Financial security for international conferences: the Pre-financing & Guarantee Fund

Are you organizing an international conference in the Netherlands on behalf of Utrecht University? If so, you may be able to make use of the Pre-financing & Guarantee Fund (VGF). 

The VGF mitigates certain financial risks associated with organizing an international conference, making organizers more likely to choose the Netherlands as a venue. The fund offers two schemes: pre-financing and a guarantee.

Pre-financing allows you to cover initial organizational costs—such as a venue deposit or website setup—before registration fees are received. The guarantee provides coverage against potential losses should the number of participants fall short of expectations. You can apply for either scheme individually or in combination.

Further information regarding the terms and the application process can be found on the VGF website: The Pre-financing & Guarantee Fund (VGF). For questions and information on application possibilities, please contact Anna Helfrich, Fundraiser for Capital Funds and Foundations (a.g.helfrich@uu.nl).