Manifesto, purpose, mission and vision

Our founder and donor Frits Goldschmeding gave the Goldschmeding Foundation the task of making a better world possible for People, Work and the Economy.
The Foundation therefore works on creating this better world, based on the conviction that we all benefit from looking out for each other more.

We are committed to taking structural action to achieve our goals and therefore support – through donations, knowledge and our network – projects that demonstrably contribute to lasting change, for an inclusive labour market, sustainable work and a humane economy.

We have laid this down in our manifesto:

 

When you see that not everyone is achieving their full potential in society,
with some people flourishing more easily than others in the economy,
and you are in a position to do something about it,
then you take action to make things better.

 

The Goldschmeding Foundation therefore connects realistic idealists
and supports their projects, which prove that things can be done differently.
That more is not always better.
That one person’s development also furthers the interests of others.
And that removing barriers now creates lasting change for later.

 

A better world does not come about by itself.
That is why we are working together
to bring the world of people, work and the economy into balance.

 

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER WORLD

 

AGAPE: THE COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT OTHERS FLOURISH

A better world does not come about by itself. One thing we need to achieve this purpose is to share the interests of others. However, this is still far from being commonplace, so this state of affairs must change. The Goldschmeding Foundation therefore draws its inspiration from the Greek concept of ‘agape’, which, loosely translated, is the ‘commitment to ensuring that others flourish’. Putting yourself in another person’s shoes and thinking in terms of their interests creates a more beautiful society.

 

OUR ETHICAL COMPASS

Frits Goldschmeding also formulated motives for economic action as part of this task. The Foundation is guided by these motives for its existence, purpose and working methods; they make up our ethical compass:

1

Knowing, serving and trusting are the elaboration of the ethical aspect of things in which love plays a role.

2

The company is seen as a partnership in which the simultaneous promotion of the interests of direct and indirect stakeholders safeguards the continuity of the company.

3

Despite human imperfection, stakeholders are expected to strive for perfection in their actions.

 

OUR PURPOSE

The Goldschmeding Foundation wants to contribute to a better world, in which we have more consideration for each other, so that everyone achieves their potential in society.

 

OUR MISSION

With knowledge, donations and our network, the Goldschmeding Foundation supports promising initiatives of ‘realistic idealists’ who can demonstrably contribute to a lasting change in the way we work and cooperate.

Together, we are committed to an inclusive labour market, sustainable work and a humane economy.

 

OUR VISION

The Goldschmeding Foundation wants to contribute to a better world by permanently changing the way people work and cooperate. This is based on the conviction that we all benefit from looking out for each other more.

Specifically, we see this better world as one in which:

  1. everyone who is able and willing contributes to society through work (Inclusive Labour Market programme)
  2. our way of working contributes to a future-proof and resilient economy (Sustainable Work programme)
  3. the interests of others really come first (Humane Economy programme)