Annual Report 2025

In 2025, we continued working to create impact where it matters most.

Over the past year, we strengthened our financial foundation and expanded our reserves, approved 153 grants totalling EUR 28 million, and supported more than 600,000 children with access to quality education.
We also launched three new nature sites in Denmark as part of The Wilderness and initiated the first update of the world’s Biodiversity Hotspots map in 25 years.

In addition, we joined the philanthropic consortium behind the FLIGHT initiative to strengthen government-led foundational learning reforms in Africa.

"From education and wellbeing to biodiversity, 2025 was a year of meaningful progress: From beginning the first update of the global biodiversity hotspots map in 25 years to expanding The Wilderness in Denmark to restore more ecosystems."

Anders Holm, CEO at Hempel Foundation

At the same time, the broader context in which we operate is changing:

"The dramatic drop in official development assistance that we have seen in 2025 is expected to continue in the coming years and, while philanthropy cannot fill that gap, we must do our best to maximise our impact and I truly believe we do that through collaboration with other funders."

Anders Holm, CEO at Hempel Foundation

This underscores the importance of working in partnership and focusing on where we can contribute most effectively.

Across our work, one thing remains clear: lasting change requires strong partnerships, long-term commitment, and a willingness to invest where the need, and the potential, is greatest.