Organisation & governance
Governance at the Postcode Lottery Group
The Postcode Lottery Group is an international organisation dedicated to attract as many Lottery-players as possible in order to raise vital funding for charities and good causes large and small. Fully owned by the non-profit Novamedia Foundation, the organisation operates under a framework based on foundation ownership.
This structure prioritises long-term societal goals over short-term profits, ensuring that decision-making authority remains with those closely connected to our purpose.
Profits are reinvested to support the continued development of our charity lottery formats, the establishment of new Postcode Lotteries and the development of existing ones. Through this approach, the Postcode Lottery Group enables and supports charities and social initiatives that contribute to a healthier, fairer, greener world.
A structure rooted in foundation ownership
Our organisational structure is guided by the principles of foundation ownership, ensuring:
Independence: All shares in Novamedia Holding are held by the Novamedia Foundation, preventing ownership by external investors or gambling companies.
Purpose-driven profits: Profits are used exclusively to support charitable initiatives and expand lottery formats, advancing societal goals over financial gain.
Safeguards against misuse: Intellectual property and shares cannot be sold without approval from multiple governance bodies.
This approach prioritises long-term societal relevance while preserving entrepreneurial innovation.
Oversight and our Boards
Executive Board
The Executive Board oversees strategic planning, decision-making and daily operations.
Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board oversees the activities of the Executive Board, ensuring decisions align with the organisation’s values and purpose.
Members
K. Ollongren
G.J.A.M. van der Vossen (Chair)
C. van der Pol
E.H. Verkoren
P.A. Zinkweg
Additional governance bodies
Novamedia Foundation
Maintains full ownership of Novamedia shares, safeguarding the organisation’s independence.
Members
P.L.B.A. van Geel (Chair)
G.P. Prein
Vacancy
Continuity Foundation
Ensures governance continuity and protects intellectual property from misuse or sale.
Members
H.P.M. Knapen (chair)
S.V. van Bijsterveldt
J.P. van Harseler
Ownership structure
This chart shows the ownership structure of the Novamedia Foundation and Holding.
Transparency and accountability
Transparency is central to our way of working, ensuring trust with stakeholders, regulators and gaming authorities:
Annual Reports: We publish detailed reports outlining our financial performance, societal impact, and operational activities.
Independent oversight: External audits ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.
Stakeholder dialogue: Continuous engagement with our charity partners, players and regulators ensures alignment with societal needs.
Our impact
The Postcode Lottery Group has grown into one of the world’s largest private charity donors:
Funds raised: Over €14.5 billion since 1989, including €969 million in 2024.
Global reach: 14.8 million ticket subscriptions across five countries: Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Germany and Norway.
Recognition: Ranked the world’s third-largest private charity donor (2021).
These achievements demonstrate our commitment to creating lasting societal impact.
Protecting our purpose
The Postcode Lottery Group’s governance framework combines transparency, accountability and purpose. By embedding safeguards, prioritising long-term goals and maintaining independence, we create trust and ensure our lotteries deliver sustainable societal impact.
Read about how our governance structure has developed in our Governance Framework.
Organisational charts
Governance
Novamedia and its Lotteries prioritise long-term purpose over short-term profits through steward ownership, ensuring decision-making authority lies with those connected to the company's mission. Profits are viewed as a means and reinvested for the continued development of its formats and for further investments in setting up new charity lotteries and in developing existing lotteries with the sole objective to enable and support charitable and social initiatives.
Consolidation Novamedia holding
This chart provides an overview of the different conditions we operate under per country. It provides financial insights and explains the funding conditions for the charities and Novamedia.