Meet team IFCo: Lars Staring, IFCo Netherlands

Tell us about your career in a snapshot

For the past 20 years, I’ve worked with nonprofit organizations and foundations to build meaningful partnerships and strengthen their fundraising strategies. I’ve had the chance to work with organisations like the Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the WHO Foundation, helping them develop new ways to fundraise—especially in corporate partnerships and resource mobilisation. My work has taken me across Europe and into conflict-affected areas, but at the end of the day, it’s really about one thing: making sure resources actually reach the people who need them most.

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What led you down this path?

I didn’t start out in fundraising. I studied hotel management and worked in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors before realising I was always looking for ways to connect the two. In 2006, when I joined the Red Cross, that connection really made sense. I saw how businesses and nonprofits could work together to create long-term, meaningful change. Since then, I’ve been focused on building those partnerships—finding common ground between different sectors and making sure resources get to the right places, especially in crisis situations.

Why International Fundraising Consultancy?

I first got to know International Fundraising Consultancy (IFCo) during the early days of the WHO Foundation and was really impressed by their expertise and practical, no-nonsense approach. In the work we do, we have a clear common goal: helping organisations unlock their fundraising potential. IFCo has a broad network and deep knowledge in different areas of fundraising, and I feel my experience complements that. Together, I think we can support organizations even better in securing the resources they need.

What are the fundraising challenges in your region?

The Netherlands is going through a tough period for nonprofits. Recent political shifts have led to significant cuts in development aid, putting NGOs under pressure to find new funding sources. With public funding shrinking, organisations need to get creative—building stronger corporate partnerships, diversifying their revenue streams, and tapping into new funding models. It’s a challenging time, but I also think it’s an opportunity for the private sector to step up and play a bigger role in solving global social and environmental issues.

What are the positive fundraising trends in your region?

Looking at the Dutch fundraising landscape, I see a few trends that are shaping the way organisations engage with donors. AI has started to play a role in making fundraising more data-driven, helping nonprofits analyse donor behavior and personalise engagement. At the same time, the aging population presents both a challenge and an opportunity—legacy giving is likely to become more important, but it requires careful engagement. Corporate partnerships also keep changing, with companies increasingly looking for deeper, more strategic collaborations rather than just one-off donations. And while digital fundraising keeps growing, the challenge is standing out in an increasingly crowded space.

What does the future hold for charitable fundraising?

I wouldn’t call it a complete transformation, but I do think we’ll see some important shifts in fundraising over the next 5-10 years. Many of the trends—digital fundraising, data-driven decision-making, and corporate partnerships—are already happening, but I think they will become more central, more advanced, and more necessary.

I believe that AI will move from being a nice extra to an essential tool for donor engagement and retention. Corporate partnerships seem also to keep evolving, being less about traditional sponsorships and more about real collaboration, where companies want to see measurable impact that aligns with their sustainability goals. At the same time, transparency will no longer just be an expectation—it will be a requirement, with real-time impact reporting becoming the norm. These aren’t radical changes, but the speed and scale of these shifts may challenge fundraising organisations to rethink how they work.

Lars Staring is voted in as a world leader…what’s the first thing you do?

First of all, I don’t think that would be a great idea—I’d rather stay behind the scenes making things happen! But if I had to take on such a role, I would try to push a simple but important message: we are all the same. No matter where we come from, what we believe in, or how we look, at the end of the day, we all have the same basic needs, dreams, and ability to show kindness. If we recognise that, we could build a world where people actually live together, support each other, and work side by side instead of being divided by fear and differences.

The world feels more fragmented than ever—conflicts, inequality, and climate change are pushing people apart at a time when we should be working together. I would focus on breaking those divisions, creating spaces for dialogue, and finding ways for communities, governments, and businesses to collaborate. Instead of just reacting to crises, we need to build long-term solutions that help people and societies become more resilient. I know it sounds idealistic, but if we don’t believe in that vision and work towards it, who will?

Tell us a fun fact about yourself

Though I'm Dutch, I have to admit—I’m not the biggest fan of biking unless there’s a clear objective (like getting somewhere... or food). That said, I once joined a fundraising cycling event where everyone showed up with sleek professional racing bikes… and I rolled in on a regular city bike with just three gears. 70 km in 4 hours? Challenge accepted—and completed!

These days, I stick to sports I actually enjoy, like running (even once the Lausanne half a marathon), hitting the gym, and training again in scuba diving. The real challenge? Fitting it all into a routine while still loving my work and making time for social activities. Balance is a work in progress!

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