Vfonds

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.

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

Product category

Charitable Foundation / Grant-Making

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAN

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPADAOAB

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

Keywords

• Grant-making foundation
• Peace and freedom projects
• Democracy initiatives funding
• Veteran appreciation programs
• Civic society grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. VriendenLoterij: Vfonds receives funding from the VriendenLoterij. In 2025, this contribution amounts to approximately €5.2 million for projects across the Netherlands.
3. Nederlandse Loterij: Vfonds receives funding from the Nederlandse Loterij. In 2024, this contribution amounts to approximately €400,000 for projects.
4. Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid: Samen Weerbaar program is co-financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW).
5. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministerie van DefensiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVfonds 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 VeiligheidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVfonds 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 meicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVfonds 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 NLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent partner for the Samen Weerbaar program on community emergency preparedness.
• NCTVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism, partner in Samen Weerbaar emergency preparedness program.
• Rode KruisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Red Cross, partner in Samen Weerbaar program for neighborhood emergency preparedness.
• VNGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (Association of Dutch Municipalities), partner in Samen Weerbaar program.
• Veiligheidsregio UtrechtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafety region partner in the Samen Weerbaar program.
• LVKKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Samen Weerbaar program.
• LSA bewonersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandelijke Vereniging van Bewoners (National Residents Association), collaborating on neighborhood emergency preparedness through Samen Weerbaar.
• Nationaal Veteranen PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVfonds verifies veteran reunion applications through the Nationaal Veteranen Platform, which represents veteran organizations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/vfondsvrede
• YouTubeinstagram.com/vfonds
• Facebookfacebook.com/vfonds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vfonds
• Instagraminstagram.com/vfonds

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Vfonds