Jonne Arnoldussen (Postcode Lottery): ‘Your strength lies in community empowerment’
It was great news for Simavi in 2024. The Water Justice Fund received almost 1.5 million euro from the Dutch Postcode Lottery. On top of that the Lottery continued to support Simavi (now WaterAid Netherlands) with 900.000 euro of unrestricted funding. Jonne Arnoldussen is Managing Director at the Dutch Postcode Lottery: ‘It’s about trust and empowerment.’
The Dutch Postcode Lottery supports organisations with flexible, unrestricted long-term funding. Can you explain the philosophy behind this?
Jonne Arnoldussen: ‘Absolutely. The philosophy is about trust and empowerment. We believe that organisations like Simavi know best how to allocate resources to achieve their goals. By providing flexible, long-term funding, we enable them to plan ahead, innovate, and respond to both ongoing and acute challenges as they arise. Thanks to the lottery players we are able to give our partners the freedom to do what they do best without being bogged down by restrictive funding conditions.’
'I believe in the strength of civil society'
You have worked for the Dutch Postcode Lottery for almost seven years. What motivates you the most?
‘I believe in the strength of civil society. A thriving civil society is indispensable in functioning democracies. We as a lottery are there to support all kinds of local and private initiatives that are trying to make the world a better place. I chose to work in this sector because I wanted to make a tangible difference in the world, but also because I like to work in a business minded environment.’
‘From the organisations I've worked with, I've learned the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the incredible impact that dedicated people can have. Personally, I hope to contribute by fostering these relationships and ensuring that we continue to support innovative and impactful initiatives.’
The Dutch Postcode Lottery supports many organisations in the Netherlands. What is your view of Simavi and the programmes we work on?
‘I have a lot of admiration for Simavi, and the work being done. What really stands out to me is your holistic approach to health and well-being, particularly in how you integrate water, sanitation, and hygiene with gender equality and community empowerment. It's inspiring to see how these programmes are not just about providing resources, but about creating sustainable change by involving and empowering local communities.’
What do you see as Simavi’s strengths and weaknesses?
‘One of Simavi's strengths is definitely this integrated, community-focused approach. As for areas of improvement, like any organization, there's always room for improvement when it comes to capturing and communicating impact. The impact Simavi is making is significant, especially in improving health outcomes and empowering women and girls, which has a ripple effect on entire communities.’
In 2024 Simavi received a generous amount of extra funding for the Water Justice Fund. Can you explain why?
‘The decision to fund the Water Justice Fund was driven by Simavi's strong track record and the compelling vision that was presented for addressing water inequities. We were impressed by the innovative approach and the potential for significant, sustainable impact.’
What are your expectations for this programme?
‘Our expectations are high; we believe it can drive meaningful change in water access and management, particularly for marginalized communities. What excites me most is the potential for this fund to not only improve water access but also empower women and their communities to advocate for their rights and drive systemic change.’
In the current political climate, the role of the Dutch Postcode Lottery seems more important than ever for the development sector. How do you see this?
‘The Dutch Postcode Lottery definitely plays its part in the development sector by providing flexible funding that allows organisations to innovate and respond to emerging challenges. In the current political climate, where funding can be uncertain and priorities can shift rapidly, our role becomes even more important.’
‘We aim to be a stable and reliable partner for organisations working on the front lines of development, but unfortunately, this has also become increasingly difficult. For example, we see that the Dutch government has chosen to significantly increase the tax on charity lotteries, and it has become increasingly difficult to advertise our lottery which makes it more challenging to generate revenue for charity. With these challenges we really depend on the network-support of our charity partners as well.’
