Grants, November 2025

The board meeting was held as a Teams meeting.

Hans Martin Schmidt, CEO of VKR Holding A/S, participated in the meeting as an observer.

Year-to-date development 2025
The current financial performance for 2025 shows that costs are in line with budget expectations, while grants have surpassed projections. This positive result underscores the Foundation's increased visibility and relevance. Although the financial markets continue to exhibit volatility and macroeconomic and political concerns persist, the Foundation remains resilient and well-equipped to manage these challenges. 

Grants
At the meeting, the Board decided on 209 grants: Approx. DKK 3.3 million for employee purposes (98 grants related to unfortunate incidents, 37 educational grants, and 16 grants for company senior clubs and other purposes), and approx. DKK 1.1 million for 58 community projects. 

The Strategy – Let’s work it out together
The Board is pleased with the progress of the "Let's Work It Out Together" strategy. In 2025, the Employee Foundation has granted over DKK 50 million, nearly double the amount in 2024, driven by substantial investments in our "Reconnect with Nature" and "Reconnect with Human Nature" initiatives.

Employee engagement in the Employee Foundation initiatives has been remarkable, with volunteers constructing healthy homes in Poland in partnership with Habitat for Humanity through the "Live a Dream" initiative, and colleagues collectively walking millions of steps to support this cause. A committed group of over 40 German and Danish colleagues contributed to shelter-building at Kronhede Nature Hostel, Denmark, demonstrating societal commitment.

Our scouts are increasingly focused on advocacy, while local recommendation committees are aligning with our strategy by coordinating additional local activities. Recognizing limited local resources, we continue to explore ways to optimize the Employee Foundation.

Collaboration with business units is vital for success, prompting us to intensify efforts to develop plans for 2026. A one-size-fits-all approach is inadequate; therefore, engaging in close dialogue is essential to achieve our objectives.

To support this evolving journey, the Employee Foundation is also launching a new website in the beginning of December, www.employeefoundation.com, designed to accommodate and reflect our strategy and expanding programs. Using AI-technology, the website can be translated into all languages.

VKR Youth Camp: Dare to Dream
Applications for the Dare to Dream program in April 2026 came from 17 different nationalities, showcasing a wide range of motivations. From these diverse applications, 50 participants were selected. The program aims to provide young individuals with an enriching experience that fosters personal growth. 

Reconnect with Human Nature
The Movement
The Movement aims to cultivate a culture of health consciousness and empower employees to make informed choices for their well-being.

Set to launch in mid-February 2026, The Movement, features a documentary and several inspirational films. These productions will showcase insights from scientific experts and small experiments conducted by employees, emphasizing practical approaches to health and wellness.

We invite all companies to engage in local activations of The Movement. The Employee Foundation will provide communication materials, accessible online and offline, to facilitate these efforts. Additionally, local recommendation committees are encouraged to apply for activation grants, ensuring robust support and participation across all levels. 

Health screenings
Previously, 35 grants were made for proactive health screenings, and local recommendation committees have now begun planning and implementing the health screenings. 

The Board decided to allocate means for continuation of the proactive health screenings in 2026. More information will follow about when the program is open for applications.

Honorary awards
Preparations for award celebrations of the Villum Kann Rasmussen Award and Lars Kann-Rasmussen Safety Award are ongoing in local companies. Awards will be presented on 23 January 2026. 

As 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Villum Kann Rasmussen Award, all recommendation committees will arrange for local celebrations, supported financially by the Employee Foundation.

The next board meeting is scheduled for 19-20 March 2026.