Wilde Ganzen
Wilde Ganzen is a Dutch charitable foundation founded in 1957 that co-funds small-scale poverty reduction projects led by local partners in roughly 54 developing countries, reaching 1.3 million people in 2025 via individual donations, the Nationale Postcode Loterij, and a network of Dutch private initiatives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersAmersfoort, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wilde Ganzen does
Wilde Ganzen (legal entity Stichting Wilde Ganzen/IKON) is a Dutch charitable foundation established in 1957 and headquartered in Amersfoort, Netherlands, that supports small-scale poverty-reduction projects led by local communities ('aanpakkers') in approximately 54 developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Central America, and parts of Europe and the Middle East. In 2025 the organization supported 364 projects that reached 1.3 million people across these geographies. Its model connects Dutch individual donors, wealth foundations, the Nationale Postcode Loterij, and a network of 'Particuliere Initiatieven' (Dutch private initiatives) with vetted local implementing partners, applying a 'two steps to impact' principle in which earmarked donations are passed through and, during Wilde Week, matched euro-for-euro up to €15,000 per project.
The core operating stack is non-technological in nature: a project funding/crowdfunding platform (wildeganzen.nl), an international mirror (wildeganzen.org), a dedicated partner portal (wildeganzenpartners.nl), an annual Wilde Week campaign site (wildeweek.nl), and the Change the Game Academy - a free e-learning and classroom training program in local fundraising and advocacy available in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Khmer, with NCOI accreditation at HBO (applied sciences) level. Marketing and donor acquisition are delivered through a Dutch multi-channel mix: TV advertising, door-to-door and street canvassing, a six-times-yearly email newsletter, a quarterly Wilde Ganzen magazine (print and via Issuu), Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn organic social, earned-media press releases, and PR.
Revenue is sourced from individual donations (one-time amounts of €10, €15, €25, or custom; recurring monthly tiers of €5, €8, €12, €50), an unrestricted €900,000/year grant from the Nationale Postcode Loterij (renewed for five years from January 2025), named funds ('Fonds op Naam') and estate giving managed by a dedicated relationship manager, and membership/administrative fees from Particuliere Initiatieven. The organization also runs strategic research via a co-financed endowed chair at Radboud Universiteit ('The Role of Citizens in Sustainable Development,' held by Prof. Sara Kinsbergen since July 2023) and is absorbing the activities of Stichting Jales effective 1 July 2026. Wilde Ganzen holds ANBI status, the CBF Erkend Goed Doel seal, ISO 9001:2015 (EIK), and PARTOS 9001, with 51-100 employees.
Wilde Ganzen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wilde Ganzen
- Legal name
- Stichting Wilde Ganzen/IKON
- Website
- https://wildeganzen.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Wilde Ganzen is a Dutch charitable foundation founded in 1957 that co-funds small-scale poverty reduction projects led by local partners in roughly 54 developing countries, reaching 1.3 million people in 2025 via individual donations, the Nationale Postcode Loterij, and a network of Dutch private initiatives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wilde Ganzen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development Fundraising and Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
Keywords
Where Wilde Ganzen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amersfoort
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wilde Ganzen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual donations: Dutch individuals donate one-time or recurring amounts (monthly) via the website, Wilde Week campaigns, and direct mail. Wilde Ganzen runs TV campaigns and digital marketing to recruit new donors. The organization has a door-to-door recruitment program for new donors.
- Postcode Loterij: Annual grant from the Nationale Postcode Loterij. The lottery has supported Wilde Ganzen since 2010. The partnership was renewed for 5 years from January 2025. Wilde Ganzen receives €900,000 per year from the lottery, which can be freely spent.
- Vermogensfondsen (Wealth foundations): Family foundations and wealth management funds that partner with Wilde Ganzen. Wilde Ganzen helps set up 'Fonds op Naam' (named funds) for philanthropists. Relatiemanager Nalatenschappen (Emmy Janssen) manages bequest relationships. Also manages succession planning for philanthropists ending their own foundations.
