Stichting De Ondergrondse Kerk

What Stichting De Ondergrondse Kerk does

Stichting De Ondergrondse Kerk (SDOK) is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) headquartered in Gorinchem, Netherlands, that supports persecuted Christians worldwide through practical aid, prayer, and awareness programs. Founded on the legacy of Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand, SDOK operates 80+ projects across 25+ countries via a network of 30+ local partner organizations that handle field implementation, while SDOK does not directly operate in persecution zones. The organization engages Dutch Christians through a multi-channel community model spanning churches (collections, speakers, sermon materials), schools (presentations, savings boxes, STEF children's magazine), Christian businesses (project sponsorship, corporate funds), and individuals (donations, prayer app, podcast). Its core digital properties include the 'Verbonden in vervolging' prayer app (10,000+ downloads on iOS/Android), biweekly podcast 'De Stem' (100+ episodes, 4.7/5 rating), magazines STEM (6x/year for adults) and STEF (2x/year for ages 8–12), and a portfolio of films, books, and Bible study materials — all distributed free of charge to Dutch consumers.

SDOK's technology stack is modest and content-focused rather than proprietary: a website (sdok.nl) acting as the central hub for donations, content distribution, event registration, and newsletter sign-ups; off-the-shelf mobile app infrastructure; podcast distribution via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube; and standard email/CRM infrastructure for donor and subscriber management. No proprietary AI/ML systems or advanced technology platforms are evident.

The revenue model is donation-driven. Individual donations are primary, with suggested tiers of €17–€90 one-time and €12.50–€42 recurring monthly; corporate and business donations form a secondary stream with project sponsorship tiers from €0–€1,000 to over €10,000; legacy bequests (Nalaten) are actively cultivated with personal director consultation, supported by SDOK's ANBI status which exempts bequests from Dutch inheritance tax; church collections provide a distributed channel; and book sales (e.g., 'Diepgeworteld' at €21.99) contribute a marginal revenue stream. The organization is governed by a Raad van Toezicht (Supervisory Board) chaired by H.J. van der Veen, led by Directeur-Bestuurder André van Grol, and holds ANBI status and the CBF-Erkenningspaspoort, both high-credibility Dutch quality and tax seals.

Name

Stichting De Ondergrondse Kerk

Legal name

Stichting De Ondergrondse Kerk

Website

https://sdok.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SDOK is a Dutch non-profit foundation supporting persecuted Christians worldwide through 80+ projects across 25+ countries via 30+ local partners, engaging Dutch Christians through a prayer app, podcast, magazines, books, and church, school, and business networks funded by individual, corporate, and legacy donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Persecution Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Religious Organizations (8131), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations (BPAGAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Persecuted christian support
• Religious freedom advocacy
• Humanitarian aid services
• Christian charitable foundation
• Prayer and awareness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Gorinchem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations (One-time and Recurring): SDOK's primary revenue stream comes from one-time and recurring monetary gifts from individual donors in the Netherlands. Suggested donation amounts include €17 (one-time) for one week of shelter for a family, €34 for one month of prisoner support, and €90 for four weeks of evangelist support. Monthly recurring options include €12.50 for a widow, €21 for medical aid for three pastors, and €42 for six months of safe shelter for an ex-Muslim.
2. Corporate and Business Donations: Companies and entrepreneurs can make one-time gifts, sponsor specific projects, or establish a corporate fund. SDOK supports 80+ projects in 25+ countries and facilitates corporate project sponsorship with 100% of donations directed to chosen projects. Project classes range from €0–1,000 to over €10,000.
3. Legacies and Bequests (Nalaten): SDOK encourages donors to include the organization in their will (legaat or erfstelling). As an ANBI-certified organization, SDOK is exempt from inheritance tax, allowing the full bequest to benefit the mission. Brochures and personal consultations with the director are offered.
4. Book Sales - 'Diepgeworteld': The book 'Diepgeworteld' by Richard Groenenboom is sold for €21.99 via retail partners. The profit from each sale goes to SDOK's work, creating a modest revenue stream alongside donor acquisition.
5. Church Collections and Campaigns: Churches collect donations for SDOK during services, with SDOK providing PowerPoint materials and post-campaign impact reports. This is a distributed channel revenue stream through Dutch congregations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Stichting De Ondergrondse Kerk (SDOK) is a Dutch non-profit foundation that supports persecuted Christians worldwide through practical aid, prayer mobilization, and awareness-building. It distributes free educational and inspirational content (prayer app, podcast, magazines, books, films, Bible study materials), facilitates financial donations to vetted local partners in 25+ countries, and engages Dutch Christians, churches, schools, and businesses through events, speaker programs, and card-writing campaigns.

