Strategy
Strategy of the Achmea Foundation
In 2019 we continued to develop the ambitions and approach outlined in the strategic plan for 2016-2020. We are an organisation that aims for continuous improvement. For instance, this year we enhanced our monitoring system and amended the procedure for our 2020 Call for Proposals (also referred to below as the ‘Call’). In 2019 we once again drew on the expertise of our colleagues at Achmea and the network of the Foundation and Achmea itself in order to enhance our impact for the most vulnerable groups. Our activities are clustered into four programmes at home and abroad: Achmea Foundation Impact Fund, Expert Volunteer Assignments, ImpactPlus and Voor Elkaar. As explained in section 2.15 Achmea Foundation Financial Position and in section 3.8 Subsequent Events, the COVID-19 outbreak and the measures adopted by various governments to curb the outbreak have so far only had a limited effect on the Foundation in the first five months of 2020. During those first five months of 2020, we released an extra sum of €497,000 in funding for additional projects to combat COVID-19 and limit its impact both in the Netherlands and Africa.
In the first five months of 2020 there was a small decrease in the value of our investments (-1.4%) compared with the end of 2019, which at the end of May 2020 amounted to €7,966,000. Whether the Foundation’s result will be impacted by COVID-19 in the remaining months of 2020 will depend partly on the pandemic’s impact on the result of Achmea B.V., the period in which our current and future initiatives are exposed to COVID-19 and the extent to which government measures are extended, expanded or wound down. At present the Achmea Foundation has no plans to make any changes to the implementation of its strategy or the organisation of the Foundation or to limit these in any way. The Achmea Foundation is complying with the COVID-19 measures introduced by Achmea B.V., for instance compulsory working from home and undertaking only strictly essential travel. However, if the COVID-19 pandemic persists, we may have to make a reassessment. As was mentioned above, the pandemic has created uncertainty for the Achmea Foundation but has not had any impact on its objectives. However, COVID-19 may have an impact on our investments and the amount of Achmea B.V.’s future contribution. Since the equity capital exceeds the target of €1 million and expenditure on the Foundation’s objectives has ranged between €2 million and €3 million in recent years, we do not believe there is any material uncertainty about the continuity of the Foundation’s activities. COVID-19 will have an impact, but not a major impact.