News NIKETAN wins the Impact Challenge Award 2021

The Impact Challenge aims to enhance the social impact of the charity sector. Charity organisations recognised by CBF – the Dutch fundraising regulator – were “challenged” to improve their impact and make the impact more visible. Questions to be answered included: “Does the organization use the most effective strategies? and “How transparent is the organization about its impact?”

The Impact Challenge is a joint initiative of CBF and branch organisation Goede Doelen Nederland.

Niketan presented its pandemic experiences while safeguarding its achievements supporting children with intellectual and complex disabilities in Bangladesh. New interventions included online teaching and therapy, verandah schools in 54 communities and financial family support. This way, Niketan adapted its ways of working from mainly focusing on children with a disability to a family approach to improve and sustain impact.

From among all participants, a team led by Paul Smeets, professor of Philanthropy and Sustainable Finance at Maastricht University – selected the three finalists.

There were two categories of organizations that could compete for the Impact Challenge Award: organizations up to € 500,000 income per year and those from € 500,000 income and up per year. The organization that was best able to translate lessons learned into concrete and inspiring suggestions for colleague-organizations in a pitch of 3 minutes would win the Impact Challenge Award in its category.

The jury consisted of independent and professional experts in the field of impact-oriented practice: Tjeerd Krumpelman (ABN-AMRO), Sara Kinsbergen (Radboud University) and Marleen Janssen Groesbeek (Avans College). The prize was awarded based on 65% jury vote and 35% audience vote.

As one of the three finalists, Niketan presented the organization’s pitch on Friday 19 november, and won. Niketan received also more than 50% of the audience votes.

As the prize winner, Niketan will now receive 6 months of support from Maastricht University. One of their researchers of the School of Business and Economics will work with Niketan to take the next step in impact improvement and management.