St. Maarten Development Fund Foundation

Established in 2012 in the Caribbean, the St. Maarten Development Fund is a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to uplifting St. Maarten's vulnerable populations. Our focus is on supporting marginalized youth aged 15-24, children aged under 15, seniors, single mothers, and the differently abled. Our strategy is twofold. Firstly, we enhance the operational capacity of NGOs that support these groups through knowledge sharing, technical guidance, and capacity building. Secondly, we allocate financial resources to these NGOs to create tailored programs for these groups. For children in foster care, we provide financial support, ensuring they receive essentials like proper bedding, nutritious food, and developmental programs. For seniors, our funding supports wellness programs, interactive digital learning, and accessible transportation. We place a strong emphasis on youth development, exemplified by our Learn SMART program, which provides high school students with free professional online courses. We're going beyond traditional education by engaging in initiatives like ESC, offering real-world experiences to our youth and breaking down financial and geographical barriers for broader access. As evidence of our commitment, in 2022, we disbursed 3.1 million Antillean Guilders (ANG) to 24 NGOs who are directly contributing to the empowerment and support of our targeted vulnerable communities.