Business model & Governance
KLABU butterfly logo

KLABU supports refugees through the transformative power of sport. Our goal: to build the world’s biggest sports club and change the playing field for refugees. On this page you'll read how we’ve organised ourselves to make it happen.

KLABU team 2025
KLABU team and community members at the Marathon Rotterdam in 2025
Nyagoa Portrait
Nyagoa, our girls mobiliser from the Kalobeyei Spirit team in Kenya

KLABU's Organizational Structure and Business Model

KLABU is an initiative by the KLABU Foundation that operates on a non-profit basis. Its main activity is building and operating sports clubhouses in refugee camps, settlements and cities. It funds these activities primarily through donations from institutions, companies and private individuals, and proceeds from the sale of KLABU sportswear. The KLABU Foundation is registered as a Public Benefit Organisation (ANBI) in the Netherlands. You can find KLABU's latest (2024) annual report here.
The development and sale of KLABU sportswear is done by KLABU B.V., a limited private company, with the aim to raise more awareness and generate income for KLABU Foundation. KLABU B.V. has attracted financing from social impact investors to fund the scaling up of its activities. The investors have agreed that no dividends will be paid to them. Half the profits from sportswear sales go to the KLABU Foundation, the other half are reinvested into the brand to sustain continued growth of business and impact.
mbera spirit sportswear
The KLABU Clubhouse in the M'bera refugee camp in Mauritania

The KLABU Foundation's Management Board 

The KLABU Foundation has a Management Board consisting of three members, that are in charge of managing the KLABU Foundation. This includes developing the strategy and policies, developing and coordinating the operation of clubhouses, raising funds, maintaining an adequate financial administration, properly identifying and managing risks, running day-to-day operations, ensuring transparency and accountability towards KLABU donors and stakeholders, ensuring that the Foundation continues to qualify as a Public Benefit Organisation (ANBI), and ensuring compliance with applicable laws.
The KLABU Foundation's Management Board is led by Jan van Hövell and Alexander Webb. Jan van Hövell is in charge of the day-to-day management of the KLABU Foundation and Alexander Webb focuses on the clubhouse programmes.
  • Alexander Webb
    TEDx talk by KLABU team member Alex
  • TBD
    Sadumba, head manager of KLABU in Kalobeyei, Kenya
  • Amsterdam Spirit
    Lisa, Amsterdam Spirit clubhouse manager
  • Amsterdam Spirit
    KLABU team member Tjark & Amsterdam community
  • Mbera Refugee Camp
    KLABU team in Mauritania with UNHCR and community representatives
  • Amsterdam Spirit
    Mo and Atia: KLABU stars

The KLABU Foundation's Supervisory Board 

The Supervisory Board (Raad van Toezicht) supervises the KLABU Foundation's Management Board in the performance its duties as set out above, and also provides the Management Board with advice based on the Supervisory Board members' experience.
The Supervisory Board has approval rights including with respect to the strategic plan and budget, the adoption of the annual report and annual accounts, and policies.
The Supervisory Board consists of 7 members who have relevant expertise and networks that can help the KLABU Foundation to fulfil its mission: Kim van der Feltz (Chair), Arielle Narinesingh (Finance), Michael Schouten, Charlotte Jongejan, Godfrey Lado and Femke Rotteveel. Pieter van den Hoogenband will join the Supervisory Board as of Q4 2025. Members of the Supervisory Board are not compensated for their contribution.
Amsterdam Spirit photos by Jhelisa Panfred
Community members Rie, Atia, Sam, Mo, Tjark, Kurosh and Majdy

Financial Reports

Since our start, we have been building KLABU step by step, receiving generous support from fantastic people and organisations who have helped us to keep our costs as low as possible. You can find the KLABU Foundation's Financial Year Accounts here for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019. The 2024 financials are being audited and will be made available in Q4 2025. An overview of non-audited 2024 financials is available through this ANBI Publication (which will be updated after the audit, if needed).
Football
Community members at the Boa Vista Spirit clubhouse in Brazil

Our impact so far

To read about our impact, please visit our Impact page of Clubhouse pages.

Otherstories

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