A Development Organization in Development:
From De Oude Beuk to d.o.b foundation

1997 - 2001: the beginning

In 1997 d.o.b foundation, then still De Oude Beuk Foundation, begins with development work. We travel the world to explore possibilities and initiatives of pioneers. Enthousiastically and with a drive De Oude Beuk works together with Dutch and local organizations on projects that support people.

This phase could be called classical development aid, as money is given and given again... The effect of this approach is that it makes people dependent instead of stronger and self sufficient. In 1998 we quickly see that a one way capital flow from The Netherlands can never be a sustainable solution. What if this could be done by setting up businesses in the countries themselves...

From 2002: business & care

That's why, in the course of time, we choose for the approach of business & care and we search for opportunities to combine these two aspects in projects. In 2002 the first project in this manner is started: a hairdresser's shop in Novi Sad, Serbia. Youngsters from youth care receive an education here and part of the profit goes to the Social Centre.

Sometimes a project starts from the care side and income is generated by connecting the project to a business; the company lets part of its profits flow to the project. An example of a project like this is the Dutch Bakery in Mramor, Bulgaria.
Or we approach it from the other side: we invest in a company that supports a social goal. An example of this is the Ekonom Shop, a chemist in Kazan, Tatarstan. Which ever way, the goal is that these projects and thus the people, can carry on without our support after a certain period of time.

At the end of 2005 we support around 120 projects in 26 different countries and many of these are still active today.

From 2005: It's possible and d.o.b foundation

Experience teaches us that it's often not only a matter of money. It is also and especially about finding ideas, getting them off the ground and further developing them.

In 2005 It's possible is started. It's possible becomes the incubator for innovative project ideas that will be tested and can be duplicated to other places in the world. At the inspiring farm De Nijensteen we bring together people and parties to bridge differences, learn from one another, brainstorm, develop ideas and give hands and feet to projects.

We bundle our strengths more and more with different international parties to have a larger impact and mid 2006 De Oude Beuk Foundation changes her name to d.o.b foundation. The name It's possible! becomes the organization's motto.

We develop a package of multidisciplinary support for social innovative projects, that consists of:

- large involvement
- multi year support
- tailored financing
- non-financial support (e.g. coaching, connecting to network, facilitating)
- performance management (monitoring and improving performance, e.g. financial and social measurement)

The focus now lies on a very limited number of projects that potentially have a large impact on people. With a multi-stakeholder approach to the development and implementation of a project, success and sustainability are more likely.
With the principles of entrepreneurship, the guts of the venture capitalist and the heart of the philanthropist we meet the needs of poor people and people who are otherwise hindered in their evolvement. Together with them we create opportunities to develop themselves.

Read more about our mission and vision and working method.

Click for some examples of the many projects we've (partially) financed in the past.