The Netherland-America FoundationMission, Activities, History and LeadershipMission
Building on the enduring heritage and values shared between the peoples of the Netherlands and the United States, the Netherland-America Foundation (NAF) seeks to further strengthen the bonds between our two countries through exchange in the arts, sciences, education, business and public affairs.
Culture
The NAF strives to enhance awareness and support of cultural diversity in both the United States and the Netherlands. Through nearly $100,000 in grants in 2004 alone, the Foundation supported Dutch and American artists in both the visual and performing arts. This kind of exchange not only offers artists a forum, but also serves to infuse them - and their audiences - with new perspectives and creative energy. For more information, click here.
Education
A primary source of educational funding for U.S. students in the Netherlands and Dutch students in the United States, the NAF offers several programs for which either students or institutions can apply, including the NAF Fulbright Scholars Program. For more information, click here.
Business Exchange
The NAF is developing a business exchange by facilitating two programs. One is a short-term middle management executive exchange between midsized U.S. and Dutch companies in the same industry to share know-how and business practices. The other is a forum in selected cities to provide U.S. industry representatives access to government officials from the Netherlands.
Trainees
The NAF is developing a trainee program with corporate sponsorship for new and recent Dutch and U.S. college and graduate school graduates and young professionals, under the auspices of its education or cultural grant programs. For more information, click here.
History
The NAF was founded by visionary leaders in 1921. Edward Bok, celebrated publisher of the Ladies’ Home Journal, served as its first president. Bok and his colleagues - including Franklin D. Roosevelt - were determined to build the NAF into an activist organization.
Business, government and academic leaders served as presidents, among them: Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM; the Hon. William C. Redfield, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Dr. A.J. Barnouw, Queen Wilhelmina Professor at Columbia University. For more NAF history, click here (PDF, 2.7MB).
Inside the NAF
Day-to-day activities are run by an executive director and a small staff, in close consultation with an executive committee of the board of directors. More than 50 volunteers serve on the board and standing committees. For more information on individuals involved with the NAF, click here. |
