).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jong+Oud=Goud The foundation's flagship matching program that pairs seniors aged 65+ who need practical help or companionship with student volunteers aged 17-30 for a 6-month period. Students provide social support and assistance with daily activities such as shopping, computer help, and outings; seniors are matched based on shared interests and backgrounds. The service is provided free of charge.
• MDT tegen eenzaamheid Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT) program funded by the Ministry of OCW's Actieprogramma Maatschappelijke Diensttijd that matches young people aged 17-30 with seniors requiring extra support and companionship. Recipients of the volunteer allowance receive €90 in pocket money for activities. Operated in partnership with municipalities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Delft, Den Haag) and care institutions including Cordaan and Amsta.
• Zomerproject (Summer Project) A condensed 3-month summer program where 15 young people are matched with seniors, offering a shortened version of the regular 6-month volunteer trajectory during the summer months, including activities and outings funded by a dedicated foundation fund.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ total senior-student matches made since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

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

• CareibucoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCareibu is the executing partner for all foundation projects since 2015. It provides all operational facilities including office space, software, and a student database of 20,000+ students. Careibu subsidizes the foundation by providing infrastructure, project leadership, and volunteer coordination at no cost. Careibu was founded by sisters Lotte and Anne van Oudheusden, who also founded Stichting senior&student.
• Gemeente AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Amsterdam is a founding and ongoing partner in the MDT project, helping to identify and refer seniors who need companionship and supporting the program's local implementation.
• Gemeente UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Utrecht participates in the MDT project by referring seniors and supporting local implementation of the senior-student matching program.
• Gemeente RotterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotterdam is a partner municipality in the MDT project, helping to recruit seniors and coordinate local matching activities with care institutions.
• Gemeente Den HaagcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDen Haag joined as a partner municipality in late 2020 and participates in the MDT project, referring seniors and supporting local implementation.
• Gemeente DelftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelft participates as a partner municipality in the MDT project, contributing to the foundation's geographic expansion and local senior-student matching.
• Gemeente LeidencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeiden is a partner municipality in the MDT project, helping to connect seniors with student companions in the Leiden area.
• CordaanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCordaan is a major Amsterdam-based care organization that partners with the foundation to connect seniors in their facilities with student companions. They won a joint €10,000 stimulator prize for the 'Eetclub van Jong en Oud' initiative.
• AmstamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmsta is a care institution in Amsterdam that partners with the foundation to match students with seniors in their care, including an employee (Helga Hoek) who personally enrolled 30 seniors in three months.
• Buurtteams UtrechtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial district teams in Utrecht refer seniors to the foundation and participate in the MDT project, helping identify isolated seniors who would benefit from a student companion.
• Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam (VU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VU participates as an MDT project partner, contributing to the foundation's intergenerational programs in Amsterdam.
• EyeOpenerWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEyeOpenerWorks participates as a partner in the MDT project, contributing to program development and implementation.
• Domus ValuasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare institution in Utrecht that participates in the MDT project to connect seniors with student companions.
• Vrijwilligers Centrale AmsterdammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam led the 'Gappie Gezocht' campaign, partnering with the foundation and dozens of organizations to address loneliness in Amsterdam. The foundation's ambassadors participated in campaign events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Join for Joy: Dutch/emerging-market nonprofit using youth volunteering to drive social impact. Comparable in mobilizing young volunteers (often through MDT) for structured community programs with measurable outcomes.

Direct peers

• Stichting Buddy Netwerk: Dutch nonprofit focused on combating loneliness through buddy/companion matching across age groups. Directly comparable mission (loneliness intervention via volunteer pairing) and target population in the Netherlands.
• Stichting Oma's Soep: Dutch nonprofit connecting students with elderly via shared meals and intergenerational visits. Same core model of pairing young volunteers with seniors for companionship in the Netherlands, supported by corporate and government partnerships.
• Nationaal Ouderenfonds: Dutch national foundation dedicated to improving wellbeing of elderly, including active programs to combat loneliness through volunteer engagement. Comparable nonprofit operating model serving seniors in the Netherlands with government and donor funding.
• De Zonnebloem: Dutch nonprofit organizing volunteer visits and outings for elderly with physical limitations. Direct comparable in delivering companionship and recreational activities for lonely seniors across the Netherlands.

Others

• ANBO: Dutch association for seniors providing information, advocacy, and local social activities to combat loneliness. Adjacent organization addressing the same senior-loneliness problem in the Netherlands through a different (membership/association) delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Humanitas: Large Dutch volunteer organization with multiple programs including elderly companionship, buddy support, and social activation. Broader incumbent that offers overlapping capabilities as part of a wider portfolio of social services.
• KBO-PCOB: Largest Dutch senior citizens' association providing services, advocacy, and social programs for older adults. Comparable in mission to support senior wellbeing in the Netherlands, though operates more as membership/advocacy than matching service.

Regional players

• Royal Voluntary Service: Large UK charity mobilizing volunteers to support older people with companionship, hospital discharge support, and activities. Closest international peer in scale and mission (volunteer-driven elderly companionship), though operating primarily in the UK.
• Friends of the Elderly: UK charity focused on loneliness and isolation among older people, providing befriending services and social activities. Directly comparable befriending-for-seniors model, though operating in the UK rather than the Netherlands.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-seniorenstudent

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stichting senior&student