Project selection

Net4kids does not implement projects itself, but cooperates with project partners [pdf van project partners] on location that are locally anchored, and which Net4kids can add value to with (additional) fundraising.

Net4kids has strict selection criteria for the projects it offers to donors. In order to qualify, project organisations must fulfil the following four criteria – based on the Net4kids core mission:

• Child aid: focus on structural improvements for children in areas of education, healthcare, hygiene (clean water, sewage treatment, etc.), housing and/or family support.
• Durability: projects must work towards lasting, long-term aid for the children involved. Emergency aid and ad hoc projects are not supported.
• Scalability: aid initiatives must have the potential to expand. Net4kids prefers concepts with intrinsic growth possibilities that can be translated into additional initiatives within the region or outside of it.
• Local anchoring: regardless of the location of the (parent) aid organisation, projects must be firmly anchored within the local culture and structures. Involvement, support and acceptance of the children’s local environment are prerequisites.

In order to enable efficient auditing and project visits, the geographic focus of the supported project is on Africa and South-Asia. For more extensive information regarding project selection criteria, please click here.

At the beginning of each year, the Aid Foundation composes a varied and balanced portfolio of projects to support, reflecting Net4kids’ goals maximally. The nature of the project, the match between the organisations, the potential donors as well as the donation prognosis all play a part.

The majority of applications for new projects run via the website, although Wilde Ganzen is fulfilling an increasingly important role in submitting and selecting new projects. Projects are selected based on thorough analysis of the project structure, goals and management. For example, the project’s own fundraising efforts are examined, as well as the previously mentioned project selection criteria.

In a select number of cases, Net4kids provides project partners with the necessary financial guarantees to immediately start up a project, thereby taking on part of the ‘entrepreneurial’ risk itself. Shortfalls due to a lack of donors are supplemented by Net4kids using Max’s Magic Money fund and/or the Net4kids Continuity Fund. The goal to finance projects entirely with donor funds remains. For this reason, projects are spread out over the year, and offered to interested parties via the website. This allows us to guarantee support without financial risks, and lets us - based on the actual growth of the donations - scale up or limit the project portfolio vis-à-vis the planning.

In 2006, we had 85 project submissions. This is a 25% increase compared to last year. In early 2006, there were 11 projects on the rollout list. Given the strong growth exhibited at the end of the year, we were even able to add extra projects (10). 6 of the 10 new projects will only be implemented in 2007, however. The total number of projects supported in 2006 therefore is 15: the 11 selected projects plus 4 new projects financially supported in 2006.