15 June Foundation

15. juni Fonden (the 15 June Foundation) is a Danish philanthropic foundation established in 1991 by Lise and Valdemar Kähler, members of the Kähler family that founded Rockwool International. The foundation's name refers both to its founding date and to the birthday of Valdemar Kähler's mother. It operates as an independent, non-profit (almennyttig) foundation whose purpose is to benefit Danish society by supporting activities within its charter areas. The foundation's grant-making focuses on five broad fields: art and culture; research and education; humanitarian and social causes; Danish nature with its flora and fauna; and the balance between hunting and nature interests. It is best known publicly for its nature-related work, including an annual nature prize (naturpris) of DKK 200,000 awarded to individuals and groups for outstanding contributions to Danish nature conservation. The foundation's endowment derives largely from its shareholding in Rockwool International. When Lise Kähler died in 2008, the foundation, as her universal heir, inherited 1,532,818 A-shares and 794,072 B-shares in Rockwool International, corresponding to 10.59% of the share capital and 11.55% of the votes. This makes the foundation one of the principal owners of the Danish insulation and stone wool group. Beyond grant-making, the foundation owns the Arboretum in Hørsholm, which it took over in 2016 and where it moved into a newly built office building in 2018. Its equity stood at DKK 2.506 billion at the end of 2018. The foundation is governed by a board whose chair is Helene Kähler Hjenner, with Niels Heering as deputy chair.

15. juni Fonden was founded in 1991 by Gerda Elisabeth Kähler (born Larsen, 1918–2008), known as "Lise", and Carl Valdemar Kähler (1916–1999), known as "Drengen". The couple belonged to the Kähler family that started Rockwool International. The foundation's name marks both its founding date and the birthday of Valdemar Kähler's mother. Lise Kähler took over the Rockwool International shares that the foundation would later inherit in 1999, following Valdemar Kähler's death. When Lise Kähler died in 2008, the foundation, as her universal heir, inherited 1,532,818 A-shares and 794,072 B-shares in Rockwool International — 10.59% of the share capital and 11.55% of the votes. This shareholding became the financial backbone of the foundation's grant-making. Over the years the foundation has supported activities within art and culture; research and education; humanitarian and social causes; Danish nature with its flora and fauna; and the balance between hunting and nature interests. It has become particularly associated with nature conservation in Denmark, notably through its annual nature prize (naturpris) of DKK 200,000, awarded since at least 2017 to individuals and groups for sustained contributions to Danish nature. In 2016 the foundation took over the Arboretum in Hørsholm, and in 2018 it moved into a newly built office building within the Arboretum. Its equity stood at DKK 2.506 billion at the end of 2018. The board has been chaired by Helene Kähler Hjenner, a board member since 2004, with Niels Heering, a board member since 2001, as deputy chair; other members have included Peter Engberg Jensen (since 2017) and Jens-Christian Svenning (since 2018). Jette Baagøe, former director of the Danish Museum of Hunting and Forestry in Hørsholm, served on the board from 2009 to 2018.

• 2020

  Nature prize awarded to Odderbæk Vandløbslaug.

• 2019

  Nature prize awarded to Peter Oxholm Tillisch, Rosenfeldt Gods.

• 2018

  The foundation moves into a newly built office building in the Arboretum; equity stands at DKK 2.506 billion at year-end.

• 2017

  Nature prize of DKK 200,000 awarded to Hellerød Kær Naturplejeforening.

• 2016

  The foundation takes over the Arboretum in Hørsholm.

• 2008

  On Lise Kähler's death, the foundation inherits 1,532,818 A-shares and 794,072 B-shares in Rockwool International (10.59% of capital, 11.55% of votes).

• 1999

  Lise Kähler takes over Rockwool International shares following Valdemar Kähler's death.

• 1991

  Foundation established by Lise and Valdemar Kähler.

Independent Danish philanthropic foundation and major long-term shareholder in Rockwool International, focused on culture, research, social causes and nature.

1. 1Forside | 15. Juni Fonden15junifonden.dk
2. 215. juni Fonden – Wikipedia (Danish)da.wikipedia.org
3. 315 June Foundation – Wikidatawikidata.org