Province takes next step with Brabant Outcomes Fund

The Province of North Brabant is taking the next step in strengthening social impact entrepreneurs and launching a new round of the Brabant Outcomes Fund (BOF). With this initiative, the province aims to benefit tens of thousands of Brabant residents in the coming years by creating more opportunities in areas such as mental health, liveability, vitality, and social cohesion.

For this new round, the province is collaborating with the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK), which will receive a (partially revolving) grant to finance, guide, and accelerate the growth of social impact enterprises. Every euro invested in these enterprises and donations generates an average of two euros in additional co-financing. This investment round focuses on eight social impact organisations. Additionally, funds are available for entrepreneurs who need temporary working or bridge capital during their scaling phase.

“We want all Brabant residents to be able to participate and thrive. Social impact entrepreneurs play a key role in this.”
Saskia Boelema, Deputy for Broad Prosperity and Health

Why Brabant is taking this step

The recent Brabant Broad Prosperity Monitor and the Brabant Perceived Broad Prosperity Monitor show that the broad prosperity gap is widening. More and more people, particularly young people, are struggling with mental health issues, loneliness is on the rise, facilities are under pressure, and the quality of living environments varies significantly by region. Strengthening the social foundation is therefore more urgent than ever.

At the same time, national and international research shows that social impact entrepreneurs are particularly effective in addressing these issues. They combine economic activities with social and ecological impact, creating multiple forms of value. However, they face structural obstacles such as limited access to financing, fragmented support, and insufficient market access. With this new round of the BOF, the province is giving these entrepreneurs and broad prosperity in Brabant a powerful boost. This aligns with the Broad Prosperity Implementation Agenda, which includes the goal of better financing and supporting socially innovative entrepreneurship.

“We want all Brabant residents to be able to participate and thrive. Social impact entrepreneurs play a key role in this. They connect economic strength with social value,” says Deputy Saskia Boelema (Broad Prosperity and Health). “The Brabant Outcomes Fund is a prime example of how broad prosperity works in practice. With this new round, entrepreneurs can scale up, and together we ensure that more Brabant residents benefit from their solutions. This is an investment in a better future for Brabant.”

Examples of existing Brabant social impact enterprises include Join Us, a foundation combating chronic loneliness among young people, and Maak Rimpels, a programme that strengthens the vitality, digital skills, and mutual resilience of seniors. Join Us already collaborates with the DRK Foundation, and Maak Rimpels recently received a contribution from the Province of North Brabant.

Difference from the first round of the BOF

This new round of the BOF aligns with the coalition agreement ‘Samen maken we Brabant’ and the subsequent Broad Prosperity Implementation Agenda. Through the first round of the BOF (2019), the province actively fulfilled its role as both a financier and catalyst for social innovation. This role is now continued in the form of a grant provider to an existing fund of the DRK Foundation. Additionally, the province acts as a financier and catalyst by providing knowledge and follow-up financing to entrepreneurs.

• See also: Infographic Developments Brabant Outcomes Fund to date (pdf, 198 kB)

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