Bart de Graaff Foundation

The Bart de Graaff Foundation (BGF) is a Dutch charitable foundation established in 2002 in memory of Bart de Graaff, the Dutch television producer and founder of broadcaster BNN, who died of a kidney disease. The foundation's core mission is to help young people with a life-defining physical disability or chronic illness start and run their own businesses. These entrepreneurs are called "Onbeperkte Ondernemers" (Unlimited Entrepreneurs), formerly known as "Bikkels" — a nickname Bart de Graaff himself carried. The foundation provides organizational help, personal and business coaching, visibility support, financial advice, and assistance in finding sponsors, all aimed at enabling participants to set up a business successfully and independently. It works with mentor companies that guide the "Onbeperkte Ondernemers" for a year, offers financial support where needed, and organizes meetings for both entrepreneurs and mentors. BGF also runs events to raise money for kidney disease research, such as the "Nacht van Bart," a sponsored run past important places in De Graaff's life. A secondary goal is promoting organ donation; foundation chair Mirjam de Graaff is also an ambassador for the Nierstichting (Kidney Foundation), working to make organ donation and the portable artificial kidney more accessible. The foundation is recognized as an institution for general benefit (algemeen nut beogende instelling) and holds the CBF quality mark. It has various ambassadors, including well-known Dutch people, who support its work. Its website presents the foundation as a connector between "Bikkels," mentor companies, sponsors, and donors, and highlights partnerships such as the collaboration with "Onbeperkt aan de Slag."

The Bart de Graaff Foundation was founded in 2002 in memory of Bart de Graaff, the Dutch program maker and founder of BNN, who died of a kidney disease. The foundation was created to carry forward his legacy by supporting young people with a life-defining physical disability or chronic illness in starting their own businesses. These participants were originally called "Bikkels," a nickname Bart de Graaff also had, and later became known as "Onbeperkte Ondernemers" (Unlimited Entrepreneurs). Over the years, the foundation developed a support model combining organizational help, personal and business coaching, visibility, financial advice, and sponsor matching. It works with mentor companies that guide the entrepreneurs for a year, provides financial support where needed, and organizes meetings for entrepreneurs and mentors. In addition to its primary mission, BGF organizes fundraising events for kidney disease research, such as the "Nacht van Bart," a sponsored run along important places in De Graaff's life. It also promotes organ donation as a secondary goal, with chair Mirjam de Graaff serving as an ambassador for the Nierstichting. The foundation is recognized as an algemeen nut beogende instelling (institution for general benefit) and holds the CBF quality mark. It engages ambassadors, including well-known Dutch people, and collaborates with partners such as Onbeperkt aan de Slag. Its website serves as a hub for Bikkels, mentor companies, sponsors, and donors.

• 2002

  Foundation established in memory of Bart de Graaff.

• Participants renamed from "Bikkels" to "Onbeperkte Ondernemers".

• Collaboration with Onbeperkt aan de Slag announced, starting officially in January.

A Dutch charitable foundation focused on inclusion and entrepreneurship for young people with physical disabilities or chronic illness, operating through mentors, sponsors, and ambassadors.

1. 1Bart de Graaff Foundation official websitebartfoundation.nl
2. 2Bart de Graaff Foundation - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Bart de Graaff Foundation - Dutch Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org