Private money for the public good can play a fundamental role to enhance the quality of our society. Philanthropy can deploy resources for initiatives, that otherwise are difficult to fund, but have a great potential. I offer my services to families, civil society organisations, investors and corporates, that want to engage in effective philanthropy and wealth management.
Dr. Rien van Gendt
Philanthropy Services
My Story
I grew up in a caring family with parents, that were not affluent, but made sacrifices for their children to go to higher education and use their potential. It influenced my life and explains why I take a genuine interest in people, particularly when they live in poverty or under vulnerable circumstances. I see the untapped potential of people; I am impressed by the resilience they show and want to contribute to this.
In 1988 I joined the world of philanthropy as Executive Director of the Bernard van Leer Foundation in The Hague, a grantmaker and social investor in more than 40 countries. My previous work at the University of Amsterdam, the OECD in Paris, the Scientific Council on Government Policy (WRR), the Province of Limburg and the international company Wilma Real Estate, came all together in Van Leer: funding in a strategic, daring and impactful way.
After retiring from Van Leer in 2007 I started Van Gendt Philanthropy Services, offering my expertise to further the effectiveness of philanthropy, to support boards with their fiduciary responsibility to invest their endowments in a professional manner and to align giving and investing in a smart way.
I am engaged in diverse fields of action, that range from education, social justice, health care, international development, community philanthropy to culture; also culture because I believe in the power of culture to foster social cohesion, to express oneself in a non-verbal, universal manner and to unite beyond borders.
With private money one makes available the social venture capital, that is so badly needed for a society to progress. We should not fill the gaps left by governments. Philanthropy should be humble but also be bold, strategic and agile in that it can use its independence to take risks, to take a long-term view and to contribute to a more diverse and pluriform society.
Current Positions
2016
Member Supervisory Board Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, New York
2020
Member Board Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Europe, London
2007
Member Board IMC Weekendschool, Amsterdam
2013
Senior Advisor Board Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon
2018
Chair Investment Committee Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon
2012
Advisor GSRD Foundation, Amsterdam
2014
Advisor Netherlands Dance Theatre, The Hague
2016
Advisor DoubleDividend, Amsterdam
2012
Advisor Movies That Matter, Amsterdam
2018
Member Scientific Committee Long Term Investors (UniTo), Turin
2020
Advisor Stichting BuzinezzClub, Rotterdam
