The Bernard van Leer Foundation is an international grantmaking foundation based in The Hague. Our mission is to improve opportunities for children up to age 8 who are growing up in socially and economically difficult circumstances.
The Bernard van Leer Foundation funds and shares knowledge about young children.
Our grantmaking works primarily through supporting programmes (see http://goo.gl/QniuF) implemented by local partners in selected countries. Our partners include public, private and community-based organisations. Working through partnerships is intended to build local capacity, promote innovation and flexibility, and help to ensure that the work we fund is culturally and contextually appropriate.
We also aim to leverage our impact by working with influential allies to advocate for young children. Our free publications share lessons we have learned from our own grantmaking activities and feature agenda-setting contributions from outside experts. Through our publications and advocacy, we aim to inform and influence policy and practice not only in the countries where we operate but globally.