About the Bernard van Leer Foundation

The Bernard van Leer Foundation funds and shares knowledge about work in early childhood development. The foundation was established in 1949 and is based in the Netherlands. Our income is derived from the bequest of Bernard van Leer, a Dutch industrialist and philanthropist, who lived from 1883 to 1958.

Working with other organisations, our mission is to develop and support programmes that create significant positive change for children up to the age of eight who are growing up in circumstances of social and economic disadvantage. Our vision is one of a world where, in spite of such circumstances, young children reach their full potential.

We are guided by a holistic view of young children’s development – to realise their human potential, children need nurture that is physical, social, emotional, intellectual, cultural and spiritual – and a belief that the most appropriate care for young children comes from their parents, families and communities.

As a private grantmaking foundation, we also believe we have a responsibility to use our freedom to fund work and thought that is bold, innovative and experimental. We are committed to learning lessons from monitoring and evaluating our projects, and to leveraging our impact through publications and advocacy.

History and income
The work we fund
Applications for funding