Stichting Voor Vluchteling-studenten Uaf (university Assistance Fund)

Name

Stichting Voor Vluchteling-studenten Uaf (university Assistance Fund)

Legal name

Stichting voor Vluchteling-Studenten UAF

Website

https://uaf.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Education and Employment Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), International Student Funding & Mobility Grants Administration (EDADAHAL), Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Refugee student support
• Dutch language training
• Diploma recognition services
• Refugee employment guidance
• Scholars at risk

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: UAF receives donations from a broad base of more than 27,500 individual donors. Donation options include one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, annual gifts, and study material donations (e.g., €25 per textbook). The organization runs periodic giving campaigns and peer-to-peer fundraising.
2. Nationale Postcode Loterij: The National Postcode Lottery has been a long-term partner (over 20 years), providing annual contributions. In 2025, UAF received €1 million, which was €100,000 more than the previous year. Minimum 40% of lottery ticket price supports charity beneficiaries including UAF.
3. Periodic/Sustained Giving Programs: UAF offers periodic giving agreements (minimaal 5 jaar) that qualify for full tax deductibility in the Netherlands. Named Funds (Fonds op Naam) can be established from €50,000 one-time or €10,000 per year over 5 years minimum. Bequests and legacy gifts are also accepted.
4. Government Grants and Subsidies: UAF receives support from government bodies including the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap). Funding supports core operations and specific programs for refugee integration through education and employment.
5. Special Gifts and Named Funds: Special gifts (bijzondere giften) of €2,500 or more allow donors to designate impact areas. 'Fonds op Naam' (Named Fund) programs allow donors to create personalized funds under the UAF umbrella with targeted allocation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Stichting voor Vluchteling-Studenten UAF (University Assistance Fund) is a Dutch nonprofit foundation founded in 1948 that provides personalized guidance and financial support to refugee students, professionals, and scientists to help them pursue education and employment in the Netherlands. Its core offerings include modular guidance trajectories, language acceleration programs, mentorship matching, study and career support, diploma recognition assistance, and the UAF Academy online learning platform. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded entirely through donations, grants, and the Nationale Postcode Loterij partnership.

Product overview

The UAF (University Assistance Fund) is a Dutch non-profit organization that provides a comprehensive support ecosystem for refugee students, professionals, and scientists. The organization operates primarily as a service-based foundation rather than a software product company. Its core offerings include the UAF Academy online learning platform for Dutch language learning and career preparation, the Taalversnellers language acceleration program with volunteer conversation leaders, mentorship programs matching refugees with Dutch volunteers, and specialized medical mentoring for healthcare professionals. Financial support services cover study materials, travel, and exam fees. The Van Vlucht naar Kracht empowerment program specifically targets women with refugee backgrounds. Together, these services form a modular guidance system addressing language learning, education, career preparation, and personal development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UAF Academy Online learning and development platform providing free e-learnings for refugees to learn Dutch language and access information about studying and working in the Netherlands.
• Taalversnellers (Language Accelerators) A language acceleration program where participants practice Dutch twice weekly in online small groups with volunteer conversation leaders, helping refugees prepare for official language exams and integration.
• Mentorship Program Volunteer-based mentoring program matching experienced Dutch residents with refugee students and professionals to provide guidance on Dutch society, education systems, and workplace culture.
• Medical Mentoring Program Specialized program connecting refugee healthcare professionals (doctors, dentists, nurses) with medical mentors and providing practical work experience opportunities before BIG-registration in the Netherlands.
• Study Guidance and Preparation Comprehensive support services including study choice guidance, study preparation, language support, and orientation on the Dutch education system for refugees.
• Van Vlucht naar Kracht (Empowerment Program) A women's empowerment trajectory launched in Amsterdam and Arnhem in 2025, providing personal leadership development for women with a refugee background.
• Scholars at Risk Program Program coordinating the Dutch section of the international Scholars at Risk network, connecting at-risk academics worldwide with Dutch higher education institutions for research/teaching positions, PhD opportunities, and career continuation.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 40,000 refugees supported since 1948 from over 80 countries
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MBO RaadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Joint initiative 'Van talent naar toekomst' (From talent to future) — an action agenda developed with broad representation from MBO education professionals, international transition classes, civil society organizations, policymakers, employers, and refugee youth. The agenda aims to ensure every young refugee who wants to can successfully study in MBO (vocational education), making education the standard pathway for refugee youth rather than alongside an integration obligation.
• Scholars at Risk (Dutch Section)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026UAF coordinates the Dutch section of the international Scholars at Risk network, which supports scientists in danger worldwide. The network spans 600+ institutions in 40+ countries. A steering group was launched with representatives from Dutch higher education institutions including Haagse Hogeschool, VU Amsterdam, Leiden University, Maastricht University, and Utrecht University.
• Dutch Educational Institutions (Universities, HBO, MBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUAF works with Dutch educational institutions at all levels — universities, universities of applied sciences (HBO), and vocational education (MBO) — to facilitate refugee student enrollment, recognition of prior learning, and support services. Partners include TU Delft, WUR, VU Amsterdam, and others mentioned in student stories.
• Dutch Municipalities (Gemeenten)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUAF partners with Dutch municipalities to support refugees in their integration pathways, including education and employment. Municipalities are key referral partners and collaborators in implementing integration programs.
• Healthcare Institutions (Hospitals, GP Practices, Dental Clinics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUAF collaborates with Dutch hospitals, dental practices, and GP offices to create internship and work experience placements for refugee healthcare professionals. This includes Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, St. Antonius Hospital, UMC Utrecht, and others mentioned in case studies.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HIAS: Global Jewish humanitarian organization supporting refugees with resettlement, legal aid, and economic integration. Comparable in mission-driven refugee support with established employer and education partnerships.
• Cordaid: Large Dutch international development NGO with programming on refugee inclusion, education, and healthcare access in the Netherlands. Larger and broader portfolio but overlaps on refugee education-to-employment pathways.
• Scholars at Risk (NYU): Global university network for threatened scholars where UAF coordinates the Dutch section. Operates the broader international network across 600+ institutions in 40+ countries.

Direct peers

• Nuffic: Dutch organization for internationalization of education. Comparable in serving international students and credential recognition in the Netherlands, with overlapping institutional relationships across Dutch universities.
• VluchtelingenWerk Nederland: Direct Dutch peer providing advocacy, legal aid, and integration support to refugees. Overlaps with UAF on guiding refugees through Dutch systems, though VluchtelingenWerk is broader (legal/integration) while UAF specializes in study and labor-market pathways.
• Stichting INLIA: Dutch foundation providing counseling and support to refugees and asylum seekers, including return guidance. Comparable beneficiary base and Dutch-system navigation expertise.

Regional players

• Upwardly Global: U.S.-based nonprofit helping skilled refugees and immigrants rebuild professional careers. Direct functional analog (refugee professional reintegration, employer matching), but operates in the United States rather than the Netherlands.
• Refugee Council UK: UK refugee advocacy and support organization. Comparable mission and educational support elements, but geographically separate with broader advocacy scope.

Emerging players

• Talent Beyond Boundaries: International nonprofit focused on skilled refugee labor mobility. Analogous mission of matching refugee professionals with employment opportunities across borders; operates in fewer geographies than UAF.

Others

• ECRE (European Council on Refugees and Exiles): Umbrella organization coordinating refugee-support NGOs across Europe. Network peer where UAF could contribute on the Dutch member role and refugee education advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/StichtingUAF
• Facebookfacebook.com/UAFnl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uafnl
• Instagraminstagram.com/uafnl

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Voor Vluchteling-studenten Uaf (university Assistance Fund)