Yona Foundation

What Yona Foundation does

Yona Foundation (Stichting Yona Foundation) is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) with ANBI status, founded in 2015 and headquartered at Laan van Westenenk 12, Apeldoorn. The organization's mission is to help people live Biblically in a digital world, framed around three pillars — awareness, assistance, and stimulation — applied to media usage from a conservative Reformed Protestant (Gereformeerde Gemeenten) perspective. It operates a community-led and event-driven go-to-market targeting four constituencies: churches (delivering lectures at catechism classes and congregation evenings), schools (Christian educational institutions via Driestar Educatief and direct outreach), parents (via brochures, conversation cards, parent collectives, and a WhatsApp community), and youth (via books such as 'Niet te filmen' by Evert Barten and podcasts).

Yona's product surface is built around content rather than proprietary technology: lectures (Lezingen), brochures and conversation cards (Brochures en Gesprekskaarten), books, sample media-usage policies for churches (Beleidsvoorbeelden), an AI ethics project with position papers and theme evenings (AI Project Ethiek / AI Thema-avonden), and a WhatsApp-based parent community. The organization recommends but does not produce the Safe Smartphone — a Kosher OS device that blocks social media and browsers — distributed via its partnership with Kliksafe. There is no proprietary technology stack, AI model, software product, app, or API; the technology layer is limited to a WordPress website, WhatsApp community tools, and podcast distribution.

The business model is non-profit: revenue is a mix of individual donations, a tiered Business Partnership subscription program (BusinessVriend €49/month, BusinessPartner €99/month, BusinessAmbassadeur €199/month), and project-based partnerships from €2,500. Services to end audiences (churches, schools, parents, youth) are free of charge. The organization runs with a small core team (~7 employees), an unpaid board of directors chaired by Marijn van der Meijden, and a core group that includes representatives from strategic partners Kliksafe, KOC (Ds. G.H. Kerstencentrum), JBGG (Jeugdbond Gereformeerde Gemeenten), and EMG (Eredienst Media Groep). Operating geography is single-country (Netherlands), with no disclosed international expansion.

Name

Yona Foundation

Legal name

Yona Foundation

Website

https://yona.nu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yona Foundation is a Dutch ANBI non-profit that delivers Biblical media-literacy education — lectures, books, brochures, and AI ethics programs — to churches, Christian schools, parents, and youth within the Gereformeerde Gemeenten community in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Community Education Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Literacy & Media Literacy (Reading/Writing Online) (EDAMAJAN), Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs) (EDAGALAM)

Keywords

• Media literacy education
• Christian community programs
• Responsible digital media
• AI ethics workshops
• Family education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Apeldoorn

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Yona is a foundation with no profit motive. Donations from individuals fund the organization's activities. The organization is registered as ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) in the Netherlands.
2. Business Partnerships: Entrepreneurial initiative where businesses can become partners at various tiers (BusinessVriend €49/month, BusinessPartner €99/month, BusinessAmbassadeur €199/month, BusinessProject from €2,500 per project) to support the mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Yona Foundation delivers biblical media literacy education through lectures, workshops, printed materials (brochures, conversation cards, books), an AI and ethics reflection program, and a WhatsApp parent community. Its core audience is the Dutch Reformed Christian community—youth, parents, churches, and schools—seeking guidance on responsible use of digital media from a Christian perspective. The foundation also recommends a Safe Smartphone running Kosher OS as a hardware alternative for reducing digital exposure.

Product overview

Yona Foundation operates as a platform of educational resources and community engagement programs focused on Biblical media literacy. The core offerings include lectures and workshops (Lezingen) delivered at churches and schools, printed materials such as brochures and conversation cards (Brochures en Gesprekskaarten), and book publications covering topics from streaming services to AI ethics. The organization also runs an AI and Ethics Project (AI Project Ethiek) with dedicated theme evenings (AI Thema-avonden) for reflection on technology. A WhatsApp-based community connects parents and educators. Yona recommends the Safe Smartphone as a hardware alternative for those seeking reduced digital exposure. The products work together as a comprehensive ecosystem supporting families, churches, schools, and organizations in developing responsible media habits aligned with Biblical principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lezingen (Lectures) Educational lectures delivered at churches and schools, providing practical guidance for responsible media usage; sessions are tailored to target audiences with interactive formats. Audience includes catechism classes and congregation evenings at churches, as well as school presentations.
• Brochures en Gesprekskaarten (Brochures and Conversation Cards) Printed and digital materials including brochures and conversation cards designed to facilitate discussions about media usage among youth, parents, and church communities.
• Boeken (Books) Book publications covering topics such as streaming services, media addiction, and Biblical perspectives on technology. Titles include 'Niet te filmen' by Evert Barten and 'Kijk verder!' for church officials.
• Beleidsvoorbeelden (Policy Examples) Sample policies and guidelines for churches and organizations to develop their own media usage policies based on Biblical principles.
• AI Project Ethiek (AI and Ethics Project) A project focused on Biblical reflection on artificial intelligence for experts and policymakers, including position papers and reflection evenings on AI ethics.
• AI Thema-avonden (AI Theme Evenings) Evening events dedicated to discussing AI technology from a Biblical perspective, providing educational opportunities for communities to reflect on AI implications.
• Yona WhatsApp Community A WhatsApp-based community connecting adults to share knowledge, provide support, and encourage conscious media usage with the mission of Biblical living in a digital world.
• Podcasts Podcasts aimed at youth covering topics such as streaming services, social media, and AI ethics from a Christian perspective.
• Oudercollectieven (Parent Collectives) Parent collective programs that bring caregivers together to share knowledge and support each other in raising children in a digital world.
• Tips voor Opvoeders (Tips for Parents) Practical tips for parents on raising children in a digital world, including guidance on screen time, streaming services, and conversations about media use.

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• KliksafecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKliksafe is a strategic partner of Yona, supporting the organization's mission to promote healthy online behavior. Kliksafe provides expertise in internet safety and filtering services within Christian communities.
• KOC (Ds. G.H. Kerstencentrum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKOC (Ds. G.H. Kerstencentrum) is a strategic partner that supports Yona's mission. Jan Willem Ruitenberg represents KOC in the Yona core group, and KOC provides speakers for schools and churches.
• EMG (Eredienst Media Groep)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMG (Eredienst Media Groep) collaborated with Yona to organize an AI reflection evening in Barneveld for experts and policymakers on biblical perspectives on AI.
• Driestar EducatiefsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerDriestar Educatief is a partner of Yona, contributing to educational initiatives within Christian schools.
• Jeugdbond Gereformeerde Gemeenten (JBGG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJBGG is a core strategic partner. Evert Barten serves as director of JBGG and is part of the Yona core group. JBGG develops products and delivers lectures on biblical and responsible media use.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yona-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Yona Foundation