Henriette Mansell
Director
Henriette is a driven consultant who realizes sustainable change in traditional environments. With experience in the energy sector and a sharp sense for organization and creativity, she brings structure to complex transitions. Her social commitment is evident from her work in Rwanda and Nepal, where she created impact beyond the beaten path.
Jasper Kroese
Director
Jasper is an entrepreneurial innovator with experience in both startups and corporates. He knows how to foster a fast-paced innovation culture by smartly combining structure, culture, and ways of working. With a background as both an entrepreneur and an advisor, he focuses on strategy and innovation projects that enable true renewal.
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We spoke with Henriette Mansell and Jasper Kroese about the new nlmtd fund. Both are initiators of the fund and share how the idea came about, what its purpose is, and why now is the right time to make a difference together with impact organizations. This initiative shows how our entrepreneurs, driven by their own motivation, are building real impact.
How long have you been part of nlmtd?
We’ve both been active here for about six years, working on projects in strategy, innovation, and transition management, mainly within the energy transition. These assignments range from developing new business models to supporting grid operators with complex transition challenges.
How did the idea for the fund come about?
From the very first year at nlmtd, the idea was alive to give our social commitment a more structural place. Many colleagues naturally feel the need to give something back to society. From that shared motivation, we often contributed pro bono, for example, by providing a workshop, brainstorming with a social organization, or spending a day volunteering at a soup kitchen. At the same time, we noticed that such contributions were often short-term and difficult to combine with our regular work.
At nlmtd, we focus on accelerating major societal transitions. Impact is therefore already an inherent part of our work. Yet we also saw a missed opportunity: we wanted to make our knowledge and experience available to non-profits and impact-driven startups. That’s where the real opportunities lie. However, due to our regular rates, these organizations often couldn’t afford to bring us on board.
That’s why we began searching for an alternative. A model where impact clients don’t have to pay our standard fees, while our entrepreneurs also don’t go without income for months. Out of that thinking, the fund was born: as a community, we share the costs, allowing us to support organizations that otherwise wouldn’t be able to work with us.
How does it work in practice?
You can think of the fund as a large savings pot. Entrepreneurs at nlmtd voluntarily contribute 1% of their revenue to fill the fund, and the umbrella organization (nlmtd) then doubles that amount. From this pool, we can finance projects that align with our mission and vision.
We deliberately chose not to make projects completely free. Experience has shown that this often leads to less attention and commitment, both from the consultant and the organization involved. That’s why we designed a model in which the entrepreneur, the client, and the fund each contribute a portion of the investment.
The entrepreneur reduces their rate to two-thirds of the standard fee, after which the impact client and the fund each cover half of the remaining costs. Since our entrepreneurial model already offers competitive rates, this means that impact organizations can engage experienced teams for only a fraction of the regular market price.
How does the fund resonate within nlmtd?
The enthusiasm is high. At the launch, more than 75% of the entrepreneurs signed up immediately, and there was even more interest in joining the board than there were available seats. That perfectly illustrates the strength of a bottom-up initiative: it exists because we want to put our own energy into it. This combination of funding and organization from our entrepreneurs, complemented by the support of nlmtd as a collective, works exceptionally well.
Why is this such a natural fit for nlmtd?
As entrepreneurs, if we sit still, there’s no impact. We choose what we work on ourselves, and the same goes for the fund. Clients also contribute to the costs, which creates shared ownership and commitment. That’s what makes it possible to make a difference together truly.
The fund also aligns seamlessly with our approach: working side by side with the client’s teams and always focused on lasting change, rather than a report that ends up in a drawer.
What type of projects are you looking for?
We focus on organizations with a strong social ambition that generally wouldn’t be able to afford our support. This could be a non-profit organization, but also a start-up with a significant mission. Educational initiatives and sustainable scale-ups are also in scope.
With our expertise, we can support questions such as: Does my idea work in practice? How can I establish a network or ecosystem that supports my mission? How do I lead a transition within my organization? Or how do I develop a growth strategy, whether in the Netherlands or abroad?
What we prefer not to do: very short, ad hoc assignments of just a few days, or long-term interim roles lasting a year. We work best in short, intensive projects of two to three months, where we can truly set things in motion.
What impact do you hope the fund will have?
We aim to support organizations that would typically be out of reach. In recent months, we’ve focused on setting up the fund and rallying funders, and we’ve succeeded. With the launch, a new phase begins: the fund is now fully capitalized, and we’re seeking the right projects to create meaningful impact.
Beyond the research we’ve done, we’ll now learn in practice how the fund meets actual needs. Along the way, we’ll discover what works and what doesn’t, and together we’ll develop the best model step by step. The foundation is in place: investing together to make an impact.
What call to action would you like to share?
We’re eager to get started. Are you an organization that could benefit from this, or do you know of one that could? Let us know. You don’t need a fully worked-out plan; a clear challenge is enough. Together, we’ll explore what’s possible.
Entrepreneurship for impact, together.
Are you curious to see if your organization qualifies? On our fund page, you’ll find everything you need, from background information and criteria to the application process. You can also submit a proposal directly or contact us to arrange an initial conversation.