Product overview

SDOK (Stichting De Ondergrondse Kerk) operates as a charitable organization supporting persecuted Christians rather than a traditional technology product company. Its offerings consist of free inspirational resources distributed to the Dutch public: the Gebedsapp 'Verbonden in vervolging' (mobile prayer app for iOS/Android), the Podcast 'De Stem' (biweekly podcast), magazines STEM (for adults) and STEF (for children aged 8-12), books including 'Diepgeworteld' and 'Gods gijzelaar', documentary films ('Sabina', 'Tortured for Christ', 'De Fakkeldragers'), e-books, study materials, Bible study resources, and preaching outlines. Services include free speaker presentations for churches, schools and companies, a card-writing campaign to encourage persecuted Christians, and organized events. The products function as educational and inspirational tools to connect Dutch Christians with persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide through prayer, stories, and practical support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Magazine STEM: A bimonthly magazine published 6 times per year, featuring stories of persecuted Christians and inspiration for faith
• Magazine STEF
• Podcast 'De Stem'
• Gebedsapp 'Verbonden in vervolging'

Products and services

• Gebedsapp 'Verbonden in vervolging'

Quantifiable outcome

• SDOK supports 80+ projects in 25+ countries through 30+ partner organizations, providing aid ranging from emergency relief to medical care, discipleship training, and support for children and prisoners.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Christian Association (ICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDOK is a member of the International Christian Association (ICA), a global umbrella of independent organizations all working to support persecuted Christians. ICA affiliates operate under the 'Voice of the Martyrs' name in most countries. SDOK collaborates with sister organizations on shared goals, intelligence, and resource sharing.
• Voice of the Martyrs (International Sister Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDOK is affiliated with Voice of the Martyrs organizations worldwide through the ICA network. The US-based Voice of the Martyrs produces VOM Radio, a recommended resource by SDOK for English-language content on persecution. This network provides global reach and coordination for the persecuted church support ecosystem.
• Gave, Open Doors, and SDOK (Meldpunt Christenvervolging)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDOK collaborates with Gave and Open Doors on a shared reporting point (meldpunt) to document discrimination faced by Christian refugees in the Netherlands. This partnership maps the problems Christian refugees encounter in the Dutch asylum system and combines advocacy efforts.
• Local Partner Organizations (30+ in 25+ countries)coreOthersSDOK works with more than 30 local partner organizations in over 25 countries who identify local needs, distribute aid, and report impact. These partners include local churches, field workers, and specialized NGOs that have on-the-ground relationships with persecuted Christians. SDOK does not directly operate in persecution zones; local partners ensure safety and contextual appropriateness.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ZOA: ZOA is a large Dutch international relief and development NGO with strong evangelical-Christian roots. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with SDOK in Christian-motivated humanitarian aid, particularly for refugees and conflict-affected populations.
• Tearfund Nederland: Tearfund is a Dutch Christian relief and development NGO funding partner-led poverty and disaster relief projects globally. It is a broader incumbent in the Dutch Christian humanitarian space, with a similar partner-mediated field delivery model.
• Evangelische Omroep (EO): EO is the major Dutch Christian broadcaster and media organization, providing the broader Dutch Christian media platform in which SDOK's Richard Groenenboom previously worked. It is an incumbent peer in the Dutch Christian content ecosystem but with a much wider portfolio.
• Leger des Heils (Salvation Army Netherlands): Leger des Heils is a major Dutch faith-based social services organization providing shelter, social aid, and rehabilitation services. It overlaps with SDOK's social-services function but serves a much broader and secular-facing beneficiary base.

Direct peers

• Voice of the Martyrs (USA): Voice of the Martyrs is SDOK's US counterpart in the same ICA network, serving persecuted Christians worldwide through aid, prayer, and content (including VOM Radio). It is a sister organization with overlapping mission, content, and field-partner model.
• Open Doors Netherlands: Open Doors is the largest international Christian advocacy organization supporting persecuted believers worldwide; its Dutch arm directly competes with SDOK for the same Dutch Christian donor audience and similar programmatic scope (emergency aid, Bibles, training, advocacy).
• Release International: Release International is a UK-based Christian charity supporting persecuted Christians worldwide through prayer, advocacy, and aid — a near-direct peer to SDOK with similar content, advocacy, and partner-mediated field delivery.
• Barnabas Fund: Barnabas Fund is a UK-based Christian charity that supports persecuted Christians, particularly through aid to Christians in Islamic contexts. It competes globally for donors interested in persecuted-church support and overlaps in programmatic approach.
• International Christian Association (ICA): ICA is the umbrella network of independent Voice of the Martyrs-affiliated organizations including SDOK. It is a coordinating peer rather than a fundraiser, but defines shared content, advocacy posture, and field partner relationships.
• Gave: Gave is a Dutch faith-based nonprofit that supports persecuted and discriminated Christians — including through the shared 'Meldpunt Christenvervolging' with SDOK and Open Doors. It directly competes for Dutch Christian donors with overlapping mission and beneficiary focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLeNbGOq2_u5RhMHy5M3jU4I3jaI3iDCj4
• Facebookfacebook.com/sdok.nl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sdok-stichting-de-ondergrondse-kerk
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdok.nl
• Xx.com/_sdok

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stichting De Ondergrondse Kerk