Dutch Manifesto calls on government to create space for social good

The Dutch nonprofit sector has come together to launch a Manifesto, which calls on policy makers in The Hague to create more room for social good. Highlighting the critical role of nonprofits during the pandemic and the public’s appetite to help and give, the Manifesto has been unveiled as part of a campaign to inspire the government to re-think current measures that restrict the charity sector’s ability to fundraise.

The campaign website states:

“[Translated] The Dutch give time, money and energy. Because they care about society, about the world and about each other. We need space to keep doing that. But this space is not self-evident. The government is increasingly taking measures that, intentionally or unintentionally, restrict the scope to give and ask for support.”

A collaborative initiative from SBF (Samenwerkende Brancheorganisaties Filantropie), developed in partnership by Goede Doelen Nederland, CIO and FIN, the Manifesto calls on politicians to create space for the Dutch to ‘do good’ with a series of actions. This includes stimulating giving by protecting and improving the tax incentives, maintaining a transparent self-regulatory system, eliminating unnecessary laws and regulations, protecting charities’ ability to ask for funds across a range of channels (including the telephone, mail and face-to-face), safeguarding lottery funding for charity, and making volunteering more attractive, among others.

Jan van Berkel, chair of SBF and Goede Doelen Nederland, says:

“Dutch political parties are right now discussing the programme and composition of the new Dutch coalition government. The Manifesto calls for support and no interference in the philanthropy sector by the new Dutch government. It has been presented to all political parties and the media.

“We are happy that the Manifesto is not only endorsed by the members of SBF, but also by 10 other umbrella organisations representing volunteers, sports, health work, development cooperation and the cultural sector. Together we hope this will lead to a positive approach towards philanthropy under the new coalition government.”

Entitled ‘Dutch people want to help. Give us the space‘, the Manifesto was presented by letter to Informateur Mariëtte Hamer, the party leader and relevant spokesperson of the House of Representatives, and launched via social media with a 1-minute promotional film.

The campaign is part of SBF’s efforts to make government policy more positive so that Dutch people can continue to work for a better world.

Read more at the campaign website.