ANBI

General Information

General information

  • The office of the Democracy and Media Foundation is located at Spuistraat 112D, 1012VA in Amsterdam.
  • The Democracy and Media Foundation is registered with the Chamber of Commerce under number 41197532.
  • The RSIN number of the Democracy and Media Foundation is 009723304.
  • The Foundation’s Articles of Association can be found here.
  • The Democracy and Media Foundation has been designated by the Tax Authorities as a Public Benefit Organization (ANBI).
    The completed ANBI Wealth Funds form can be found here.
  • The board of the Democracy and Media Foundation declares that it complies with the FIN Code of Good Governance and has issued the Annual Declaration of Compliance to that effect.
  • FIN Code of Good Governance for the 2024 financial year submitted.
  • The 2025 annual report and reports from previous years can be found here on the website.

Supervisory Board and Management
The Democracy and Media Foundation has a supervisory board and a statutory director. The director, Ms. N.R. Venema, is ultimately responsible for the policy and the realization of the foundation’s objectives.

The composition of the supervisory board as of May 29, 2026, is:

  • Y.M.H. Zonderop
  • E.N.H. Comvalius
  • A.S. Hoeblal
  • O.L. Van Daalen
  • I. Heijnen

Advisors
The Democracy and Media Foundation engages the following advisors where appropriate:

  • Klaas Kamphuis, ABN AMRO MeesPierson
  • Hermar Jansen, IBS Capital Allies
  • Fleur Bloemen, IBS Capital Allies
  • Max Veldkamp, IBS Capital Allies
  • Lysanne Zegwaard, Kamphuis en Berghuizen Accountants
  • Erik Stegerhoek, Forest Flint Advocaten
  • Margriet Breeuwsma, NP notarial partners
  • Gabriël van Gelder, VanLoman
  • Daniël Pieters, VanLoman
  • Caroline Bosch, Sprenkels

Remuneration Policy
Members of the supervisory board of the Democracy and Media Foundation receive a sector-compliant fee per meeting. In addition, an expense allowance is provided for extra activities that do not fall under the supervisory role. Management and employees of the Democracy and Media Foundation receive a sector-compliant salary.

Objectives and Mission
An explanation of the objectives and mission of the Democracy and Media Foundation can be found here.

Policy Plan Outlines
From 2026, we will focus emphatically on promoting the proper functioning of journalistic media for our democracy. No longer primarily as a fund that financially strengthens the initiatives of others—although that will continue to happen where necessary—but as an authoritative organization with a clear substantive focus on the interplay between media and democracy.

Specifically, SDM focuses on three levels. First: the rules for a solid infrastructure for media—policy-wise, legally, and technologically—must align with the current digital reality. Second: a self-aware and resilient media sector capable of reinventing itself. This is not just about protection, but also about transformation. Third: stimulating and innovative
content that feeds public thinking about the future of liberal democracy.

This ambition translates into four core activities.

Protect. Our independent and pluralistic media are the lifeblood of the liberal democratic constitutional state and therefore a great asset, but it is not a given that they will remain so. SDM protects journalistic independence against commercial interference and totalitarian pressure. In whatever form.

Research. In our research, we focus on the well-informed citizen as a prerequisite for democracy and as the primary target group for media. We focus on the relationship between citizen and media and between citizen and democracy, and thus also how media and democracy influence each other. SDM commissions independent research and shares the results as widely as possible. This allows
policy and debates to be conducted based on facts rather than gut feelings.

Innovate. The current technological era demands contemporary media. How do you relate to AI, social media, disinformation, and the power of big tech companies? SDM contributes ideas, stimulates innovation, and speaks out.

Connect. For strong media and a stable democracy, we need each other.
Successfully navigating this transformation can only be done collectively. SDM organizes meetings, sets up programs, and brings networks together. In this way, it facilitates necessary conversations and encounters, and encourages people to think.

SDM is also a driven, independent shareholder of DPG Media and De Correspondent and maintains close relations with the descendants of the founders of the illegal Parool. It also organizes the annual commemoration on February 5 for fallen employees of this resistance newspaper.

The foundation’s policy is regularly reassessed to respond appropriately to current developments.

Expenditure
In 2025, the Democracy and Media Foundation spent an amount of €3,567,940 on its target objectives. This includes, among other things, the grants from the democracy and media fund, including organizational and field strengthening, the civil movements fund, the multi-year grant to the Media Development Investment Fund ($500,000), the own initiatives item, and the costs for meetings and
expenditure on the statutory objective ‘surviving relatives’. This excludes office and administrative costs for the office itself, which amounted to €1,547,206.

Here you will find a list of initiatives and organizations that received financial support from the Democracy and Media Foundation in 2025.

For 2026, a total of €2,944,500 has been budgeted for target objectives, consisting of partnerships and donations and the development of own activities. In addition, a total of €1,956,339 has been budgeted for operational costs.

Governance Regulations
The Democracy and Media Foundation has governance regulations. These regulations have been endorsed by all members of the supervisory board and the managing director.

In addition to the articles of association, these regulations provide direction for the way in which the board and the supervisory board function. They also contain a conflict of interest policy, which stipulates, among other things, that the director or members of the supervisory board do not participate in discussions and decision-making on topics in which they have a potential conflict of interest.

Financial Policy
SDM’s available assets are invested based on an investment charter established by the board. Central to the policy are the preservation of capital and socially responsible investment. All our investments meet sustainability criteria and comply with the UN Global Compact guidelines. Investments in weapons, tobacco, alcohol, and gambling are excluded. Attention is also paid to safeguarding freedom of expression, press freedom, and digital rights. Depending on the returns, the annually determined investment budget may vary. If results are disappointing, the Democracy and Media Foundation is prepared to (temporarily) draw on its capital to continue promoting its objectives.

Asset Management
To invest its assets as carefully as possible, SDM has appointed IBS Capital Allies as fiduciary manager.

Annual Accounts
The annual accounts of the Democracy and Media Foundation have been prepared by Kop of Munt. The annual accounts are audited by Kamphuis en Berghuizen Accountants. The 2025 Statement of Income and Expenditure can be found  here and the 2025 balance sheet can be found here.