The VELUX Foundation

The VELUX Foundation was set up in 1981 by Villum Kann Rasmussen M.Sc. (Civil Engineer), Dr. Techn. h.c. (1909-1993). 10 years earlier, he had set up the Villum Foundation (formerly Villum Kann Rasmussen Foundation).

In 1941, Villum Kann Rasmussen founded VELUX, a Danish company which specializes in windows and skylights. VELUX is owned by VKR Holding A/S which owns several companies with activities in the following business areas: Roof windows & skylights, Vertical windows, Thermal solar energy, Decoration & sunscreening, and Ventilation & indoor climate. VKR Holding A/S is owned by the Kann Rasmussen family and the Villum Foundation, which is the main shareholder. The VKR Group has approximately 15.000 employees and operates in more than 40 countries.

The VELUX Foundation and the Villum Foundation are both non-profit organizations which provide funds to projects with scientific, cultural, artistic and social objectives. In addition, the foundations can award honorary prizes, The Daylight and Building Component Award, which is given anually to people who have made a special effort to the understanding of the value and importance of daylight or a similar contribution regarding industrially manufactured building components.

In 2008, the VELUX Foundation and the Villum Foundation collectively granted DDK 347,237,220 divided among 275 donations. The foundations gain the ability to support the projects from the revenues of the VKR Group and income generated by the foundations’ other assets.

GRANT TYPES

The VELUX Foundation primarily supports non-profit and scientific purposes in Denmark.

The foundation supports elderly citizens more than 60 years old who are actively engaged in activities of personal or common interest that contribute to maintaining their active lives.

In addition, the foundation has the specific objective of supporting research into diseases of the eye (ophthalmology), living conditions for elderly people (gerontology) and diseases among the elderly (geriatrics).

The VELUX Foundation also supports larger research projects within the humanities, health and medical sciences.

The foundation provides funding for larger cultural, artistic and social projects beyond local reach.