Policy plan

Name of the institution

Stichting Gofounder

RSIN

869441863

Chamber of Commerce number

42042219

Registered address

Potgieterstraat 52, 3117 RT Schiedam, Nederland

Date of incorporation

April 13, 2026

The board of Stichting Gofounder consists of:

Chair

C. Beljaars

Secretary

J.R. Ketelaar

Treasurer

M.C.A. de Laat

The board governs the foundation jointly. The foundation is represented by the board in accordance with the provisions of the articles of association.

Board members receive no remuneration for their work. Any expenses incurred may be reimbursed in accordance with statutory guidelines.

The Netherlands faces significant societal challenges in mental health, participation, loneliness, talent development, sustainable employability and civic engagement. At the same time, many young people, adults and older people struggle to give direction to their lives, develop their talents, take an active part in society or turn their ideas into concrete action.

Stichting Gofounder was founded on the conviction that every person holds talents, possibilities and potential, and that people develop most strongly when they take an active part in society, gain meaningful experiences and take responsibility for their own development. The foundation wants to contribute to a society in which people are encouraged to take initiative, develop themselves, join in and make a positive contribution to their surroundings.

According to its registration, the foundation has the following object:

Promoting enterprise in society by encouraging young and older people towards meaningful enterprise in their lives, and providing temporary shelter and day activities to young and older people who are not able to work or take part in other activities.

By entrepreneurship the foundation explicitly means more than starting or running a business. It sees entrepreneurship as the ability to take initiative, carry responsibility, seize opportunities, act creatively and add value to society.

Stichting Gofounder encourages people to actively shape their lives, their talents and their contribution to society.

The foundation helps young people, adults and older people develop direction, ownership, initiative, participation and personal growth.

Central to this is supporting people in discovering, developing and applying their talents in the service of themselves and others.

The foundation sees a clear connection between societal problems and the absence of direction, social isolation, loss of ownership, passivity, talent that goes unused and reduced participation in society. These factors often reinforce one another: someone without a sense of direction is slower to get moving; someone with little connection gets fewer chances to apply their talents; and someone who develops too little ownership stays dependent on circumstances rather than on their own choices.

In the foundation's view, lasting development comes about when people get to know themselves better, gain meaningful experiences, take responsibility for their choices, reflect on what they do, are connected to others and apply their talents to something larger. That development is not a loose series of steps but one coherent process, in which self-insight leads to action, action to experience, experience to reflection, reflection to growth, and growth ultimately to a contribution to society.

The activities of Stichting Gofounder are aimed at a broad group of people who stand to benefit from direction, development, participation or stronger initiative. That includes young people, students, jobseekers, people at a distance from the labour market, older people, volunteers, starting entrepreneurs, social initiators and people who need more of a foothold in their personal or social development.

Particular attention goes to people who temporarily cannot take part, or can take part only to a limited extent, in education, work or other social activities.

To achieve its objects, the foundation organises and supports activities that contribute to direction, talent development, personal development, entrepreneurial spirit, participation, connection, innovation and technology.

Direction and talent development take shape through workshops, training, development programmes, coaching, self-inquiry and reflection activities. These activities help participants see their possibilities, their choices and the direction they want to develop in.

Within personal development the emphasis lies on skills development, behavioural change, self-reliance, mental resilience and ownership. The foundation ties these themes to concrete activities in which participants can practise, experience and reflect.

Entrepreneurial spirit is encouraged by making room for developing initiative, creative projects, social enterprises, entrepreneurship programmes and innovation challenges. This is about learning to recognise opportunities, turning ideas into action and developing responsibility for one's own contribution.

Participation and connection are fostered through social projects, volunteering activities, daytime activities, networking meetings, community building and social activities. These forms of taking part give participants the chance to connect with others and contribute actively to their surroundings.

In addition, the foundation may deploy innovation and technology in the form of digital tools, knowledge platforms, AI-supported learning and development environments, and research into new forms of social support.

The foundation may use digital tools to support its social objects. The Gofounder platform is one of those tools and supports participants in setting personal goals, developing direction, self-reflection, personal development, participation, entrepreneurship, behavioural change and civic engagement. The platform is a means of supporting the foundation's social objects and is not an end in itself.

The foundation wants to create physical and mobile meeting places where development, connection, daytime activities, education, social participation and community building come together. These activities may take place at temporary locations, partner locations, events or mobile facilities.

The foundation raises funds from donations, gifts, grants, funds, sponsorship, bequests, contributions from partners and proceeds from activities that contribute to the statutory objects. It may also receive funds from inheritances, donations and other income.

The assets are managed by the board, which sees to it that resources are used responsibly, transparently and effectively. The foundation holds no more assets than is reasonably necessary for the continuity of its work and the pursuit of its objects.

The resources of the foundation are spent entirely on realising the statutory objects. They may be used for, among other things, social programmes, workshops and training, daytime activity programmes, temporary shelter, guidance, the development of digital tools, research, community activities, volunteer initiatives, educational projects and organisational support.

The foundation has no profit motive, and at least 90% of its activities serve the public benefit.

Wherever possible, the foundation works together with educational institutions, municipalities, welfare organisations, care organisations, volunteer networks, social initiatives, cultural institutions, knowledge institutions, businesses, funds and grant providers. Such partnerships are entered into only where they contribute to the foundation's social objects.

Board members receive no remuneration for their work. They are entitled only to reimbursement of costs actually incurred, and may receive only a non-excessive attendance fee insofar as this fits within the applicable ANBI rules and the articles of association.

Volunteers may receive an expense allowance or volunteer allowance insofar as this fits within the legal and tax frameworks. Staff, contracted professionals or external experts may receive a market-rate fee for their work where their involvement is necessary to carry out the foundation's objects.

Stichting Gofounder was incorporated on 13 April 2026 and is currently in its first financial year. After the first full financial year, the foundation will publish financial information in accordance with the applicable ANBI obligations, including a balance sheet, a statement of income and expenditure, an explanation of the financial results and an overview of the activities carried out.

In the period 2026-2029, Stichting Gofounder focuses on developing activities around personal development, participation and entrepreneurial spirit, and on supporting young people, adults and older people in finding direction and a meaningful way to spend their days. Through workshops, training, coaching, mentoring, daytime activities, temporary shelter and social projects, the foundation wants to contribute to participants' development and their active involvement in society. Particular attention goes to people who temporarily cannot take part, or can take part only to a limited extent, in education, work or other social activities.

The foundation also organises social projects and development programmes, encourages active participation in society, develops innovative digital tools that support personal growth and participation, expands cooperation with social, public and educational partners, and works towards lasting impact on well-being, development and engagement. Over this period it aims to build a durable network of participants, volunteers, social organisations, educational institutions, municipalities and other partners, so that its social objects can also be achieved in the longer term.

Stichting Gofounder believes that every person has unique talents, experiences and possibilities.

By supporting people in developing direction, ownership and meaningful participation, the foundation wants to contribute to a society in which more people can realise their potential and make a positive contribution to themselves, their surroundings and society as a whole.