Financial instruments - Stichting DOEN

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Enriched family-office · Found: 2026-03-11 08:11

DOEN distinguishes between project grants, program grants and institutional grants: a project subsidy is a donation for a specific project from or within an ...

Source: https://www.doen.nl/en/how-we-do-it/financial-instruments/

Funding Details

Funder: Stichting DOEN
Funding Goal: To support innovative, pioneering initiatives that accelerate the transition to a circular economy, a solidarity-based society, and creative imagination — funded by the Dutch Postcode Loterij and VriendenLoterij.
Funding Amount: Not specified; DOEN supports over 200 initiatives annually through grants, loans, equity investments, and guarantees. Funding amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis.
How to Apply: 1. Complete the online Quickscan self-assessment tool to check if your initiative qualifies. 2. Register and log in to the Mijn DOEN portal (aanvraag.doen.nl) using your organization email as username (Google Chrome on desktop recommended). 3. Submit a full application with budget, governance details, and project plan at least four months before the intended project start date. 4. Applications are reviewed over approximately four months. The Quickscan and application acceptance provide no guarantee of funding.
Target Region: Netherlands (primary), with international projects also funded
Contact: Email: info@doen.nl
Last Checked: 2026-03-12 06:00

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Applicant must be a legal entity (foundation, cooperative, association, or company — not an individual)
Organization must have transparent governance with separated functions (board/management)
Organization must not have excessive reserves exceeding 1.5x annual costs

Project Scope

Initiative must align with at least one of DOEN's three themes: Regenerative Economy, Solidarity Society, or Transformative Power of Imagination

Required Documents

Budget must be clear and realistic with feasible cost-benefit ratio; demonstrate own contributions or sustainability plan
Complete the online Quickscan self-assessment tool before applying via the Mijn DOEN portal

Constraints

Application must be submitted at least four months before project start date
Project must not be purely commercial, academic research, healthcare, emergency aid, or standalone cultural event

Summary

Stichting DOEN is a Dutch foundation backed by the Postcode Loterij and VriendenLoterij (charity lotteries). It supports over 200 initiatives annually through subsidies (grants), loans, equity investments, and guarantees. The foundation focuses on three thematic areas: Regenerative Economy (circular and sustainable economic models), Solidarity Society (inclusive community participation), and Transformative Power of Imagination (creative and cultural approaches to systemic change). DOEN offers four financial instruments: project grants, program grants, and institutional grants (the most common); loans for organizations lacking access to traditional bank financing; equity investments through DOEN Ventures BV with over 25 years of impact investing experience; and guarantees. The guiding principle is to "subsidize where necessary, invest where possible," supporting initiatives in early phases before transferring them to other funders. Eligible applicants must be legal entities (foundations, cooperatives, associations, or companies — not individuals) with transparent governance. Projects must start at least four months after application submission, present realistic budgets, and demonstrate genuine need and sustainability plans. DOEN explicitly excludes academic research, healthcare, emergency aid, festivals, property purchases, government institutions, and organizations with reserves exceeding 1.5 times their annual costs. Portfolio examples include circular economy waste projects, sustainable aquaculture (oyster farming in Zanzibar), food hubs, and community housing — showing a broad range from environmental to social innovation.

Historical Context

Stichting DOEN has over 25 years of experience with impact investments. The foundation is supported by Dutch charity lotteries (Postcode Loterij and VriendenLoterij) and supports over 200 initiatives annually. It also operates DOEN Ventures BV as a separate vehicle for equity investments in social enterprises and funds.

Sources

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