By Foresee Foundation (4C)
When the Foresee Foundation (4C) launched the Legacy to Future Funds Helpdesk late last month, the goal was simple: To support organizations on Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten with the information, guidance and practical tools needed to submit strong grant applications.
After having hosted workshops and private sessions with nonprofit and community representatives across all three islands, 4C believes the Helpdesk points to the future of effective funding support in the Dutch Caribbean – accessible, hands-on and close to the communities it serves.
The Legacy to Future Funds, coordinated by the Slavery Memorial Committee, supports initiatives across the Caribbean part of the Kingdom that contribute to awareness, recognition, healing, resilience and connection in relation to the history and legacy of slavery. It is an important and ambitious funding scheme, but for many small nonprofits, the application process can feel difficult to navigate.
The LFF Helpdesk was created to help close that gap. Through 4C, organizations received practical workshops, feedback on draft applications, and one-on-one coaching to help them shape their ideas into clear, fundable projects.
The first online information session drew 36 participants from across the SSS islands. From there, the team brought the work directly to the communities. Grant-writing workshops for Categories 3 and 4 were held in person on Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten, where board members, founders, volunteers and community organizers had the opportunity to speak directly with 4C co-directors Jose Sommers and Ludmila Duncan.
Across all three islands, participants rated the sessions, giving them between 3.6 and 3.9 out of 4, highlighting the clarity of the materials, the patience of the presenters and the practical, step-by-step approach.
“The seeds and the soil are available and the season is now,” wrote one participant from Statia. A St. Maarten attendee described the workshop as “a great opportunity to meet representatives of alive NGOs;” while a participant on Saba summed it up plainly: “Very informative, with great examples that make sense for Saba.”
The Helpdesk will continue offering one-on-one guidance to organizations preparing their applications. Interested persons can contact 4C Office Manager Ashma Berkel via WhatsApp at +1 (721) 550-7427 or visit the office during walk-in hours at A. Th. Illidge Road.
What this initiative confirms is that nonprofits in the Caribbean do not lack ideas, commitment or vision. What they often need is a bridge to the funding systems that can help carry those ideas forward. The LFF Helpdesk is becoming that bridge and 4C believes it offers a model for the future of Dutch Caribbean funding support.
For more information on the Legacy to Future Funds, visit www.legacytofuturefunds.com
