Mensen Maken Amsterdam

What Mensen Maken Amsterdam does

Mensen Maken Amsterdam is an independent Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting) that operates participatory grantmaking programs for neighborhood initiatives across Amsterdam. Founded in 2019 after spinning off from Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, the organization runs seven district-level neighborhood funds covering Centrum, Noord, Nieuw-West, Oost, West, Zuid, and Zuidoost, plus a youth fund called Jonge Mensen Maken Amsterdam (JMMA) for Amsterdammers aged 16-30. In 2025, it supported 216 initiatives with €260,000+ in distributed funding and processed 514 applications, with more than half coming from first-time applicants.

The organization's core methodology is participatory grantmaking: residents submit simple project ideas online or offline, local coordinators (one per district) guide applicants through the process, and volunteer neighborhood committees of approximately 90 residents review applications and collectively decide which projects receive funding, with decisions issued within three weeks of each deadline. The organization employs approximately 12 staff members including a director, head of neighborhood funds, bureau coordinator, communications lead, youth coordinator, and seven district coordinators; the committee layer is entirely volunteer-based. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations run through a standard website (mensenmakenamsterdam.nl) supplemented by WhatsApp groups, newsletters, social media, and in-person events.

Mensen Maken Amsterdam is funded by donations and partner contributions rather than commercial revenue. Co-initiators include Het Cultuurfonds, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, and housing corporation Ymere; a recent partnership with De Hallen Amsterdam channels additional third-party funding through the organization's West district infrastructure. The foundation holds ANBI (Public Benefit Organization) status. Geographic scope is strictly Amsterdam, with no stated intention to operate elsewhere, though knowledge-sharing partnerships with LSA Bewoners suggest methodological influence beyond the city.

Name

Mensen Maken Amsterdam

Legal name

Stichting Mensen Maken Amsterdam

Website

https://mensenmakenamsterdam.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mensen Maken Amsterdam is an independent Dutch foundation that runs participatory grantmaking programs across seven Amsterdam districts and a youth fund, distributing over €260,000 to 216 neighborhood initiatives in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Community grantmaking
• Neighborhood funds
• Participatory grantmaking
• Local community development
• Grassroots project funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and partner contributions: Mensen Maken Amsterdam operates as an independent foundation (Stichting) funded by donations and partnerships. Co-initiators include Het Cultuurfonds, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, and Ymere. The organization distributes funds to neighborhood initiatives through participatory grantmaking. Revenue comes from institutional donors, partners, and potentially government support rather than product/service sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mensen Maken Amsterdam is an independent Dutch foundation (Stichting) that runs seven neighborhood funds (Buurtfondsen) across all Amsterdam districts — Centrum, Noord, Nieuw-West, Oost, West, Zuid, and Zuidoost — plus a youth fund (Jonge Mensen Maken Amsterdam) for ages 16–30. It channels donations and partner contributions into small grants for resident-led initiatives through participatory grantmaking, where roughly 90 volunteer neighborhood committee members collectively decide which project ideas receive funding. Dedicated local coordinators in each district guide applicants through a low-threshold process, with decisions typically returned within three weeks of each round deadline.

Product overview

Mensen Maken Amsterdam is an independent foundation that enables 'buurtgeluk' (neighborhood happiness) through seven neighborhood funds across Amsterdam. The core offering consists of participatory grantmaking services where neighborhood committees of approximately 90 volunteer residents decide which community initiatives receive funding. The organization operates the city-wide Buurtfondsen (neighborhood funds) covering all seven Amsterdam districts, supported by dedicated Lokale Coördinatoren (local coordinators) in each area. A specialized youth fund called Jonge Mensen Maken Amsterdam (JMMA) targets young Amsterdammers aged 16-30. The service portfolio also includes a Knowledge & Tips resource bank for applicants and structured volunteer neighborhood committees that meet regularly to review proposals. The organization uses a low-threshold approach without complex procedures, providing personal support from the neighborhood.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Buurtfondsen (Neighborhood Funds) Seven district-level neighborhood funds operating across Amsterdam (Centrum, Noord, Nieuw-West, Oost, West, Zuid, Zuidoost) that provide financial support to resident-led community initiatives through participatory grantmaking.
• Jonge Mensen Maken Amsterdam (JMMA) Youth Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• 216 neighborhood initiatives supported in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• De Hallen AmsterdamminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2026De Hallen Amsterdam provides €10,000 for neighborhood initiatives in Amsterdam-West. Mensen Maken Amsterdam manages the open call, selection process, and execution through its West neighborhood committee. Represents a strategic GTM partnership to reach the West district community.
• LSA Bewoners (Landelijk Samenwerkingsverband Actieve Bewoners)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with LSA Bewoners to organize a multi-day training on community funds. Mensen Maken Amsterdam shares its experience with neighborhood funds; LSA brings knowledge, practice examples, and participants from other cities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VSBfonds: Dutch foundation supporting participation and social cohesion through grants to community initiatives. Directly comparable as a participatory grantmaking foundation with a similar focus on neighborhood-level funded projects.
• Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie: Dutch national fund promoting cultural participation. Comparable as a cultural grantmaking foundation with overlapping beneficiary base on arts and cultural community projects, though operating at national rather than city level.
• LSA Bewoners: National Dutch network for active residents ('Landelijk Samenwerkingsverband Actieve Bewoners'), supporting community funds and active citizenship. Already a partner of MMA; directly comparable as a peer organization operating community fund infrastructure across the Netherlands.
• K.F. Hein Fonds: Dutch community fund supporting neighborhood and civic initiatives primarily in Utrecht. Comparable as a participatory community fund foundation with similar grantmaking activities focused on neighborhood-level projects.
• Oranje Fonds: The largest Dutch community foundation, supporting neighborhood initiatives and voluntary work across the Netherlands. Directly comparable as a grantmaking foundation funding grassroots community projects, though national in scope rather than Amsterdam-only.
• Stichting DOEN: Dutch impact foundation funding innovative entrepreneurs and organizations pursuing social and cultural change. Comparable as a Dutch grantmaking foundation with a participatory and trust-based approach to funding.

Emerging players

• Burgerkracht: Dutch initiative supporting residents' involvement in their neighborhoods and democracy. Comparable as a participatory civic organization supporting community-led initiatives, with some overlap in beneficiary segments and methodologies.

Broad incumbents

• Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst: Amsterdam's primary public cultural fund and co-initiator of MMA. Comparable as an Amsterdam-based arts/culture grantmaking foundation, though operating with broader portfolios and larger grants than MMA's neighborhood-level approach.
• Het Cultuurfonds: Major Dutch cultural foundation and co-initiator of Mensen Maken Amsterdam. Comparable as a Dutch grantmaking foundation funding cultural and community projects, though significantly larger and broader in scope.

Regional players

• Stichting Woon: Amsterdam-based civic organization supporting resident initiatives in housing and neighborhood improvement. Comparable as an Amsterdam civic organization enabling community-led projects, though focused on housing-related themes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mensen-maken-amsterdam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Mensen Maken Amsterdam