Policy plan

It is an exciting time for Modern Dental Care Foundation. After its recent establishment, the foundation can focus on achieving its objective (see the next page for a description of the objective).

 

In the coming period, a project will be set up for the first time. This will require a number of aspects. Aspects that take time and attention. Aspects of which it remains to be seen exactly how they should be tackled and how it will work out. Fortunately, we have a group of highly motivated people who will do their utmost to put together a good first project: the board and the people behind the scenes. And despite the lack of experience of organizing such a project in Madagascar, the same persons have organized trips to other countries in the past. Not with the same goal or from the same point of view, but this experience will certainly help. Also, we have local contacts who are also committed to helping the first project succeed.

With this policy plan the board of the Modern Dental Care Foundation clarifies how it looks to the future and which steps it wants to take in the (near) future to achieve its objective.

 

Starting points are:

Apply for ANBI status
Establishing a stable local base
Generate brand awareness
Put together sponsor packages

 

The policy plan covers the period January 2017 to at least December 2020. In addition to this policy plan, the bylaws of Modern Dental Care Foundation can be viewed for background information on the Foundation.

With our mission and vision we want to give direction to the organization. It also helps to set frameworks and inspire a broad target group.

A mission statement indicates what the foundation and the people involved stand for. What their identity and values are, what the foundation as a whole stands for.

Modern Dental Care Foundation wants to give residents of Madagascar access to oral health care. It does this by seeking cooperation with dentists and dental assistants. In that collaboration, the foundation organizes travel, lodging, tools and workshop for the participants. Part of the funding is also borne by the foundation, but part (think tickets) is paid by the participants themselves.

In our vision, we discuss the future dream of Modern Dental Care Foundation.

Modern Dental Care Foundation believes that good oral care is a basic human need. Without proper oral care, teeth can begin to show fractures that can severely lower the quality of life. Therefore, the foundation believes it is important to help individuals who suffer from dental problems by taking away the pain. Also, the foundation considers prevention important: proper dental care will prevent any problems in the future. Prevention consists of providing knowledge and materials.

 

Objective

The objective of the Foundation is:

Performing (preventive) dental treatments (including related surgical procedures) which benefit the population and development in Madagascar.

Supporting and cooperating with organizations and activities can take the form of subsidies/donations as well as other forms of social investment.

Projects are evaluated with the aforementioned objective as the guiding criterion.

In the short term, the foundation will focus on assisting dentists and dental assistants to provide basic oral care in Madagascar. It will do this by providing travel, lodging, tools, location and patient recruitment in a broad sense. This allows the participant to focus on the actual actions to be performed on patients. If this runs satisfactorily, the foundation will be able to initiate possible other projects or participate in projects of other organizations that support the foundation’s objective. Also, the foundation could look for cooperation with other foundations, organizations and companies that have common ground with Modern Dental Care Foundation. This will create additional opportunities, where complementarity is sought. The Modern Dental Care Foundation will pursue its own goals and is responsible for its own interpretation and implementation.

Projects can be either multi-year and can thus have a substantial character, or they can be one-off and/or of small size. There is no limit to the number of times the Foundation can be called upon.

Projects may be visited by members of the Board in order to understand the progress, successes and challenges of a project.

Modern Dental Care Foundation’s target audience can be divided into three subgroups:

1. The person who approaches the Foundation for oral care;
2. The participant who participates in the project, appealing to their knowledge about oral care (dentists and dental assistants);
3. Donors; Every individual and every organization in the Netherlands and abroad is welcome to contribute. In whatever form. This could include providing necessary materials.

All three groups are necessary to achieve the objective of the foundation. Therefore, it is necessary to address all three groups. We do this in the following way:

1. We approach potential patients locally through a local volunteer;
2. Participants are sought at the European level. Subsidiaries of the founder are active in several European countries. Through the subsidiaries, attention will be generated among the network and customers;
3. Donors are primarily sought through the network of the foundation and the founder’s subsidiaries. This may include suppliers of the subsidiaries.

To realize the goals of Modern Dental Care Foundation, financial and non-financial resources are needed.

This is based on annual costs and basic costs to keep the foundation running.

 

Income

The Foundation can receive income from anyone who makes a donation. Most donations, mainly in the early days, are expected from:

• The founder of the Foundation and its subsidiaries;
• Participants of projects;
• Network of founder and subsidiaries;
• Other (private) donors and companies.

 

Spending

In principle, all donations will be used directly to support the purpose of Modern Dental Care Foundation. For multi-year projects, pledged amounts may be set aside in the year these projects are decided upon.

The budget provides a global overview of the expected annual (base) costs of the foundation. Because the foundation was only established in 2017 and has no (financial) experience regarding such projects, it is difficult to estimate the costs. In any case, the initial capital that Modern Dental Care Foundation received from its founder will be sufficient for the first period.

 

Management of assets

Modern Dental Care Foundation does not hold more assets than are reasonably necessary for the continuity of the foundation’s anticipated work. The Modern Dental Care Foundation shall state in its financial records the purpose for which the capital is held and provide a justification for the size of that capital.

