Our approach

Our focus is on the root causes of problems, taking the time to understand the systems in which they arise and making a concerted and collaborative effort to deliver change. 

We focus on the interlinked areas of society, education, faith and climate because these fields have a defining effect on people's quality of life and dignity. They are also areas where we believe our knowledge and networks, in collaboration with others, can really make a difference. We define systems as interrelationships existing between individuals, groups and institutions which form a bigger whole. Criminal justice, education, or human trafficking are examples of systems. They are highly context-specific but can also benefit from global approaches.

At Porticus we select partners that share our values and have an entrepreneurial mindset and the potential to make a meaningful impact on people's lives.

Grant amounts vary based on the size and scale of the selected programme or project. Some programmes require large, multi-year funding to realise change, whereas other projects only require limited one-time funding. We work closely with our partners to develop a budget proposal during the application process.

Porticus advises and supervises grants and programmes given by the charitable foundations set up by the family business owners, serving human dignity and promoting social justice in over 130 countries.

Porticus does not raise funds or receive donations itself. Porticus advises the charitable entities established by the Brenninkmeijer family business owners. These include Clementia Verein, Stichting Benevolentia and Stiftung Auxilium.

At Porticus, meaningful participation is a moral obligation and the route we chose to create more impactful programmes.

We define meaningful participation as a collaborative process between funders, grantees and people with lived experience who share decision-making power and mutual accountability to ensure positive change. We recognise that all persons involved have equally valuable contributions to bring to the table. Participation is not only a means to an end, it is also the end in itself.

This is why we want it to be at the centre of our philanthropic practice. However, we don't assume that we have all the answers. The path towards this goal will not always be smooth; meaningful participation often crosses unchartered territory for us.

As we navigate what it means to be truly participatory, we build on experiences from others, and we share ours. These are the guiding principles we follow, as we aspire to make participation meaningful in our work.

Our cyclical grantmaking approach is comprised of three components, Strategy, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Lesson Learning. 

Evaluating effectiveness and impact is difficult, but it is core to the way we make decisions and maximise impact. We strive to be a learning organisation – always looking to understand what works best. We assess and reflect on our own experiences and analyse any external evidence we can access. We also support initiatives to find new and better ways to measure and improve impact.