Contributing to Danish society through long-term philanthropy

Established in 1942, the Augustinus Foundation is one of Denmark’s leading cultural foundations. We are dedicated to preserving cultural heritage and supporting the creative arts - including classical music, dance and the visual arts.

In addition, we support social and humanitarian initiatives, driven by a commitment to improving quality of life for society’s most vulnerable and responding to global crises with humanitarian aid.

Art, culture and knowledge enrich our lives through experience, reflection and personal development. They strengthen our cultural identity and self-understanding in a globalised world. For this reason, we regard art and culture as essential pillars of society and of the communities we share.

Our philanthropy is centred around the following main areas

Cultural heritage & Creative and performing arts

The Foundation helps preserve a vibrant cultural heritage through museums and their collections, as well as through significant architectural landmarks. At the same time, we support creative and performing arts across Denmark, including music, dance and the visual arts. (Danish site)

Research & Knowledge with a focus on cultural heritage and art

The Foundation contributes to new knowledge through research and by facilitating international study for talented students from artistic educational programmes. (Danish site)

Social & Humanitarian initiatives

The Foundation supports organisations that improve quality of life for particularly vulnerable adults across Denmark. Internationally, we work to alleviate the impact of crises and disasters. (Danish site)

Our key figures for 2024

Over the past five years, the Foundation has increased its distributions by 85%. Distributions towards Danish cultural life account for more than 80% of the grants awarded every year.

EUR 81m

Total distributions to society in 2024

EUR 66m

Cultural heritage & Creative and performing arts

EUR 10m

Research & Knowledge

EUR 5m

Social & Humanitarian initiatives

859 projects

Number of grants

710

Number of student grants

4517

Applications

The Augustinus Foundation is based in the centre of Copenhagen.

Philanthropic model

The Augustinus Foundation strengthens its societal responsibility and philanthropic mission by providing funding for other actors so that they can fulfil their social responsibility.

The Foundation's principles for fulfilling its philanthropic mission are:

To be trust-based and dialogue-based (responsive/listening and curious)
To be curious about supporting the real needs of the sectors
To think long term about the needs of the sectors
The Foundation is not the expert within the distribution areas; it is the institutions that receive support from the Foundation that are the experts
However, the Foundation has its own expertise and competences in terms of taking a more cross-cutting sectoral view that can support sectors, for example through knowledge projects

Overview of current projects supported by the Augustinus Foundation

The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde is built around the five original Viking ships from Skuldelev. The Foundation is supporting a new exhibition building to protect these priceless ships from storm surges, rising sea levels and daylight. The Skuldelev ships are part of a global story about ships, people and things on voyages. Photo: Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter

Reseach with a focus on cultural heritage: the Augustinus Foundation’s research programme is driven by the ambition to advance relevant research and the dissemination of cultural heritage. Photo: Ehrhorn-Hummerston

European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations in Aarhus in the summer of 2025: Europe's largest and most important choral festival, which works through music to strengthen the joy of music, relationships and social cohesion. Photo: Interkultur

Art galleries and other exhibition organisers play an important role in ensuring a diverse art scene in Denmark. Here, the audience can encounter experimental and innovative contemporary art, is introduced to new talents from across the Danish art scene and gains insights into the many forms of artistic expression. 29 exhibition venues have received support for the exhibition programme already in 2025. Photo: Kunstpakhuset Ikast

Global crises challenge humanitarian work and increase the need for predictable and flexible funding. The Augustinus Foundation supports five humanitarian organisations through multi-year trust-based agreements. The organisations will collectively receive DKK 75 million in support over the next three years.

The Royal Danish Theatre: theatre, opera and ballet of the highest artistic quality. Photo: Camilla Winther

Mændenes Hjem is known for its work among some of the most vulnerable people in Denmark. With support from the Augustinus Foundation, the organisation is able to strengthen its efforts to improve the working environment, prevent conflicts and advance methodological professional development.

The Augustinus Foundation supports Copenhagen Phil’s work with talents and the renewal of the classical concert format. The Foundation has a long-term focus on the development of classical music in Denmark – including efforts to reach a broader and more diverse audience. Photo: Nikolaj Lund

Christiansfeld has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique testament to a very special religious community and its establishment in Denmark. Photo: Ehrhorn-Hummerston

Ordrupgaard is a museum dedicated to French Impressionism, featuring artists such as Monet, Degas, Renoir and Gauguin. In addition, it houses a significant collection of Danish art focused on the life and times of the artist Vilhelm Hammershøi. The Augustinus Foundation's support for Ordrupgaard dates back to 1958. Photo: Laura Stamer

The Augustinus Foundation supports new art in public spaces, providing an opportunity for a wide audience to engage with all forms of contemporary art. The impressive five-metre-long tapestry "Bugz + Drugs, Command H" by American artist Pae White has been acquired for the chapel at Gødstrup Regional Hospital.

10 Danish museums are participating in the international programme "KI Futures: Getting Climate Control under Control". The goal is to support Danish museums in implementing climate initiatives. The international programme focuses on climate control and loan agreements and involves knowledge sharing with museums from the UK, the US, Canada and Europe. The Augustinus Foundation supports the programme as part of our focus on the green transition in the cultural sector.

The Dance Chapel in Copenhagen works to present and develop urban dance as an art form, as well as to support young talents in dance and choreography. In 2024, the Dance Chapel led the "Attitudes" international hip-hop festival. Photo: Linda Hayford

Redernes Krisecenter helps particularly vulnerable women who are dealing with substance abuse as well as fleeing from violence. KFUK's Social Work operates the two crisis centres for abused women with substance abuse issues in Funen and Jutland.

Classical music in Denmark

The Instrument Collection

Contributing to a vibrant classical music life is very important to the Augustinus Foundation. As a special contribution to music and musicians, the Foundation owns one of the finest collections of instruments consisting of violins, violas, cellos and Steinway pianos.

Contact information

The Augustinus Foundation supports projects in Denmark. For enquiries about application opportunities, please refer to the Danish section of the website.

If you would like to get in touch with the Foundation, please contact us by e-mail: [email protected]

With a history dating back to 1750, Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker is the Augustinus Foundation's investment company. Today, Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker has investments in several Danish companies with a total market value of DKK 35 billion.