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| Stichting Present | |
|---|---|
| Name | Stichting Present |
| Formation | 1990 |
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Region | Netherlands |
| Services | Volunteer matching, community projects, social inclusion |
Stichting Present
Stichting Present is a Dutch non-profit organization founded in 1990 that connects volunteers with isolated neighborhoods and vulnerable groups across the Netherlands. The organization operates by brokering short-term, needs-driven projects between community hosts and volunteer teams, emphasizing practical assistance and social cohesion in cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. Present's model has influenced comparable initiatives in Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and has been studied by scholars from institutions like Universiteit van Amsterdam and Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam.
Founded in 1990 in Amsterdam, Present emerged in response to growing concerns about social isolation in urban districts following policy debates in the Netherlands during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Early activities drew on precedents from faith-based outreach movements associated with groups such as Diaconie networks and community programs linked to local parishes and civic organizations like Rotary International and Lion Club International. During the 1990s Present expanded to partner with municipal bodies in Den Haag and with welfare providers including Leger des Heils and neighborhood centers inspired by models from Sociale Werkplaatsen programs. In the 2000s the organization professionalized its volunteer-matching processes, aligning with evaluation frameworks used by Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek and policy units at ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport. Recent decades saw collaboration with international NGOs and research centers including Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Tilburg University on social inclusion studies.
Present's mission centers on reducing isolation and increasing civic engagement by facilitating practical help for individuals and families referred by community hosts such as wijkteams, maatschappelijk werk agencies, and faith-based institutions like Protestantse Kerk in Nederland and Katholieke Kerk in Nederland. Core activities include organizing one-day volunteer projects for tasks ranging from home repairs to relocation assistance, in partnership with local actors such as buurtcentra, youth organizations like Scouting Nederland, and care providers including GGD Amsterdam and Rode Kruis Nederland. The organization also develops outreach initiatives alongside municipal service points like Stadsdeel Amsterdam-Zuidoost and collaborates with national campaigns led by entities such as Nationaal Ouderenfonds and Voedselbank Nederland.
Present operates as a stichting headquartered in Amsterdam with regional coordinators overseeing operations in provinces including Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, and Utrecht (province). Governance is provided by a board comprising professionals drawn from sectors such as social care, corporate affairs, and philanthropy, with links to institutions like VSBfonds and Oranje Fonds. Day-to-day management includes program staff, volunteer coordinators, and project developers who liaise with public bodies such as municipal wethouders and local social services like Centrum voor Jeugd en Gezin. Legal and financial oversight follows Dutch regulations administered by the Kamer van Koophandel and tax frameworks involving the Belastingdienst.
Volunteers are recruited via campaigns with partners like Universiteit van Amsterdam Studentenverenigingen, corporate social responsibility programs at firms such as ING Group and Rabobank, and youth movements including Jongerenwerk. Training covers practical skills and safeguarding protocols developed in consultation with professional organizations such as Movisie and healthcare actors like GGD. Modules address referral procedures aligned with standards used by maatschappelijke opvang providers and include collaboration techniques for working with hosts drawn from institutions like Wmo-loket teams and neighborhood initiatives connected to buurtpreventie efforts.
Present sustains operations through a mix of funding sources: grants from Dutch philanthropic funds including Oranje Fonds and VSBfonds, project funding from municipal governments in cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, corporate sponsorships from companies such as Philips and ASML, and income from training services provided to partners like Welzijnsorganisaties. Strategic partnerships include collaborations with national NGOs such as Nationale Vereniging de Zonnebloem, research partnerships with universities such as Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, and joint programs with social enterprises and faith networks like Protestantse Kerk in Nederland.
Impact assessments have been conducted using qualitative and quantitative methods common to Dutch social policy research, with evaluations by academic partners including Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and consultancy firms linked to Dialogic. Reports track outcomes such as reduced isolation among hosts referred by agencies like maatschappelijk werk and increased civic participation among volunteers from organizations such as Studenten voor Morgen. Metrics include numbers of completed projects, volunteer hours logged, and client-reported changes measured using instruments aligned with standards from Movisie and municipal monitoring frameworks used by Gemeente Amsterdam.
Notable projects include large-scale volunteer days coordinated with municipal initiatives in Amsterdam Zuidoost and collaborative home-improvement campaigns conducted with partners such as Leger des Heils and neighborhood platforms like Wijkmarkt. Present has received recognition from Dutch civic institutions and philanthropic bodies, including awards and acknowledgments from organizations such as Oranje Fonds and local government commendations from municipalities including Haarlemmermeer and Amstelveen. The model has been highlighted in case studies produced by academic centers at Universiteit van Amsterdam and policy briefings circulated within networks like Movisie.
Category:Non-profit organizations based in the Netherlands