The Center for Grantmaking Research at VU Amsterdam aims to enhance philanthropic grantmaking through creating new evidence-based research, providing executive training, facilitating peer learning communities and harnessing existing experiential knowledge. We aim to positively transform philanthropy by collaborating with experts from practice. By doing so, we expand the evidence base on more flexible forms of grantmaking, including unrestricted, trust-based and participatory approaches.
Mission
We envision a world where philanthropy fosters more generous, equitable, and just societies.
Vision
We believe that improving philanthropic practice through the conduct of robust academic research and the sharing of academic and experiential knowledge, including through (executive) education, is essential for creating more effective and impactful philanthropy. By collaborating with societal and scientific stakeholders, we co-create rigorous new research and derive and share existing knowledge from practice, ensuring its practical implementation to strengthen funders, grantees and the communities supported.
The Center for Grantmaking Research aims to stimulate the co-creation of knowledge on different philanthropic grantmaking practices and their consequences. The Center connects researchers, program officers, charity lottery professionals, nonprofit managers, fundraisers, government officials and other stakeholders.
The Center for Grantmaking Research is founded in March, 2021. The research is supported by a generous contribution from the Dutch Postcode Lottery.
We are part of the Center for Philanthropic Studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Strategic Plan
Our strategic plan (in Dutch) outlines our goals and strategies for 2026-2031, focusing on expanding our research and training capabilities to increase our impact in strengthening both funders and grantees in the Netherlands and beyond.
