About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. A non-profit organisation, it supports philanthropic purposes using funds deriving from our ownership of and investment in companies and other financial assets.
The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation operates independently of any economic and political interests and is governed by the Danish Foundation Act. Its activities are monitored by the Danish Business Authority
Key figures
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has close to 300 employees, the majority of which are based at the Foundation’s headquarters in Hellerup, north of Copenhagen, while 11 staff members are located in Brussels, Singapore, Delhi, Nairobi and Boston.
Size of the foundation’s philanthropic grants and investments over the last five years:
In 2025, the Novo Nordisk Foundation awarded DKK 11.8 billion (€1.6 billion) in philanthropic grants and investments. 79% of the total grant amount went to activities in Denmark. The Foundation gave a total of 2,206 grants. Around 79% of these grants were awarded in open competition.
The Novo Group
The Novo Group is a group of three independent companies that are ultimately controlled by the Novo Nordisk Foundation: Novo Holdings A/S, Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S.
Novo Holdings is the Foundation’s fully owned holding and investment company, which manages the Foundation’s assets and wealth. Among other things, Novo Holdings manages a portfolio of more than 180 companies within life science.
Through Novo Holdings, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is a majority shareholder in the two Danish life science companies Novo Nordisk and Novonesis. Through its controlling ownership, the Foundation is obligated to provide a stable basis for the activities of these two companies.
