Mensen Maken Amsterdam (MMA) is a unique fund that supports Amsterdam neighborhood initiatives. What makes this fund special is their radical trust in residents. MMA doesn't work with a central board, but committees of neighborhood residents. They decide which initiatives receive funding. This participatory approach ensures that support goes directly to projects that meet the needs of the neighborhood. We spoke with Kyra van Hoof, who has been leading the foundation since 2022, about the power of this model, the collaboration with FindNFund and tips for other funds.

A unique structure: neighborhood residents decide together

"As far as I have been able to find, there is no similar fund in Europe, with residents in the decision-making process who can decide in the capillaries of their neighborhood what is important for their environment." The first neighborhood fund started pioneering in Amsterdam-Oost in 2014 and was already working with 'participatory grantmaking'. Instead of a 'traditional' board structure, MMA has more than 90 residents throughout Amsterdam who assess applications from neighborhood residents through neighborhood committees focused on their neighborhood. After all, neighborhood residents know best what their environment needs.

An important factor in the success of this approach is accessibility. Applicants can easily contact local coordinators, get accessible advice and collaborate with a broad network of volunteers and partners. MMA not only provides financial support, but also offers knowledge, guidance and a network to help initiatives grow.

From small to big: synergy with other funds

Often neighborhood initiatives that have been able to experiment with money from their neighborhood fund come back to MMA when they want to grow into larger projects with additional funding. MMA helps by referring to (partner) funds and supports these initiatives to find their way in the social fabric of the city. Collaboration with other funds plays a crucial role in this. MMA has a network of funds with which they collaborate. This ensures that initiatives that want to develop further feel supported in that step from MMA's personal approach. "It helps to make the fund world more accessible for initiators and to ensure that initiatives can search for funding more sustainably," says Kyra.

The role of FindNFund

MMA has been working with FindNFund for a year. Previously, MMA kept an overview of funds to recommend, but it was difficult to find out how helpful or effective this was. FindNFund offers a dynamic and interactive alternative.

"FindNFund fits perfectly with our core values: accessibility and transparency," says Kyra. "For local initiatives, it is often difficult to find the right funds. This platform makes the process much simpler." In addition, FindNFund contributes to the professionalization of applicants and helps MMA to refer initiatives faster and better.

Message to other funds

Kyra shares valuable insights for funds that want to support local initiatives:

• Make it accessible: ensure an accessible application process, offer personal guidance and aftercare*.
• Think broader than funding: The needs of local initiatives go beyond money, knowledge, network and support is at least as valuable and often helps more sustainably.
• Actively seek collaboration: Synergy between funds helps initiatives to grow sustainably.

In addition, Kyra encourages funds to work with FindNFund: "I experience the platform as very user-friendly, it saves time and makes funds more accessible for initiatives. The more funds join, the greater the impact."

*Aftercare is the term that Anouschka, coordinator of Fonds voor Centrum, uses for the contact after processing the application. Our coordinators call all applicants after the meeting with a verbal explanation of the approval or rejection. And they or our volunteers try to visit the projects that have received a contribution from the neighborhood fund where possible. That personal attention, the support during implementation and the enthusiasm that our neighborhood committees experience when they have visited the project, all falls under 'aftercare'.

Conclusion

Mensen Maken Amsterdam shows how powerful local involvement can be. By giving residents control, collaborating with other funds and embracing innovative platforms like FindNFund, MMA ensures that neighborhood initiatives not only start, but also grow. An inspiring model for every community and every fund that really wants to make a difference.