- Particuliere Initiatieven (Private initiatives): Dutch private initiatives (small Dutch foundations) pay membership/administrative fees to be part of Wilde Ganzen's network and access its project financing, knowledge, and branding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | One-time and recurring donations by Dutch individuals |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Wilde Week project donations |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Wilde Ganzen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wilde Ganzen is a Dutch charitable foundation that funds and co-finances small-scale, community-led poverty reduction projects in developing countries (DAC list). It connects Dutch individual donors and small Dutch private initiatives (Particuliere Initiatieven) with local 'aanpakkers' (civil society organizations) in 54 countries, and supplements this with the Change the Game Academy training program for southern NGOs and an annual matched-giving Wilde Week campaign.
Product overview
Wilde Ganzen operates as a charitable organization that supports concrete poverty alleviation projects worldwide through a portfolio of interconnected offerings. The core product is a project funding platform connecting donors with local development initiatives. The Change the Game Academy provides free training programs for Southern NGOs on local fundraising and advocacy. The annual Wilde Week campaign amplifies donations through matching. An online donation system enables direct project support. A research partnership with Radboud University advances scientific knowledge on citizen-driven development. The organization supports projects in education, healthcare, water and sanitation, food security, climate, and child welfare across approximately 54 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Change the Game Academy: Training program that teaches local organizations in developing countries about local fundraising and advocating for their rights. Offers free courses in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Khmer.
- Wilde Week
Products and services
- Project Funding Platform Core program through which Wilde Ganzen finances and co-finances small-scale, community-led development projects in DAC-listed developing countries. Donors (individuals and Dutch private initiatives) can directly support specific projects in education, healthcare, water and sanitation, food security, climate, and child welfare, with all project-related donations earmarked and matched during the annual Wilde Week campaign up to €15,000 per project.
- Change the Game Academy
Quantifiable outcome
- 364 projects supported and 1.3 million people reached in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Wilde Ganzen
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wilde Ganzen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Wilde Ganzen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PartincorePartin is the branch association for Particuliere Initiatieven (Dutch private initiatives). Wilde Ganzen and Partin entered a closer collaboration in 2020. Together they organize the annual Wilde Ganzen-Partinmaand (Partin Month). Partin connects Wilde Ganzen to its network of small Dutch development organizations.
- NCOIminorNCOI is the largest training institute for working adults in the Netherlands. In June 2020, NCOI officially approved and certified the Change the Game Academy training at HBO (applied sciences) level. Graduates receive a certificate bearing both Wilde Ganzen's and NCOI's logos.
- Radboud Universiteit (Radboud University)coreWilde Ganzen co-finances a special chair at Radboud Universiteit: 'The Role of Citizens in Sustainable Development' held by Prof. Sara Kinsbergen since July 2023. The partnership generates scientific evidence on the efficacy of small-scale, citizen-led development. An independent advisory committee oversees the research. Wilde Ganzen and Radboud collaborate on understanding civil society in the Global South, decolonization of development cooperation, and local organizational capacity.
- Oranje FondsminorWilde Ganzen co-organized a governance event on 2 October 2025 with the Oranje Fonds and Cultuurfonds titled 'Toekomstgericht besturen: Hoe nu verder?' for board members of philanthropic foundations.
- CultuurfondsminorWilde Ganzen co-organized a governance event on 2 October 2025 with the Cultuurfonds and Oranje Fonds for board members of philanthropic foundations.
- Change the Game Academy (local training partners)coreThe Change the Game Academy is Wilde Ganzen's training program. It was developed with four southern NGO partners: CESE (Brazil), Smile Foundation (India), KCDF (Kenya), and Soul City Institute (South Africa). Together they trained over 900 organizations between 2011–2015. CESE, KCDF, and Smile Foundation remain closely involved in expanding the Academy.
