Frequently asked questions

Eye Care Foundation focuses on preventing and curing unnecessary blindness and vision impairment. Do you have a question for us? Perhaps your question is already answered below. Is your question not answered?

Questions and answers about

ECF

Donations

Working at ECF

Questions and answers about ECF

What does Eye Care Foundation do?

Eye Care Foundation focuses on combating unnecessary blindness and vision impairment. We do this by:
– Training local medical personnel and volunteers
– Setting up field offices for general support and medical management
– Building eye clinics at easy-to-reach locations
– Donating medical eye care equipment
– Financing cataract surgeries
– Eye exams for elderly and schoolchildren
– Prescribing eyeglasses

In what countries is Eye Care Foundation active?

Eye Care Foundation has projects in Cambodia, Ecuador, Laos, Nepal, Surinam, Tanzania, and Vietnam. We are always open to further international expansion.

Where can I read the Annual Report of Eye Care Foundation?

The annual report can be read here

Annual report

Does Eye Care Foundation have an ANBI status?

Yes, we do. There are special fiscal rules in the Netherlands for giving gifts to charities. Eye Care Foundation is registered with the Dutch Belastingdienst as an Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling (ANBI). The ANBI-status is a condition to be eligible for fiscal advantages. ANBI is not a certification. For charities, a recognition arraignment goes further than the ANBI prerequisites. This recognition is given by the Centraal Bureau Fondsenwerving (CBF), the independent supervisor of charities in The Netherlands. The CBF checks if charities meet the strict quality demands. Goede Doelen Nederland (general organisation of acknowledged charities located in The Netherlands) and the CBF have an agreement with the Ministery of Finance and the Belastingdienst that acknowledged charities need the CBF Recognition passport to be able to be published on ANBI.

Does Eye Care Foundation have the CBF certification (CBF-Erkend Goed Doel)?

Yes. Eye Care Foundation has been recognised as a charity by the CBF (CBF-Erkend Goed Doel), and we have been closely reviewed.

Does Eye Care Foundation receive government subsidies?

No, unfortunately not. Eye Care Foundation does not get subsidies from the Dutch or any other government and is entirely dependent on donations.

Can I visit Eye Care Foundation projects?

That is possible. By joining our donation trips, you can experience the work of Eye Care Foundation in a specific country. The projects of Eye Care Foundation are often in remote areas and difficult to reach; therefore, these visits can only be organised with a group.

I want to do a presentation or paper on vision impairment and blindness. Can you share information with me?

How lovely that you want to learn more about these topics. Email your name, age, and which class/grade you are in, and tell us why this topic interests you: info@eyecarefoundation.nl>

Question and Answer on donations

How can I donate?

It’s great to hear that you want to donate. All support is welcome. Your donation will give people their vision back so that they have sight of a better future. You can arrange it all here

Doneer

What is a periodic donation agreement, and how does it work?

With a periodic donation agreement, you donate for a minimum of five years. Your donations are tax-deductible. You will get almost half of each donated euro back from the Belastingdienst. If you increase your gift, you don’t have to pay more. Download here to read more information on periodic donations.

Periodic donation

What are the advantages of a periodic donation agreement?

A periodic donation agreement gives you a tax advantage, regardless of the amount of your gift, making it a very convenient way of donating. Even when you decide to increase your gift, it will not cost you extra, but Eye Care Foundation will receive more. With a periodic donation agreement, you offer structural financial support to Eye Care Foundation. This allows us to depend on your support for longer, so we can spend this on long-term projects, like tracing and treating patients structurally.
All the pros:
– You get to deduct your donation from your income taxes;
– You receive a large part of your donation back from the Belastingdienst;
– You give the same net amount while Eye Care Foundation receives more, allowing us to help more people;
– Eye Care Foundation can rely on your trust for a more extended period;
– Your gift will benefit Eye Care Foundation because charities with an ANBI status are not taxed on gifts.

How do I donate as a company?

You can also make a corporate donation through your BV when you have a company. Annual gifts €0 to a maximum of 50% of the fiscal profit are deductible before the VPB. We gladly discuss all options for corporate donations. Contact our CEO, Björn Stenvers, at: b.stenvers@eyecarefoundation.nl or call 0031 (0)20 – 647 38 79. For all proprietorships (ZZP or freelance), CV, VOF, etc., the rules of private donations are applied concerning tax advantages.

Which donations are tax deductible?

If you donate for a minimum of five years via a periodic donation agreement, your donations are fully deductible from your income taxes. Without a periodic donation agreement, your gift is only deductible when it is a minimum of 1% and a maximum of 10% of your gross income. When you own a business, you can also make corporate donations. Annual gifts €0 to a maximum of 50% of the fiscal profit are deductible before the VPB.

What is the ECF bank account number?

We happily share this with you:the bank account number for gifts is IBAN: NL14 ABNA 0543 4445 54. Thank you for your support.

Can I add ECF to my will?

Yes, you can add a donation to ECF in your will. Many supporters are very loyal to us. By adding Eye Care Foundation to your will, you continue to invest in our fight against blindness and vision impairment, even beyond your lifetime. This is a memorable legacy and a big source of support for people in regions where they need it most. Read more about donating in your will.

Can I organise a fundraiser?

Of course, you can raise funds for our charity. You can do this as a private person or as a company. You actively raise funds by getting people to help you achieve your goal. Likewise, you can also ask for a donation instead of a physical gift for your birthday or anniversary. Or start a fundraiser or find a sponsor for an athletic challenge. Either way, you can make your donation page via geef.nl

Start your fundraiser

Can I also contribute through sponsorship?

Sure. Sponsor the Eye Care Foundation team during the Dam to Damloop. Our team will run 10 EM from Amsterdam to Zaandam. This year, we want to raise over €40.000 in honour of our 40th anniversary. Help us achieve that amount. Become a sponsor now or discuss sponsorship opportunities with our event manager, Margreet. (m.geels@eyecarefoundation.nl)

Become a sponsor

Can I also donate medical equipment?

Yes, you can. Do you have ophthalmology equipment available, or would you like to purchase it for us? We are happy to receive it, as we can use it in our active countries. Contact us by email at info@eyecarefoundation.nl.

Question and Answer on working at ECF

Do you have any vacancies currently?

It’s great to hear you are interested in working at Eye Care Foundation. Check our vacancy page to see all job openings.

Vacancies

I want to use my expertise in eye care for ECF; how should I get in touch?

Medical advisors are ophthalmologists who support and advise Eye Care Foundation. They work on training local ophthalmologists in the countries where ECF works or helping them set up and start a new eye clinic. Do you want to use your expertise and work as a medical advisor for ECF? Contact us by emailing info@eyecarefoundation.nl

What is your viewpoint on diversity & inclusivity?

Eye Care Foundation strives for an inclusive culture where all employees feel encouraged and supported. We are proud of the diversity within our teams and the communities in which we work. Eye Care Foundation welcomes applications from people of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, religions, beliefs, capacities, and other diversity characteristics. For staff recruitment, Eye Care Foundation abides by the NVP Application code.

Donations make our work possible

Our activities for good eye care are possible through active funding. Eye Care Foundation runs entirely on donations, large and small. Donations make our work possible; without them, these regions have no opportunities for good eye care. We use our donations directly for all our activities.

Support us

Our activities are completely clear

Our focus is on improving, preventing and curing. This is what we do:

Training local medical personnel and volunteers
Setting up field offices for general support and medical management
Building eye clinics at easy-to-reach locations
Donating medical eye care equipment
Financing cataract surgeries
Eye exams for elderly and schoolchildren
Prescribing eyeglasses