 

Financial policy

In accordance with the statutes, once a year, within six months after the end of the financial year, the financial statements are prepared. In principle, the financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Council for Annual Reporting Directive 640 for non-profit organizations. The financial statements thus prepared are approved and adopted by the Board of Trustees. The foundation has no profit motive. This is also described in the foundation’s bylaws.

 

Remuneration and expenses board

The board of the Modern Dental Care Foundation receives no board remuneration for performing the function as director of the foundation. A reimbursement of expenses and attendance fees is possible.

 

Fundraising

The foundation raises resources in the form of sponsorships, donations (gifts) and non-financial resources. Fundraising is done in a small-scale, but effective, direct way such as through relationships of the founder. In addition, participants will have to cover part of the expenses (airfare).

Modern Dental Care Foundation will apply for ANBI status and is required to keep records. These records must show the amounts spent on raising funds and managing the foundation.

In the beginning, the work for the foundation will mainly be carried out by employees of the founder (Modern Dental Europe B.V.) or one of its subsidiaries. By giving its employees time for this during their working week, the founder also invests in the foundation in a non-financial way.

Once the foundation has a solid foundation and sufficient experience, the foundation may need to professionalize and hire a few people, especially in Madagascar, in order to build a permanent base locally. Here, the use of founder’s staff will remain of great importance, for example for marketing and administration and contact with sponsors and participants.

Volunteers will mainly consist of project participants. In addition, help will be sought from volunteers in Madagascar. The work of local volunteers may include translation, orientation, bringing the project to the attention of local people. In order to help the local population, we will work with local volunteers who will receive compensation for their work.

Board

The board of the foundation is appointed for a maximum term of three years and a director can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms as director. A new director is appointed by the incumbent board members. The following keywords apply to the foundation’s board members:

• Integrity;
• Inspirational;
• Transparency;
• Open communication.

The treasurer is primarily responsible for the finances. The accounts are audited each year by a chartered accountant. Annual reports are published on the website.

 

Management

The financial resources of the foundation are managed by the treasurer. The foundation has a checking and a savings account. The savings interest is added to the financial resources of the foundation. The financial resources of the foundation are not invested. Nor are speculations on the stock market or other risky activities conducted and/or financed.

The foundation’s fiscal year runs concurrently with the calendar year. The foundation’s first fiscal year is an extended fiscal year and runs through December 31, 2018.

At the end of the fiscal year, the board of the foundation prepares a report that records the activities of the board and the expenditure of financial resources. Also, the annual report contains the financial statements and the budget. In this way, the board gives an account of its policies. The annual report is published on its own website and filed with the Chamber of Commerce.

 

Principles

To achieve the objective of the foundation, the board has appointed the following principles. These starting points will be the basis of the policy followed in the next period.

Applying for ANBI status:

The board expects an ANBI status to have a positive impact on the foundation. Because an ANBI status entails certain requirements, participants and sponsors know what requirements the foundation meets.

Establishing a stable local base:

The actual work that participants will perform will be done in Madagascar. To make this possible, the foundation must have a stable base in Madagascar. For a stable local base, the board believes the following is needed:

• Location both to stay and to perform work;
• Utensils (dental tools);
• Interpreter;
• Infrastructure knowledge;
• Local name recognition.

The local base will initially not be a fixed base that the foundation will have at its disposal. This is mainly also because it is not yet clear where such a base would be best placed and from where the most patients can be helped. However, the board does aim to cooperate with a permanent group of local residents wherever possible. In this way, the foundation will also have a clear and recognizable face locally.

 

Generate name recognition:

Modern Dental Care Foundation needs to generate name recognition in two places: in Europe, so that participants know what the foundation does and what the foundation stands for. This way we try to bring as much help to Madagascar as possible. Also, the foundation needs to get name recognition in Madagascar, so that the local people know how to find us and we can actually provide aid to the people who need it.

 

Put together sponsorship packages:

By putting together sponsorship packages, the board wants to make clear what sponsorship could consist of. It is important for the foundation to have the right equipment in Madagascar. This could of course be paid for from financially received sponsorship, but we also want to offer the possibility to donate material, for example. Sponsorship packages will therefore not be standardized, but tailor-made. Because the board members from their positions at the founder have a good idea of possible sponsors and have a broad network, a suitable package can be offered for each potential sponsor.

The board of the Modern Dental Care Foundation consists of:

• Chairman: Mr. A.W.T. Schwafert
• Secretary: Mr. G. Scialom
• Treasurer: Mr. E.W.L. Gulpen

 

A director may not dispose of the foundation’s assets as if they were his own. This criterion ensures that the foundation is independent from donors and beneficiaries. Therefore, a natural person or legal entity in the position of director may not have a majority of control over the foundation’s assets. To ensure the independence of the foundation, the board consists of at least three people with equal votes.

The board will meet as it deems necessary but at least once a year in connection with the adoption of the annual report. There will be regular consultation on the strategy to be followed and the division of tasks.

 

The activities of the board include:

• Consultation with sponsors, participants, etc;
• Public relations and communication;
• Keeping developments up to date on the website and disseminating them through other means of communication;

Financial management and consultation on the use of funds.

The board has no specific division of tasks, except for the tasks of the treasurer.