Stichting Gieskes-strijbis Fonds

What Stichting Gieskes-strijbis Fonds does

Stichting Gieskes-Strijbis Fonds is a Dutch charitable foundation (Stichting) founded on 16 September 2003 by Hennie Gieskes and Diedi Gieskes-Strijbis, originally as Stichting Spaarne Fonds and renamed in 2008. It operates from a single headquarters at Plantage Middenlaan 47, Amsterdam, and is governed by a six-person board led by Chair A. Croiset van Uchelen, with Director-Board Member Floris van Hest managing day-to-day operations alongside a small operational team of fewer than ten named staff. The foundation holds ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) certification and is a member of FIN, Vereniging van Fondsen in Nederland.

The foundation's core offering is grant-making across four thematic pillars: Nature & Environment, Arts & Culture, Democracy & Rule of Law, and Medical Research, with all projects required to target the Kingdom of the Netherlands, run 2–5 years, and receive a minimum of approximately €75,000 per year. Applications are invitation-only; the foundation proactively scouts projects through a dedicated "Mijn Portaal" application portal (aanvragen.gieskes-strijbisfonds.nl). In addition, the foundation runs the Gieskes-Strijbis Podiumprijs annually, the largest performing arts prize in the Netherlands at €60,000 per winner, with three honorable mentions of €10,000 each, awarded to mid-career performing artists.

The foundation funds its grants from returns on an endowment managed by an internal investment committee and external asset managers. It is not a commercial entity and derives no revenue from product or service sales. In 2025 the foundation approved €9,611,233 across 35 projects, bringing cumulative approved support since 2003 to €88,717,251 across 258 projects. Its competitive position rests on the scale of its multi-year commitments, its curated invitation-based selection process, its reputational standing in the Dutch cultural and research sectors, and its cross-sector convening role linking NGOs, universities, and cultural institutions.

Name

Stichting Gieskes-strijbis Fonds

Legal name

Stichting Gieskes-Strijbis Fonds

Website

https://gieskesstrijbisfonds.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Stichting Gieskes-Strijbis Fonds is a Dutch charitable foundation that provides multi-year, large-scale grants (€75,000+/year, 2–5 years) across four themes — Nature & Environment, Arts & Culture, Democracy & Rule of Law, and Medical Research — targeting the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Grant Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grant funding
• Charitable foundation grants
• Performing arts prizes
• Cultural research grants
• Nature environment funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant disbursements from endowment: The fund's reserves and capital are managed by an investment committee and external asset managers. Investment returns and capital are used to provide multi-year, large-scale grants to projects in the fund's four thematic areas. The fund is a Dutch ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling), confirming its charitable public-benefit status. It is a member of FIN, Vereniging van Fondsen in Nederland.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stichting Gieskes-Strijbis Fonds is a Dutch charitable foundation that provides multi-year, large-scale grants to projects in four thematic areas: Nature & Environment, Arts & Culture, Democracy & Rule of Law, and Medical Research. The foundation operates through invitation-only grant selection, typically awarding €75,000 or more annually for 2-5 year projects based in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The foundation also awards the annual Gieskes-Strijbis Podiumprijs (€60,000 per winner) to mid-career performing artists, the largest performing arts prize in the country.

Product overview

Stichting Gieskes-Strijbis Fonds is a charitable foundation that stimulates positive societal change by funding pioneering, high-impact projects. The foundation operates primarily as a grant-giving organization with no traditional product portfolio. Its main offerings are: (1) the Gieskes-Strijbis Podiumprijs, an annual €60,000 prize for two mid-career performing artists; (2) multi-year project funding across four thematic areas (Nature & Environment, Arts & Culture, Medical Research, Democracy & Rule of Law); and (3) online application portals for project suggestions and grant management. The fund proactively seeks projects rather than accepting open applications, targeting large-scale initiatives (€75,000+ annually) lasting 2-5 years focused on the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gieskes-Strijbis Podiumprijs: Annual prize for performing arts, awarded to two mid-career makers with €60,000 each, described as the largest podiumprijs in the Netherlands.

Products and services

• Gieskes-Strijbis Podiumprijs The largest performing arts prize in the Netherlands, awarded annually to two mid-career artists who each receive €60,000 to pursue their artistic development. Three additional artists receive an honorable mention with €10,000 each. Selection is made by a rotating advisory committee.
• Project Funding Program Multi-year, large-scale funding for projects in four domains: Nature & Environment, Arts & Culture, Medical Research, and Democracy & Rule of Law. Focus on the Kingdom of the Netherlands with projects typically running 2-5 years and receiving €75,000 or more annually. Applications are by invitation; organizations may submit project suggestions via the dedicated portal.
• Project Suggestion Portal Online portal allowing organizations to submit project suggestions for funding consideration, subject to eligibility criteria including alignment with the fund's themes, expected flywheel effect, and scale requirements.
• My Portal (Mijn Portaal) Online portal for applicants to manage their funding requests and track application status.

