Country profile

Denmark

Definition
Danish law allows for two types of foundations: enterprise foundations and (non-enterprise) foundations, regulated by the Enterprise Foundation Act (erhvervsfondsloven, EFL) and the Foundation Act (fondsloven, FL). 9,155 is the total possible number of foundations that exist in Denmark, but it is likely that many of these are no longer active or do not align with Philea’s working definition of public-benefit foundation.

Denmark’s philanthropy profile

No data

Pool of assets

€4341 million (2022)

Total expenditure

No data

Total employment

Denmark’s foundations

9155 (2022)

foundations

There are 3,658 foundations in Denmark that reported expenditure in 2022. The expenditure figure of €4,341 million includes also grants that are not deemed public-benefit in Denmark, such as those donated to family or for employee purposes. If these non-public benefit grants are subtracted, the figure for public benefit expenditure is €3,620 million.

Additional links

More on the sector:

Knowledge Centre for Danish Foundations Philea Legal Profiles Statistics Denmark

Further reading:

Other reports about the philanthropic Danish sector Fondenes bevillinger 2017-2021

Member organisation

Augustinus Fonden Bikuben Foundation Carlsberg Foundation Hempel Foundation Knowledge Centre for Danish Foundations LEGO Foundation LEO Foundation Lundbeckfonden Nordea-fonden Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Plan Børne Fonden Ramboll Foundation Realdania The Nordic Culture Fund TrygFonden Velliv Foreningen VELUX Foundations, The Villum Foundation