Bernard van Leer Foundation
A Dutch philanthropic foundation that supports and shares knowledge about early childhood development.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
The Bernard van Leer Foundation is a Netherlands-based philanthropic organization focused on improving conditions for young children and supporting early childhood development. Its work combines grantmaking, knowledge sharing, and support for initiatives intended to influence the quality of care, education, and wider environments experienced by children in their early years. Rather than operating as a commercial brand, the foundation functions as an independent charitable institution whose identity is associated with long-term social investment, evidence-informed practice, and international cooperation. The foundation was established in 1949 from the bequest of Bernard van Leer, a Dutch industrialist and philanthropist. Van Leer built his fortune through the packaging business he founded in 1919, Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer. Following his death in 1958, his son Oscar Van Leer helped give the foundation a clearer organizational structure and focus. During the 1960s, the foundation increasingly concentrated on young children, primary education, youth, and children facing disadvantage. This represented a move from a broad philanthropic inheritance toward a more defined social-development mission. The foundation began international project funding in 1966, with its first international project taking place in Jamaica. Over time, its activities supported the development of early childhood care and education in Jamaica and included the Preschool Education Project in Kenya. These examples reflect the foundation’s approach of working through programs and partner organizations rather than presenting itself as a direct mass-service provider. Its contribution is therefore commonly expressed through grants, research, field learning, advocacy, and the dissemination of practical knowledge. The foundation’s financial resources are channeled through the Van Leer Group Foundation. That wider foundation structure also supports the Jerusalem Film Centre and the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. The governing council of the Van Leer Group Foundation also serves as the board of trustees of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, linking the foundation’s governance with the broader Van Leer philanthropic group. In the late 1990s, the group sold Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer, which it had previously owned in full. The group’s income subsequently came from a venture-capital company and a diversified portfolio of equities, securities, and property. The Bernard van Leer Foundation is a member of the Network of European Foundations for Innovative Cooperation. Its public profile is consequently that of a specialist international foundation rather than a consumer-facing organization. Its central area remains early childhood development, with attention to the systems, institutions, policies, and local projects that shape children’s lives. OECD-reported figures cited in reference material indicate that the foundation’s development financing rose by 3 percent in 2019 to US$14.3 million; this figure describes a specific year and should not be treated as a current annual budget.
History
The Bernard van Leer Foundation was established in 1949 using the bequest of Bernard van Leer, a Dutch industrialist and philanthropist. Van Leer was born in 1883 and died in 1958. His wealth came primarily from Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer, the packaging company he founded in 1919. The foundation therefore originated as a philanthropic vehicle connected to the Van Leer family’s industrial fortune. After Bernard van Leer’s death, his son Oscar Van Leer played an important role in giving the organization a more defined structure and direction. During the 1960s, the foundation developed a stronger focus on young children, primary education, youth, and children experiencing disadvantage. This period marked the formation of the subject area that continues to define the foundation’s public identity. In 1966, the foundation funded its first international project, in Jamaica. Its later work contributed to the development of early childhood care and education in Jamaica and included support for the Preschool Education Project in Kenya. These activities placed the foundation within the emerging international field of early childhood development and education, where philanthropic funding was increasingly used to strengthen local services, knowledge, and policy. The foundation is connected to the Van Leer Group Foundation, through which its income is channeled. The group also supports the Jerusalem Film Centre and the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. The members of the Van Leer Group Foundation’s governing council serve as the Bernard van Leer Foundation’s trustees, creating a common governance relationship between the institutions. During the late 1990s, the Van Leer Group Foundation sold Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer, the packaging company that had been fully owned by the group. Following that disposal, the group’s income was derived from a venture-capital company and a diversified global portfolio of equities, securities, and property. The foundation’s philanthropic activities have consequently been supported by the investment structure associated with the Van Leer Group rather than by the continued operation of the original packaging business. The Bernard van Leer Foundation is also a member of the Network of European Foundations for Innovative Cooperation. Its work has centered on funding and sharing knowledge about early childhood development, with an emphasis on improving the environments and services affecting young children. Reference material citing the OECD reports that development financing increased by 3 percent in 2019 to US$14.3 million. The figure is tied to that reporting year and does not establish a current level of expenditure.
- 2019
Development financing reaches reported US$14.3 million
[1]OECD-reported information cited a 3 percent year-on-year increase in the foundation’s development financing, to US$14.3 million.
- 1990
International early childhood work expands
[1]The foundation’s international portfolio included work contributing to early childhood care and education in Jamaica and the Preschool Education Project in Kenya.
- 1990
Van Leer Group divests packaging company
[1]In the late 1990s, the Van Leer Group Foundation sold Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer, which it had fully owned.
- 1966
First international project funded
[1]The foundation funded its first international project in Jamaica.
- 1964
Focus shifts toward children and education
[1]The foundation began focusing on young children, primary education, youth, and disadvantaged young children.
- 1958
Bernard van Leer dies
[1]After Bernard van Leer’s death, his son Oscar Van Leer helped provide the foundation with a clearer organization and focus.
- 1949
Foundation established
[1]The Bernard van Leer Foundation was established from Bernard van Leer’s bequest.
- 1919
Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer founded
[1]Bernard van Leer founded the packaging company that generated the industrial fortune later connected with the foundation’s endowment.
Products and positioning
A specialist philanthropic foundation focused on early childhood development, combining funding with knowledge generation and dissemination to support children, families, communities, and the systems that serve them.
Philanthropic funding · 1964
Early childhood development grants
The foundation’s principal offering is philanthropic funding for work intended to improve early childhood development. Grants support partner organizations and initiatives working with young children, families, education systems, and related public or community institutions. The foundation is associated with both country-level projects and wider knowledge-sharing efforts.
Knowledge and research
Early childhood knowledge sharing
Alongside funding, the foundation shares knowledge about early childhood development and early childhood care and education. This work helps circulate lessons from supported programs and contributes to discussion among practitioners, researchers, foundations, and policymakers. The available reference material does not identify a single named publication or product line.
Program partnerships · 1966
International partner projects
The foundation works through international projects and partner organizations rather than operating as a conventional retail or service brand. Documented examples include its first international project in Jamaica, contributions to early childhood care and education in Jamaica, and involvement with the Preschool Education Project in Kenya.
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