Vfonds
Vfonds is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that grants funding to more than 1,000 public projects annually promoting peace, freedom, and democracy in the Netherlands, supported primarily by Nationale Postcode Loterij, VriendenLoterij, and Nederlandse Loterij.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1945
- HeadquartersUtrecht, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Vfonds does
Vfonds (Stichting Nationaal Fonds voor Vrede, Vrijheid en Veteranen) is a Dutch charitable foundation established after World War II and headquartered at Lucasbolwerk 10, Utrecht. It operates as a national grant-making vehicle for public projects related to peace, freedom, and democracy in the Netherlands, funding more than 1,000 projects per year through structured application rounds, an online Community portal (a Salesforce-backed self-serve system), and direct consultation with in-house project advisors. Its portfolio is organized around three thematic pillars — Vrijheid (Freedom), Democratie (Democracy), and Veteranen (Veterans) — supplemented by the 2026 launch of a fourth stream, Samen Weerbaar, for neighborhood emergency preparedness.
The foundation's product surface is a set of distinct grant programs with published tiers: Onze Vrijheid (up to €50,000+ with quarterly windows), Onze Democratie and Onze Veteranen (theme-aligned), Loket D (up to €15,000/year for neighborhood initiatives), Veteranenreünie (€23 per attendee reimbursements), Vrijheidsmaaltijd (€350–€1,000 for Liberation Day meals), and Studiereizen Limburg (€25–€35 per student for WWII heritage trips). The Vfonds Community portal and an annual Vmagazine handle applicant onboarding, project reporting, and stakeholder communications.
Vfonds is funded primarily by the three Dutch charity lotteries — Nationale Postcode Loterij (over €51.4M since 2020), VriendenLoterij (€5.2M in 2025), and Nederlandse Loterij (€400K in 2024) — with additional co-financing from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (Samen Weerbaar) and the Ministry of Defence (veterans programs from 2026). The organization holds ANBI status and CBF Erkend certification and operates with 11–50 employees under directeur-bestuurder Marieke van Schijndel.
Vfonds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vfonds
- Legal name
- Stichting Nationaal Fonds voor Vrede, Vrijheid en Veteranen
- Website
- https://vfonds.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1945
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vfonds is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that grants funding to more than 1,000 public projects annually promoting peace, freedom, and democracy in the Netherlands, supported primarily by Nationale Postcode Loterij, VriendenLoterij, and Nederlandse Loterij.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vfonds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation / Grant-Making
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)
Keywords
Where Vfonds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Utrecht
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vfonds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Nationale Postcode Loterij: Vfonds receives annual funding from the Nationale Postcode Loterij. Since 2020, the support amounts to over €51 million. This is a key financial partnership providing the majority of Vfonds' grant-making capacity.
- VriendenLoterij: Vfonds receives funding from the VriendenLoterij. In 2025, this contribution amounts to approximately €5.2 million for projects across the Netherlands.
- Nederlandse Loterij: Vfonds receives funding from the Nederlandse Loterij. In 2024, this contribution amounts to approximately €400,000 for projects.
- Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid: Samen Weerbaar program is co-financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW).
- Ministerie van Defensie: Vfonds collaborates with the Ministry of Defence on veteran-related projects. From 2026, they jointly finance activities for military war and service victims.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time | Samen Weerbaar grants for neighborhood emergency preparedness |
| Other | One-time | Veteranenreünie reimbursement per person |
| Other | One-time | Vrijheidsmaaltijd funding for Liberation Day meals |
| Unit Pricing | One-time | Studiereizen Limburg for school trips to WWII heritage sites |
| Other | One-time | Loket D for local community initiatives |
| Other | One-time | Onze Vrijheid for public projects on war and conflict |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Vfonds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vfonds is a Dutch grant-making foundation that finances more than 1,000 public projects per year focused on peace, freedom, and democracy. It operates multiple grant programs organized under three themes — Vrijheid (Freedom), Democratie (Democracy), and Veteranen (Veterans) — plus targeted programs such as Samen Weerbaar for neighborhood emergency preparedness, Loket D for local democracy initiatives, Veteranenreünie reimbursements, Vrijheidsmaaltijd Liberation Day dinners, and Studiereizen Limburg for WWII heritage school trips.
