Social Finance NL is an Amsterdam-based organisation formally established in October 2018, with ABN AMRO and the Oranje Fonds as founding partners. Its roots in the field run deeper, with involvement in outcomes-based financing in the Netherlands since 2013, notably launching the country's first Social Impact Bond targeting youth unemployment in Rotterdam.
The organisation operates as part of the Social Finance Global Network, drawing on methodologies developed by Social Finance UK, the originator of the Social Impact Bond in 2010. This international context allows Social Finance NL to exchange knowledge and collaborate on innovative financing solutions addressing complex societal issues.
Social Finance NL focuses on helping governments, investors, and service providers finance, measure, and scale social impact initiatives. Its core work centres on outcomes-based finance—structuring collaborations where payments are tied to achieved results rather than activities. In the Netherlands, the team has participated in 10 out of 17 Social Impact Bonds, supporting varied initiatives that target unemployment among youth, people with health conditions, ex-prisoners, and refugees.
One recent example is the organisation’s partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment to create a fund incentivising employers to develop more inclusive workplaces by removing systemic barriers.
Social Finance NL maintains a small, dedicated team and a three-member board. The organisation prioritises accurate impact measurement and transparent reporting, aiming to bring financial rigor and accountability to efforts tackling social challenges in the Netherlands.