The DOEN Foundation is a Dutch foundation established in 1991 by the Dutch Postcode Lottery. DOEN receives its funding (approximately €30 million annually) from the net proceeds of three Dutch charity lotteries: the Dutch Postcode Lottery, BankGiro Lottery, and FriendsLottery. DOEN supports pioneers who work to establish a greener, more socially inclusive, and more creative society. The Foundation supports over 200 initiatives annually through subsidies (grants), equity investments, and loans. DOEN’s impact investing activities total approximately USD 180 million and are concentrated in fair trade, renewable energy, social ventures, and micro, small, and medium enterprise financing. The Foundation operates from the philosophy of “subsidise where necessary, provide equity investments, loans and guarantees where possible.” DOEN is an independent foundation with its own supervisory board that supports innovative initiatives of pioneers and gives them a quick start, inspiring others and showing that change is possible.
Funding Amount
- Grants: Typically ranging from €0 to €500,000, covering up to one-third of a project’s total budget.
- Loans and Equity Investments: Amounts vary based on project needs and alignment with DOEN’s objectives.
Target
- Legally registered organisations (applications from individuals not accepted)
- Entrepreneurs and social enterprises operating in the Netherlands, East Africa, and India
- Pioneers working on innovative solutions based on entrepreneurship
- Early-stage projects and initiatives
- Organisations that are closely connected with their environment, flexible, and capable of tapping into various financing sources
- Non-profit organisations, civil society organisations, private entities, financial institutions, and scholarly institutions
Closing Date
Rolling applications are accepted all year-round with no specific deadlines. Applications should reach DOEN at least four months before the planned start of a project. On average, the application procedure takes four months from submission to decision.
Focus Areas
- Regenerative Economy: Circular economy, sustainable food systems, sustainable energy, climate change mitigation
- Social Solidarity: Social entrepreneurship, labour inclusion, social cohesion initiatives
- Power of Imagination: Arts and culture, radical imagination, social practice art
Specific Focus Areas:
- Fair and sustainable food system transition (especially in East Africa)
- Circular entrepreneurship and local recycling
- Sustainable energy access for everyone
- Climate change and environmental protection
- Social inclusion and community cohesion
- Cultural and social innovation
- New economic models making maximum use of raw materials
- Green initiatives within the planet’s capacity
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicant must be a legal entity (registered organisation, not individuals)
- Initiative must fit within one or more of DOEN’s three themes (Regenerative Economy, Social Solidarity, Power of Imagination)
- Focus on pioneers and early-stage projects
- Organisation must be flexible and capable of attracting diverse funding sources
- Must demonstrate innovation and ability to inspire systemic change
Geographic Requirements:
- Netherlands (all sectors)
- East Africa only: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
- India only
- Projects outside these regions are not eligible
Impact Requirements:
- Must demonstrate clear impact aligned with DOEN’s objectives
- Should contribute to transitions toward sustainable and inclusive society
- Must show how DOEN’s contribution will increase impact
- Should demonstrate ability to change markets or inspire systemic change
Application Requirements:
- Applications must be submitted using online application form
- Must be submitted at least 4 months before planned project start
- DOEN may request additional information during assessment
- Selected candidates may need to provide further documents or expand on ideas
The Foundation does NOT support:
- Individual applicants
- Projects outside the Netherlands, East Africa, and India
- Initiatives that do not align with the three core themes