Product overview
Vfonds (Nationaal Fonds voor Vrede, Vrijheid en Veteranen) is a Dutch foundation that finances public projects promoting peace, freedom, and democracy. The organization operates multiple grant programs across three thematic areas: Freedom (Vrijheid), Democracy (Democratie), and Veterans (Veteranen). Core programs include Onze Vrijheid for war/conflict impact projects, Onze Democratie for civic participation initiatives, and Onze Veteranen for veteran appreciation projects. Additional programs include Samen Weerbaar for emergency preparedness (€500-€5,000), Loket D for neighborhood democracy initiatives (up to €15,000), Veteranenreünie for reunion reimbursements (€23/person), Vrijheidsmaaltijd for Liberation Day dinners, and Studiereizen Limburg for WWII educational trips. Vmagazine serves as an annual publication, while the Vfonds Community platform handles all application submissions and project management. The organization receives funding from three national lotteries: Postcode Loterij, VriendenLoterij, and Nederlandse Loterij.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Samen Weerbaar: Program for community preparedness for emergency situations, launched June 2026, funding up to €5,000 for neighborhood emergency plans, training and materials.
- Loket D
Products and services
- Onze Vrijheid Grant program for public projects addressing the impact of war and conflict in the present day. Funds regional or national initiatives that raise awareness about (un)freedom, show what war means for society, and activate people to advocate for peace and freedom. For non-profits and associations working on freedom-themed public projects in the Netherlands.
- Onze Democratie Grant program for public projects that involve more people in democracy. Supports initiatives on democratic citizenship, teaching how democracy works, encouraging participation, and combating exclusion and discrimination. For non-profits, schools, and civic associations running democracy-themed projects.
- Onze Veteranen Grant program for public projects that promote appreciation for veterans. Supports initiatives showing a realistic and broader image of veterans, their experiences, and their continued contributions to society. For veteran organizations and non-profits running veteran-themed public projects.
- Samen Weerbaar Grant program enabling neighborhoods, clubs, and communities to prepare together for emergency situations. Provides €500-€5,000 (covering up to 100% of costs) for training, workshops, emergency plans, and community materials for situations such as power outages, cyberattacks, or natural disasters. Co-financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment.
- Loket D Grant program for neighborhood initiatives where residents can participate, deliberate, and make decisions together. Supports local activities up to €15,000 per year that strengthen community involvement in local decision-making.
- Veteranenreünie Reimbursement program for veteran reunions. Provides €23 per person for veteran organizations without a Defence reunion certificate, available to members of the National Veterans Platform.
- Vrijheidsmaaltijd Grant program for Freedom Dinners on May 5th (Liberation Day). Provides €350 for 25-49 participants or €1,000 for 50+ participants to organize meals where people discuss what freedom means. Organized jointly with the Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei.
- Studiereizen Limburg Grant program for Limburg secondary schools (vmbo, havo, vwo) organizing study trips to WWII heritage sites. Provides €25 per student for day trips or €35 per student per day for multi-day trips (maximum 3 travel days / 2 overnight stays) to memorial sites, museums, and historical WWII locations. Open from June 15, 2026.
- Vmagazine Annual magazine featuring stories of people standing up for freedom and choosing democracy. Published yearly to inspire readers and showcase how individuals contribute to peace and democracy.
- Vfonds Community Online portal for submitting grant applications, tracking decisions, and submitting project evaluations. All applications, communications, and project reporting for Vfonds grant programs are managed through this platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 745 projects funded under Vrijheid theme in 2024
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Vfonds
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vfonds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vfonds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ministerie van DefensiecoreVfonds works closely with the Ministry of Defence on veteran-related projects. From 2026, they jointly finance activities for military war and service victims.
- Ministerie van Justitie en VeiligheidminorVfonds collaborated with the Ministry of Justice and Security on a roundtable discussion about the 5-year commemoration of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 meicoreVfonds and the Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei jointly organize Vrijheidsmaaltijden (Liberation Meals) on May 5th. The committee provides soup, conversation cards, and placemats while Vfonds provides funding.
- Weerbaar NLminorContent partner for the Samen Weerbaar program on community emergency preparedness.
- NCTVminorNational Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism, partner in Samen Weerbaar emergency preparedness program.
- Rode KruisminorDutch Red Cross, partner in Samen Weerbaar program for neighborhood emergency preparedness.
- VNGminorVereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (Association of Dutch Municipalities), partner in Samen Weerbaar program.
- Veiligheidsregio UtrechtminorSafety region partner in the Samen Weerbaar program.
- LVKKminorPartner in Samen Weerbaar program.
- LSA bewonersminorLandelijke Vereniging van Bewoners (National Residents Association), collaborating on neighborhood emergency preparedness through Samen Weerbaar.
- Nationaal Veteranen PlatformcoreVfonds verifies veteran reunion applications through the Nationaal Veteranen Platform, which represents veteran organizations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vfonds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kansfonds: Dutch grantmaking foundation supporting citizen initiatives that strengthen social cohesion. Comparable to Vfonds as a Netherlands-based lottery beneficiary foundation funding grassroots civic projects at similar scale.
- Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei: Dutch national committee coordinating Remembrance Day (4 May) and Liberation Day (5 May) activities. Directly comparable to Vfonds because it shares the WWII freedom narrative, co-organizes Vrijheidsmaaltijden with Vfonds, and operates in overlapping thematic territory.
- Adessium Foundation: Dutch grantmaking foundation funding civil society initiatives including democratic engagement and social cohesion. Directly comparable to Vfonds as a Netherlands-based institutional grantmaker operating similar thematic programs at comparable scale.
- Stichting Democratie in Actie: Dutch foundation focused on strengthening democratic participation and civic engagement. Comparable to Vfonds' Democratie theme (€2.6M, 64 projects in 2024) as a direct thematic peer in the democracy funding niche.
- Nationaal Veteranen Platform: Umbrella organization representing Dutch veteran associations. Directly comparable to Vfonds' Veteranen theme (€3.66M, 220 projects in 2024) and an operational partner verifying veteran reunion applications on Vfonds' behalf.
Broad incumbents
- Open Society Foundations: Global grantmaking network supporting democracy, human rights, and rule of law. Comparable to Vfonds thematically across democracy and human rights funding, but operating at vastly larger scale and geographic scope.
- European Endowment for Democracy: EU-established democracy support fund operating across the Eastern Partnership and Middle East/North Africa regions. Comparable to Vfonds' democracy grantmaking mandate at a larger international scale.
- National Endowment for Democracy: US-based private foundation funding democratic institutions worldwide. Comparable to Vfonds as a national-level democracy grantmaker with a substantially larger international footprint and budget.
Emerging players
- Democracy International: International coalition supporting democratic participation and citizen-led governance. Thematically aligned with Vfonds' Democratie theme (€2.6M, 64 projects in 2024) but operates as a network rather than a direct grantmaking foundation.
- Stichting Vluchteling: Dutch Refugee Foundation supporting refugees and displaced persons, including war-affected populations. Thematically overlaps with Vfonds' Vrijheid (freedom/conflict) work but focuses on direct aid rather than project grantmaking.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vfonds social profiles
Digital presenceVfonds compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Vfonds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vfonds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Vfonds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vfonds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vfonds
What does Vfonds do?
Vfonds is a Dutch grant-making foundation that finances more than 1,000 public projects per year focused on peace, freedom, and democracy. It operates multiple grant programs organized under three themes — Vrijheid (Freedom), Democratie (Democracy), and Veteranen (Veterans) — plus targeted programs such as Samen Weerbaar for neighborhood emergency preparedness, Loket D for local democracy initiatives, Veteranenreünie reimbursements, Vrijheidsmaaltijd Liberation Day dinners, and Studiereizen Limburg for WWII heritage school trips.
Is Vfonds a public or private company?
Vfonds is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Vfonds founded?
Vfonds was founded in 1945. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vfonds based?
Vfonds is headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Vfonds make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Nationale Postcode Loterij is the primary driver. The others are vriendenLoterij, nederlandse Loterij, ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid and ministerie van Defensie.
Who are Vfonds's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kansfonds, Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei, Adessium Foundation, Stichting Democratie in Actie and Nationaal Veteranen Platform. Broad incumbents are Open Society Foundations, European Endowment for Democracy and National Endowment for Democracy. Emerging players are Democracy International and Stichting Vluchteling.
Does Vfonds have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vfonds.
What industry is Vfonds in?
Vfonds's product category is Charitable Foundation / Grant-Making. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors). Its NAICS code is 813211.