Contributing to Danish society through long-term philanthropy

The Augustinus Foundation, established in 1942, is one of Denmark’s leading cultural foundations. We are dedicated to preserving cultural heritage and supporting the creative arts—such as classical music, dance, and visual art.

In addition, we support social and humanitarian initiatives, driven by a commitment to improving the 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 globalized world. For this reason, we regard art and culture as essential pillars of society and of the communities we share.

Our philanthropy are centered around the main areas

Cultural heritage & Creative and performing arts

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

Research & Knowledge with a focus on cultural heritage and art

The foundation contributes to new knowledge through research and by supporting the internationalization of talented students from artistic educational programs. (Danish site)

Social & Humanitarian Initiatives

The foundation supports organizations that improve the 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 for the Danish cultural life account for more than 80 percent of the grants awarded every year.

EUR 81 mn.

Total distributions to society in 2024

EUR 66 mn.

Cultural heritage & Creative and performing arts

EUR 10 mn.

Research & Knowledge

EUR 5 mn.

Social & Humanitarian Initiatives

859 projects

Number of grants

710

Number of student grants

4.517

Applications

The Augustinus Foundation is based in the center of Copenhagen.

Philanthropic model

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

The foundation's principles for fulfilling its philanthropic practice are:

To be trust-based and dialogue-based (Responsive/listening and curious)
To be curious about supporting the real needs of the sector
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
The foundation, however, has its own expertise and competences regarding a more cross-cutting sectoral view that can support sectors, for example through knowledge projects

Find an 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 supports a new exhibition building to protect the invaluable 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 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 significant choral festival, which works through music to strengthen the joy of music, relationships, and social cohesion. Photo: Interculter

Art galleries and other exhibition organizers play an important role in ensuring a diverse art scene in Denmark. Here, the audience encounters experimental and innovative contemporary art, is introduced to new talents in the Danish art scene, and gains insight into the many forms of artistic expression. 29 exhibition venues have received support for the exhibition program in 2025. Photo: Kunstpakuset Ikast

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

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

Mændenes Hjem is known for its work among some of the most vulnerable people in Denmark. With support from Augustinus Foundation the organization is able to strengthen its efforts in improving the working environment, preventing conflicts, and advancing 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 artist Vilhelm Hammershøi and his era. 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 the forms of contemporary art. For the chapel at the Gødstrup Regional Hospital near Herning, the monumental five-meter-long tapestry 'Bugz + Drugs, Command H' by American artist Pae White has been acquired.

10 Danish museums participate in the international program ‘KI Futures: Getting Climate Control under Control’. The goal is to support Danish museums in implementing climate initiatives. The international program focuses on climate control and loan agreements and involves knowledge sharing with museums from the UK, USA, Canada and Europe. The Augustinus Foundation supports the program 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 an international hip-hop festival, Attitudes. Photo: Linda Hayford

Redernes Krisecenter: Redernes Krisecenter helps particularly vulnerable women dealing with substance abuse and who are also fleeing from violence. KFUK's Social Work operates the two crisis centers 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 plays an important role for the Augustinus Foundation. As a special contribution to the music life and its musicians, the Augustinus Foundation owns one of the finest instrument collections consisting of violins, violas, cellos and Steinway pianos.

Contact information

The Augustinus Foudation supports projects in Denmark. For inquiries regarding application opportunities to the Augustinus Foundation, we refer to the Danish section of the website.

If you wish to get in touch with the foundation, you are welcome to contact us via email: [email protected]

Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker is the Augustinus Foundations investment company with a history that dates back to 1750. Today, Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker have investments in several Danish companies and with a total balance sheet of more than 35 billion DKK.