- Particuliere Initiatieven networkcoreDutch private initiatives (small foundations) that fundraise for international development projects. They are Wilde Ganzen's primary channel for project implementation. Wilde Ganzen provides co-funding, the Change the Game Academy training, a partner portal (wildeganzenpartners.nl), and network support. Over 300 projects per year are supported through this network.
- Stichting JalesminorPer 1 July 2026, Wilde Ganzen takes over the activities of Stichting Jales. The project partners of Jales in Brazil and the Philippines will be maintained under Wilde Ganzen's umbrella.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wilde Ganzen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dorcas: Dutch Christian development organization co-financing community-led projects in developing countries through a Dutch donor and volunteer network — closely comparable co-financing and Particuliere Initiatieven-style grassroots structure.
- Tearfund: Dutch Christian development organization raising funds from Dutch donors to co-finance small-scale community projects in developing countries — direct comparable in co-financing and donor-recruitment model.
- Save the Children Nederland: Dutch affiliate of Save the Children, raising funds from Dutch individuals for child-focused international development programs — comparable Dutch-market fundraising competitor with international project footprint.
- Plan International Nederland: Dutch national organization of Plan International, raising individual donations and operating community-led development and child-welfare programs in developing countries — direct Dutch-market peer for individual-donor fundraising.
- Stichting Vluchteling (Dutch Refugee Foundation): Dutch foundation that raises funds through individual donations and partners with implementing organizations internationally — comparable Dutch-market fundraising model and direct-donor engagement.
- Cordaid: Dutch development organization operating from The Hague that supports community-led poverty reduction in fragile contexts, raising funds from Dutch individuals and channeling co-financing to local partners — closely overlapping Wilde Ganzen's co-financing, local-partner model.
- UNICEF Nederland: Dutch national committee of UNICEF, raising significant Dutch individual donations for child-focused international development — competing for the same Dutch individual donor audience.
- Oxfam Novib: The Dutch affiliate of Oxfam International, raising funds from Dutch donors for international development and poverty reduction projects in the Global South, including community-led initiatives — direct competitor for Dutch donor share.
- Hivos: Dutch development organization headquartered in The Hague funding civil society organizations in developing countries across multiple themes; comparable grantmaking and capacity-building role in the Global South.
Broad incumbents
- Partin: Dutch branch association representing Particuliere Initiatieven (small private development initiatives); Wilde Ganzen collaborates with Partin on Wilde Ganzen-Partinmaand, and Partin serves as an industry-association peer within the same network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wilde Ganzen social profiles
Digital presenceWilde Ganzen compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Wilde Ganzen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wilde Ganzen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Wilde Ganzen subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Wilde Ganzen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wilde Ganzen 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 Wilde Ganzen
What does Wilde Ganzen do?
Wilde Ganzen is a Dutch charitable foundation that funds and co-finances small-scale, community-led poverty reduction projects in developing countries (DAC list). It connects Dutch individual donors and small Dutch private initiatives (Particuliere Initiatieven) with local 'aanpakkers' (civil society organizations) in 54 countries, and supplements this with the Change the Game Academy training program for southern NGOs and an annual matched-giving Wilde Week campaign.
Is Wilde Ganzen a public or private company?
Wilde Ganzen is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wilde Ganzen founded?
Wilde Ganzen was founded in 1957. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Wilde Ganzen based?
Wilde Ganzen is headquartered in Amersfoort, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Wilde Ganzen make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual donations are the primary driver. The others are postcode Loterij, vermogensfondsen (Wealth foundations) and particuliere Initiatieven (Private initiatives).
Who are Wilde Ganzen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dorcas, Tearfund, Save the Children Nederland, Plan International Nederland, Stichting Vluchteling (Dutch Refugee Foundation), Cordaid, UNICEF Nederland, Oxfam Novib and Hivos. Partin is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Wilde Ganzen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wilde Ganzen.
What industry is Wilde Ganzen in?
Wilde Ganzen's product category is International Development Fundraising and Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAH, International Grantmaking & Development Foundations, with a secondary code of BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors). Its NAICS code is 813211.