LEGO Foundation

The LEGO Foundation, also known as LEGO Fonden, is a Danish charitable foundation based in Billund and closely associated with the LEGO Group. Established in December 1986, it operates as a legally independent foundation while remaining part of the wider LEGO ownership and impact ecosystem. Its central purpose is to support children’s development and education through learning that is active, creative, collaborative, engaging, and meaningful. The foundation’s public identity is closely connected with the idea that play is not merely recreation, but an important way for children to develop cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and creative capabilities. The foundation is one of Denmark’s large charitable foundations and holds a 25% ownership stake in the LEGO Group. This relationship gives it an unusual position among philanthropic organizations: it is an independent grant-making institution, but it is also linked to a major global brand whose products, design knowledge, educational relationships, and international reach support the broader learning-through-play agenda. The foundation’s work is therefore related to, but not identical with, the commercial activities of the LEGO Group. Its role is philanthropic and developmental rather than the sale of toys or educational products. The LEGO Foundation supports programs and organizations working in early childhood development, formal and informal education, teacher development, research, play-based learning, and assistance for children affected by crisis and displacement. Its activities have included partnerships with universities, public institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and humanitarian agencies. The foundation also contributes to research and evidence-building intended to clarify how play-based approaches can improve learning and well-being, particularly for children facing disadvantage or disrupted education. The foundation’s grant-making expanded substantially in response to global emergencies. In 2020, it awarded approximately €152 million in funding, including support connected with the COVID-19 response, humanitarian assistance, and international education programs. A portion of that funding went to universities, including Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and the University of Copenhagen. These grants illustrate the foundation’s combination of direct social investment and support for research and knowledge institutions. Since February 2023, Sidsel Marie Kristensen has served as chief executive officer. Under its current model, the foundation combines long-term support for learning-through-play systems with responses to urgent challenges affecting children. Its work is international, although it remains rooted in Denmark and in the LEGO Group’s founding community in Billund. The foundation’s public-facing website emphasizes learning through play as its principal field of action, while its ownership stake in the LEGO Group provides an enduring financial connection to the company whose brand informs much of its educational philosophy.

The LEGO Foundation was established in December 1986 in Billund, Denmark. It developed as a philanthropic institution connected to the LEGO Group and became part of the broader ownership structure supporting the long-term continuity of the LEGO enterprise. Although it is closely associated with the company, the foundation is legally independent and has its own charitable mandate. The foundation’s identity is built around the role of play in children’s learning and development. Rather than operating primarily as a manufacturer or retailer, it uses grants, partnerships, research, and program support to promote approaches in which children learn through active participation, exploration, creativity, cooperation, and problem-solving. Its work spans early childhood development, education systems, educator support, and learning opportunities for children whose schooling or family circumstances are affected by poverty, conflict, displacement, or emergencies. The foundation’s connection with the LEGO Group is significant. It owns 25% of the LEGO Group and benefits from the company’s reputation, design expertise, global presence, and relationships with communities and educators. This relationship allows the foundation to participate in a wider LEGO ecosystem while retaining a distinct philanthropic role. The foundation’s activities can overlap with the company’s educational and community initiatives, but they are not equivalent to the LEGO Group’s commercial business. Over time, the foundation became one of the larger charitable foundations in Denmark and one of the world’s significant private funders in early childhood development and education. Its funding model includes support for direct programs as well as research intended to strengthen the evidence base for learning through play. Universities and research institutions are among its partners, reflecting an interest in understanding how play-based methods affect children’s learning, well-being, and social development. The year 2020 marked a substantial expansion of its grant-making in response to worldwide disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and related humanitarian and educational needs. The foundation awarded approximately €152 million that year, with funding directed toward pandemic response, humanitarian assistance, and global education programs. Around 7% of the funding supported universities, including Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and the University of Copenhagen. The foundation remains headquartered in Billund and works internationally. Sidsel Marie Kristensen became its chief executive officer in February 2023. Its present role combines long-term investment in play-based learning with support for children and education systems facing immediate crises. Through this approach, the LEGO Foundation functions as a major philanthropic institution whose public mission is to improve children’s opportunities to learn, develop, and participate through play.

1. 2023Sidsel Marie Kristensen becomes CEO

   Sidsel Marie Kristensen began serving as chief executive officer in February 2023.

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2. 2020Expanded grant-making during the global pandemic

   The foundation awarded approximately €152 million for COVID-19 response, humanitarian support, and global education programs.

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3. 1986Foundation established in Billund

   The LEGO Foundation was founded in December 1986 as a Danish charitable foundation based in Billund.

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4. Foundation becomes a major LEGO Group shareholder

   The foundation holds a 25% stake in the LEGO Group while remaining legally independent and focused on philanthropic work.

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A global philanthropic foundation that uses learning through play to advance children’s education, development, and well-being, with particular attention to early childhood, vulnerable communities, research, and crisis-affected learners.

• Learning through playEducation and child development

  The foundation’s principal offering is a body of philanthropic programs, partnerships, and knowledge resources built around learning through play. These initiatives promote active, creative, collaborative, engaging, and meaningful learning for children, with applications in early childhood, schools, informal learning environments, and crisis settings.

• Global grants and partnershipsPhilanthropy

  The foundation provides grants and works with humanitarian organizations, education institutions, nongovernmental organizations, public bodies, and universities. Its funding supports early childhood development, education access, teacher development, research, and assistance for children affected by emergencies.

• 2020COVID-19 and global education response

  Global

  During 2020, the foundation directed substantial grant funding toward the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, including humanitarian assistance and global education programs. The response formed part of a wider grant-making program totaling approximately €152 million.

  Outcome. The foundation expanded support for children, education systems, and humanitarian work during the pandemic period.

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• 2020Increase crisis and education funding during the pandemicStrategy

  The COVID-19 pandemic created widespread disruption for children, families, schools, and humanitarian organizations.

  What changed. The foundation awarded approximately €152 million in 2020, including grants for pandemic response, humanitarian assistance, and global education programs.

  Aftermath. The funding demonstrated the foundation’s use of its philanthropic resources for urgent global needs alongside its longer-term learning-through-play mission.

  Annual grant funding. Approximately €152 million in 2020 (2020)

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• 2023Sidsel Marie Kristensen becomes LEGO Foundation chief executive

  Sidsel Marie Kristensen has served as chief executive officer of the LEGO Foundation since February 2023.

  Leadership change
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• 2020LEGO Foundation reports major 2020 grant-making program

  The foundation awarded approximately €152 million during 2020, including funding for COVID-19 response, humanitarian assistance, and global education programs.

  Other
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• 2020LEGO Foundation directs support toward universities and education research

  Approximately 7% of the foundation’s 2020 funding went to universities, including Harvard, MIT, Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Copenhagen.

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1. LEGO Foundation
2. LEGO Foundation official website