Activities
Advocacy |
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Advocacy is one of the FIN's most important roles. In order to advocate effectively on behalf of its members, the FIN maintains close contact with the government, social organisations and the media. Thus the FIN, through the Samenwerkende Brancheorganisaties Filantropie (SBF - the association of philanthropic organisations), advocates on behalf of the interests of the philanthropic sector in the Netherlands. The FIN keeps abreast of government and politics through the Instituut voor Sponsoring en Fondsenwerving (ISF - the institute for sponsoring and fundraising); the association for the charitable sector (VFI); and the Contact in Overheidszaken samenwerkende kerken (CIO-K - the communal church body responsible for links with the government). The FIN represents the collective interests of its members vis-à-vis the media through press releases and interviews, acting as a spokesperson for the philanthropic sector in the Netherlands. The FIN is active internationally through its participation in the Donors And Foundations Networks in Europe (DAFNE) network. DAFNE is a union of associations of private charitable foundations in Europe. Apart from these contacts, the FIN is in close contact with banks, lawyers, and various specialists in the area of philanthropy |
FIN Startersdesk
In 2009, the FIN launched the StartersDesk. The FIN StartersDesk provides information and advice to individuals and companies who are thinking about setting up their own private charitable foundation in The Netherlands.
Are you thinking about making a part of your capital available for charitable purposes? Are you thinking about creating a foundation, and need to know if this is the right choice and what it entails? If so, the FIN StartersDesk would be pleased to help you!
We strongly advise you to visit the StartersDesk website for further information: www.finstartersdesk.nl.
Knowledge and Information
The Association of Foundations in the Netherlands (FIN) is the umbrella organisation representing the interests of private charitable foundations in the Netherlands. The FIN acts as the central contact point of its 300 members and the source of information for questions related to private funds. Next to this, the FIN encourages scientific research and training in philanthropy.
Meetings
Members meetings
The FIN organises a members meeting twice a year. The meetings look at current topics of interest. Members, the FIN Board, and guest speakers are invited to give presentations about new and relevant developments in the field of philanthropy.
FIN Symposium
The FIN Symposium is held every year in October. The Symposium deals with one theme every year. In 2010 the theme is ‘longterm investing in organizatons and projects. Yes or no?’
Thematic meetings
Apart from the members meeting and the annual symposium, the FIN organises specific thematic meetings during the year. These thematic meetings bring together charitable foundations which have the same goals or are interested in a particular theme, such as strong policy making. A meeting was called for the first time in 2009 for the foundations’ project managers. These activities will be repeated in 2010.
Information
The FIN office acts as an information centre for members with questions. The FIN management and employees have access to current information concerning a number of issues such as developments around tax deductible charitable donations, good governance, codes of conduct, cooperation between charitable funds, training and evaluation. The FIN brings together members with common interests upon request.
A range of publications can be ordered from the FIN office.
The FIN offers support to non-members such as newly established charitable funds through the FIN StartersDesk
Please note that the FIN does not provide information about fundraising. The Fondsenboek (directory of private charitable foundations in the Netherlands) can be ordered from the publishers Walburg Press.
Research and training
The FIN encourages and supports scientific research on the area of private charitable funds. As part of its efforts, the association supports the Philanthropy Chair at the VU University Amsterdam. The VU University Amsterdam Philanthropy working group publishes Geven in Nederland (charitable donations in the Netherlands) every two years. This is a compendium of the gifts, legacies, sponsorships and voluntary work available in the Netherlands. The VU University Amsterdam Philanthropy working group also runs the Philanthropic Studies course for professionals in the area of philanthropy.
Apart from the VU University Amsterdam, the following courses are offered and research activities are carried out in the Netherlands by:
- Erasmus Centre For Strategic Philanthropy (ECSP) at Erasmus University; and
- Windesheim University, module ‘Fundraising, Grant making & Sponsoring’.
Photo: Philanthropy professors Theo Schuyt (left, VU University Amsterdam) and Lucas Meijs (Erasmus University).
Self-regulation
The trustees of charities hold important positions and are expected to practice good governance. As guidelines to good governance, many self-respecting umbrella organisations have developed codes of conduct. The FIN is no exception. Membership of the FIN means acceptance of and adherence to its code of conduct.
The code of conduct specifies the starting points that charitable foundations are expected to comply with when carrying out their work. The first starting point is that all the activities or almost all the activities if a foundation are for general benefit. Other aspects of charitable work such as professionalism, clear policy, transparency and responsibility are also included in the code of conduct.
Download the code of conduct English version [PDF 61 kB]
Photos by: Bertilla Rooduyn Fotografie
