Contact now

Realising Sustainable Impact

Most consultants advise. Entrepreneurs execute. I do both.

I help mission-driven organisations turn strategy into real impact. 

I support teams in strengthening their strategy, improving their organisation and translating their societal value into sustainable growth and funding.

My work sits at the intersection of strategy, organisational development, communication and business development. I help teams bring structure to their organisation, improve processes and translate their impact into a clear and compelling story for partners, clients and funders.

I love building ideas and projects from the ground up. This means you can expect not only strategic advice, but also hands-on support to make things happen.

Schedule a conversation
Realising Sustainable Impact

Most consultants advise. Entrepreneurs execute. I do both.

I help mission-driven organisations turn strategy into real impact. 

I support teams in strengthening their strategy, improving their organisation and translating their societal value into sustainable growth and funding.

My work sits at the intersection of strategy, organisational development, communication and business development. I help teams bring structure to their organisation, improve processes and translate their impact into a clear and compelling story for partners, clients and funders.

I love building ideas and projects from the ground up. This means you can expect not only strategic advice, but also hands-on support to make things happen.

Schedule a conversation

What I do

Strategy &
Impact

Organisation & Processes

Trategy &
Impact

Strategy & Impact

I help organisations clarify their mission, define their impact and make strategic choices that guide sustainable growth.

This includes:

  • Impact strategy
  • Theory of Change
  • Strategic positioning
  • KPI frameworks and impact measurement

Organisation & Processes

Strong impact requires a strong organisation.

I help teams create structure, clarify roles and improve internal processes so organisations can operate more effectively and scale their work.

This includes:

  • Governance structures and policy development
  • Organisational structure and decision-making
  • Process optimisation and operations
  • Stakeholder management

positioning and growth

Many impact-driven organisations do remarkable work but struggle to communicate their value clearly.

I help translate strategy and impact into a compelling narrative and strong market position that resonates with partners, clients and funders, and helps organisations attract the resources they need to grow.

This includes:

  • Sales and fundraising decks
  • Positioning and core messaging
  • Partnership development
  • Growth strategy

Trusted by OR organisations i work with

I work with social enterprises, foundations and mission-driven companies that want to grow their impact and professionalise their organisation.

Some examples

Fawaka Business School

Challenge

Strengthening governance structures and impact framework to support organisational growth.

Contribution

  • Development and optimisation of the Theory of Change
  • Governance and policy documentation
  • Support with registration for the Code Sociale Ondernemingen
  • Foundation for impact reporting and annual reporting
  • Stakeholder mapping and dialogue framework

Result

  • Clear impact framework
  • Stronger governance structure
  • Improved foundation for impact measurement and funding

ProPortion Enterprise

Challenge

Support with international stakeholdermpaping, business development, grand proposal writing, project management.

Contribution

  • Business development and partnership strategy
  • Operational and process improvements
  • Strategic support during organisational growth

Result

  • More efficient internal organisation
  • Stronger partnerships
  • Media attention (CV)
  • 1,1 m in grants and subsidies to make international impact.

What clients say

“Merel brings structure, clarity and calm to complex processes — and delivers results. Her strategic approach helped us strengthen both our governance and our impact framework.”

Maaike Director, Fawaka Business School

“She goes all-in and delivers results that truly matter. Merel combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution and helps teams move from ideas to real progress.”

Thomas Director, ProPortion Enterprise

“Merel knows exactly how ..

Rik Stadstrainers

About me

Impact-driven entrepreneur | Strategic advisor | Builder

For more than 12 years, I have helped mission-driven organisations grow with clear strategy, strong governance and realistic business models. I believe meaningful societal change happens when vision and execution go hand in hand.

I am the founder of CareWithinReach, a social enterprise making orthopaedic care accessible in Colombia. The organisation has opened two orthopaedic care centres — the first opened in 2021 and became profitable in 2024, and a second centre opened in 2025. Since then, more than 3,500 people have received orthopaedic devices.

For ProPortion, I helped raise over €1.6 million in funding through grants, investments and international foundations, including support from the Google Foundation.

As a consultant, I support organisations such as Code Sociale Ondernemingen, Fawaka Business School, Stadstrainers, Coolfinity and Wiseminds with strategy, governance, growth and impact measurement.

Because change starts with a strong idea — but impact comes from doing!

📍 Amsterdam • Speaks five languages

Leadership

My leadership style is decisive: hands-on, and growth-driven. I mobilize international, multidisciplinary teams with speed and clarity—encouraging feedback, fast decision-making, and continuous improvement. I’ve raised over €1.6 million in funding (equity, grants, donations, awards), built several strategic partnerships.