Quantifiable outcome

• 258 projects supported; €88,717,251 total approved through 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• H'ART Museum AmsterdammajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2025The fund co-supported the exhibition 'Jan Dibbets 1966-1976 – Toward Another Photography' at H'ART Museum Amsterdam (opened January 22, 2026), the first monographic presentation dedicated to Jan Dibbets in Amsterdam since 1972.
• Stichting Nationale Koolstofmarkt (SNK) and Platform CO2Neutraal (PCO2N)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint support for the 'Duurzaam verdienvermogen voor boeren via de vrijwillige koolstofmarkt' project, focused on sustainable earning potential for farmers through the voluntary carbon market.
• Diana SchererminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for the 'Apical Fusion' artistic research project by Diana Scherer.
• Go OceancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for the BELREEFS project — restoration of flat oyster reefs in the North Sea.
• Buhlebezwe SiwaniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for the 'Mapping Movement' artistic project by Buhlebezwe Siwani.
• World Press PhotomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-support for 'From Legacy to Leadership: World Press Photo at the Crossroads of AI, Misinformation, and Democracy', addressing the intersection of press photography, AI, and democratic challenges.
• Global Forum for Media DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for 'Bouwen aan Infratype: een cloudmarktplaats voor het publieke belang' — building Infratype, a cloud marketplace for the public interest.
• Stichting Room with a View / Studio Dries VerhoevenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for 'The Fortress' installation project by Stichting Room with a View / Studio Dries Verhoeven.
• AI ForensicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for research into the functioning and influence of AI chatbots, addressing AI's impact on society and democracy.
• Stichting tot Instandhouding van de Diergaarde van het Koninklijk Zoölogisch Genootschap Natura Artis Magistra (Artis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for the North Sea Aquarium and exhibition project at Artis zoo in Amsterdam.
• De Rijke Noordzee, The Nature Conservancy, Native Oyster Restoration Alliance (NORA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint support for the TOPPING project to restore North Sea ecosystems through oyster reef restoration.
• Stichting Wij.landcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for 'Praktijknetwerk regeneratieve landbouw' — regenerative agriculture practical network. Started December 2016 with the 'Four Returns Landschapsherstel Veenweiden' project, encouraging farmers to adopt nature-friendly production methods.
• Stichting Groots en MeeslependminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for the 'Der Zarewitsch' artistic project.
• Stichting Kenniscluster voor Verziltingsvraagstukken in Delta's (SALTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for 'Zicht op Zilt' — research and awareness project on salinization challenges in delta regions.
• BEUC (The European Consumer Organisation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for 'Transforming digital challenges into opportunities' project, helping consumers navigate digital transformation.
• Stichting De NoordzeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for the North Sea Alliance initiative and 'Koersvast 2' project for healthy North Sea policy.
• Tinkebell (artist)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for 'Flora Tata Metallica' artistic project by Tinkebell.
• Birdeyes (Centre for global Ecological Change), Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Faculty of Science & Engineering (RUG/FSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for 'BirdEyes – Newsroom', a global ecological change monitoring and reporting project at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science & Engineering.
• Naturalis Biodiversity CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing support for the DNA-Waterscan project: genetic monitoring of aquatic species for ecological water quality assessment. Also established a Centre for Genetic Biomonitoring with Leiden University. Total donation €1,200,000 (2014–2019).
• FIN, Vereniging van Fondsen in NederlandcoreOthersThe fund is a member of FIN, the association of funds in the Netherlands, connecting it to the broader Dutch philanthropic foundation ecosystem.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VSBfonds: Dutch foundation supporting participation, art, and societal engagement through grants and programs. Comparable in size, theme overlap (culture, democracy, welfare), and Dutch ANBI grantmaking model.
• Stichting DOEN: Dutch foundation funding innovative entrepreneurs and initiatives in green, culture, and social-cohesion domains. Comparable in funding early-stage, breakthrough projects across multiple societal themes with a curated, entrepreneur-facing model.
• Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds: One of the largest cultural grantmaking foundations in the Netherlands, funding heritage, arts, and culture projects across the country. Directly comparable as a Dutch ANBI foundation with multi-year cultural and societal grant programs and similar invitation/outreach-driven selection.
• Mondriaan Fonds: Dutch public fund for visual arts and cultural heritage, awarding grants and commissions to artists and institutions. Comparable as a Dutch grantmaking body in the arts pillar, with comparable multi-year, large-scale award structures.
• Creative Industries Fund NL: Dutch public fund supporting talent and innovation in the creative industries, with multi-year grants and commissioned projects. Comparable in arts-and-culture focus and multi-year large-scale award structure.
• Fonds 21: Dutch fund supporting art and culture in the Netherlands through multi-year grants. Directly comparable as a Netherlands-focused grantmaking foundation with arts/innovation focus and similar multi-year scale.

Regional players

• Wellcome Trust: Large UK-based global charitable foundation funding health research, science, and society. Comparable in scale of medical-research grantmaking and in operating an endowment-driven multi-year funding model, though based in a different geography and with a global research mandate.

Broad incumbents

• European Cultural Foundation: Pan-European foundation supporting arts, culture, and democratic civil society across the continent. Comparable as a multi-thematic grantmaking foundation with a culture-and-democracy nexus, though operating at a broader geographic scope.
• NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research): The Dutch national research council, funding scientific research across disciplines with multi-year grants. Comparable in funding large-scale medical research (e.g., UMC Utrecht, RadboudUMC) but at substantially larger scale and with a broader scientific mandate.
• ZonMw: Dutch funding organization for health research and innovation, awarding multi-year grants to universities and medical centers. Comparable to the fund's medical research pillar and its co-funded partnerships with UMC Utrecht, Amsterdam UMC, and RadboudUMC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/podiumprijs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Stichting Gieskes-strijbis Fonds