Criteria

Applications can be considered for a contribution from DOEN if they fall within the scope of the following criteria:

1. The applicant is a legal entity (applications from individuals are not accepted).
2. The initiative is implemented based on a clear and solid plan (specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic and time related, SMART) whereby it is plausible that the (self) formulated objects will be realised in the initiative beforehand
3. The budget and cover of the initiative are insightful and realistic with realistic cost-assets proportion.
4. Initiatives from organisations that have sufficient resources to realize the initiative (in the form of reserve assets / equity) are not eligible for support from the DOEN Foundation.
5. The initiative has a transparent governance structure.
6. The proposed activities effectuate a structural development and staying effect.
7. The initiative is related to demonstrable need and is well embedded.
8. The initiative has an entrepreneurial approach. This is translated for example in an own contribution by the initiative takers.
9. DOEN gives special attention to initiatives which are in a pilot and/or starting stage. After this stage, where DOEN works as a catalyst, the initiative must be expanded without DOEN's support, preferably via suitable partners who are already involved in the start stage.

DOEN does not provide financial contributions for:

1. Initiatives with purely commercial objectives.
2. (Scientific) research, debates, seminars, congresses, symposia and conferences with the sole purpose of dispersing knowledge unrelated to DOEN’s investment priorities.
3. Awareness campaigns/activities.
4. Regular education.
5. Health care, primary care provision (including legal aid and rehabilitation), sanitation and (drinking) water projects.
6. Emergency aid.
7. Study grants, work experience, study trips, student exchanges, group trips, (children's) holiday camps and day trips.
8. Anniversaries and other festivities, independent (regional) activities, parties and pop or other festivals.
9. Purchase and/or maintenance of cultural heritage, places and/or monuments and works of art.
10. Restoration and building activities including renovation and rebuilding (unless these investments create new employment or daytime activities for the target group).
11. Purchase of instruments, materials (for example, new uniforms), equipment, transport means, inventory (for example, computers, office design).
12. Independent production of: films, documentaries and TV series (unless explicitly focused on one or more DOEN programmes and with broadcasting guarantee), CDs, DVDs or CD-roms, books, publications, magazines, websites.
13. Initiatives with a primary political or religious objective and/or background.
14. Governmental and government body initiatives.
15. Initiatives of beneficiaries of one of the three Charity Lotteries.
    
16. Initiatives of organisations with a disproportional shareholders' equity: free reserve of more than 1.5 times.

Sustainable Energy

1. In East Africa and India DOEN focuses primarily on innovative initiatives which focus on access to sustainable energy, for households and MKB.
   

Exclusions:

1. Regular maintenance and/or the sustainable refurbishment of public buildings and/or public services (i.e., monumental buildings, swimming pools, sport centers, neighborhood and/or community buildings, churches, etc.).
2. Development of technology (R&D phase).
3. Energy saving through waste/recycling and/or energy generation through waste/recycling.
4. DOEN is reluctant to finance projects / companies that are purely focused on cookstove products.

Circular Entrepreneurship

An application must at least meet the following criteria:

1. The business has an ecological and/or social objective and profit is a means to that end.
2. The initiative is demand-driven, was set up in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and is embedded in its local context.
3. The initiative is innovative and its social and/or ecological impact is structural.
4. The initiative is past the exploratory stage and is in a pilot phase or a phase of (early) market introduction.
5. Through the initiative, the initiatiator is able to set an example for the sector.
6. The DOEN Foundation focuses mainly on initiatives being conducted in the Netherlands and East Africa

Exclusions:

1. The initiative has set up or carries out certification processes.
2. Income generating activities.(‘livelyhood projects’)

Sustainable Food System

1. The initiative is by an organisation with an innovative business model aimed at a sustainable food system. Profit is a means to this end.
2. The initiative contributes to, among other things: change in production/storage, less waste, fair trade relations and chain co-operation, local and short chains, change in consumers’ dietary patterns and/or a circular approach.
3. The initiative is a demand-driven approach, set up with all relevant stakeholders and embedded in the local context.
4. The initiative is innovative and its ecological impact is structural.
5. A concept that has passed the research phase and is in a pilot phase or a phase of early market introduction.
6. The initiator is able to use the initiative to set an example for the sector.
7. DOEN focuses mainly on initiatives that are implemented in the Netherlands and East Africa.
8. The initiative offers the possibility of replication and/or scaling up.

Exclusions:

1. Setting up or carrying out certification processes.
2. Initiatives that are focused only on product level.
3. Initiatives focusing mainly on animal welfare.
4. Political or awareness-raising campaigns.
5. Cultured meat or genetic modification mainly based on biotechnology.
6. Initiatives that are aimed exclusively at improving living conditions – so-called 'Livelihood projects'.

Innovative Community Initiatives

1. The Initiatives adopt an unconventional, surprising and creative approach.
2. Residents have an active role to play in the initiatives.
3. The initiatives are closely embedded in their environment and have demonstrable, social support.
4. The initiatives target unexpected connections that bring groups and individuals together who would otherwise probably not meet.
5. The initiatives take place in the Netherlands (including Aruba, Curaçao, Saint Martin and the BES islands).
6. All initiatives should comply with these five criteria. In addition, DOEN attaches importance to the following two points:
7. DOEN supports projects that are sustainable (so preferably not on a non-committal or one-time basis).
8. The organisation has an enterprising approach, focusing on financial independence and continuity.

Social Entrepreneurship and Inclusion

The VriendenLoterij Fonds supports social entrepreneurs in the Netherlands.

1. The proposed activities are performed in the Netherlands (including Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and the BES islands).
2. The initiative is based upon a revenue model.
3. The focus is on employment or/and social participation of socially vulnerable people in society.

Pour le francais, cliquez-ici

International Culture and Media

1. Culture: The initiative provides a structural contribution towards the development of creativity via inter alia training, production and/or distribution of the arts;
2. Media: DOEN supports the Media Development Investment Fund to increase access to free media. Applications for individual media requests are no longer supported by DOEN.
3. The initiative increases diversity with regard to the existing offer in the sectors concerned;

Exclusions:

1. DOEN doesn't support initiatives by organisations based in Europe, USA, Australia and Oceania;
2. Dutch organisations are only supported in the event of a major exception, only if from the local context a clear added value is seen and there is no local organisation which can take up the tasks in question.
3. DOEN does not contribute to one-off exchanges or one-off showings of artists which are not embedded in a broader development strategy;
4. DOEN doesn't support productions of films and documentaries.

Celebrate the art of change

The VriendenLotterij Fonds supports creative initiatives in the Netherlands.

1. The Fund will structurally increase and widen the target audience for innovative initiatives.
2. The Fund will structurally increase the active involvement of the general public; the working method will be embedded in the individual organisation.
3. The Fund has the potential to appeal to a broad public.
4. The Fund has an innovative, unconventional approach that can serve as an example for the cultural sector.
5. The applicant is in the midst of society and is mindful of possible collaboration with other (unexpected) parties and institutions.
6. The initiative provides a new view of social developments and invites you to think out of the box.
7. The initiative has a clear link with modern-day reality.