 

Multilingual (EN, NL, FR, ES) and deeply committed to inclusive development, I’m always open to connecting with fellow changemakers, partners, and people working on solutions that matter. Let’s make systems work better for the people they serve!

Schedule a conversation

Featured in

I have been inte

  • Linda
  • RTL Zaken
  • Business News Radio 
  • NOS Journaal
  • International media
  • International conferences

 

Key-notes & lectures

As a key-note speaker and jury member, I enjoy sharing insights on inclusive business and social entrepreneurship. I was honored to be named Alumna of the Year by the University of Groningen and have received several awards for impact-driven work.

I organized a guest-lecture at:

  • Radboud Universiteit
  • Groningen Universiteit
  • Erasmus Universiteit
Schedule a conversation

Let’s work together

If you are working on an initiative with societal impact and want to strengthen your organisation, strategy or growth, I would be happy to connect.

Let’s build sustainable impact together.

merel@impactstrategies.co

Challenge

To professionalise the organisation by developing clear structures for governance, decision-making and accountability, while aligning with the requirements of the Netherlands Code Sociale Ondernemingen.

Contribution

  • Developed a Theory of Change to clarify impact and strategic direction
  • Structured key governance documents, including stakeholder policy, participation and decision-making frameworks
  • Created a stakeholder map and stakeholder dialogue approach
  • Supported alignment with the Code Sociale Ondernemingen criteria
  • Developed an annual impact report to communicate results and value to external stakeholders

Result

  • A stronger and more coherent governance structure
  • Clearer roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes
  • Improved credibility towards partners, funders and external stakeholders
  • A solid foundation for future growth and funding opportunities

Challenge

Stadstrainers had developed strong, impactful programmes, but was entering a phase where more structure, clarity and ownership were needed to support consistent delivery and future growth.
There was also a need for a clearer sales proposition and positioning towards clients and partners.

Contribution

  • Strengthened overall positioning and sales narrative
  • Developed several  programme flows, bringing structure across the team
  • Created clarity in how different programmes, roles and documents connect
  • Supported the team in building more ownership and internal alignment
  • Helped translate impact into a more clear and compelling story for clients

Result

  • A clearer and more consistent sales proposition
  • Improved structure across programmes and internal processes
  • Stronger alignment within the team on roles, offering and communication
  • Better ability to present, sell and deliver programmes consistently

Challenge

Access to prosthetic care remains out of reach for many people due to high costs, limited infrastructure and a lack of local capacity. The challenge was to develop a model that could increase access while building sustainable, locally embedded solutions.

Contribution

  • Initiated and developed the LegBank programme within ProPortion Foundation.
  • Brought together a multidisciplinary team of academics, engineers, business experts
  • Secured $1M in funding from the Google Foundation
  • Led programme development, coordination and external partnerships
  • Positioned the initiative towards media and key stakeholders
  • Created a medical device

Result

  • Launched an international programme focused on access to prosthetic care
  • Secured substantial funding to enable development and implementation
  • Generated international visibility and media attention
  • Established a foundation for further growth within the organisation

Challenge

Coolfinity develops innovative cooling solutions for areas without reliable electricity.
The challenge was to enter new markets (West Africa and South America) and demonstrate both commercial viability and real-world impact within healthcare supply chains.

Contribution

  • Led business development conversations in West Africa & South America
  • Secured and wrote a DHL-funded feasibility and pilot proposal
  • Coordinated a complex, multi-input grant application across the team
  • Developed a clear impact narrative and annual report
  • Acted as a bridge between sales team and external partners

Result

  • Funding secured for a business pilot in West Africa
  • First steps in international market validation and partnerships
  • Stronger positioning as an impact-driven tech company in healthcare
  • Clear and compelling story for partners, clients and funders

I am the founder of CareWithinReach B.V., a social enterprise focused on making orthopaedic care accessible in Colombia. What started as an idea has grown into a financially sustainable model with two care centres, reaching over 4,000 people since 2021.

By turning a clear need into a working model, we created a solution that contributes to a more accessible and inclusive healthcare system. This experience shapes how I work today: pragmatic, entrepreneurial and focused on building solutions that last.

For those with a keen eye, you might spot the phrase: “Viele kleine Leute können das Gesicht der Welt verändern.” It reflects how I see change: it starts small, with people, ideas and everyday actions.

Lasting impact, however, only happens when these ideas are translated into clear, scalable models. Based in Amsterdam, I bring a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach, combining clarity, structure and energy to move ideas forward and make things happen