Helsefonden
Helsefonden is a Danish non-profit foundation, established in 1973, that awards grants across three social-health program areas to researchers, NGOs, and public-sector projects in Denmark. The endowment-funded foundation has distributed about 1.8 billion DKK since inception.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersCopenhagen, Denmark
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Helsefonden does
Helsefonden is a Danish non-profit foundation (almennyttig fond) established by statute in 1973, when the dissolution of state-recognized voluntary sick funds transferred approximately 400 million DKK in capital to the newly created Sygekassernes Helsefond, which rebranded to its current name in 2016. The foundation awards grants to projects at the intersection of Denmark's social and health sectors across three statutory distribution areas: physical settings for elderly and disabled populations, trials and experiments in the social-health domain, and information/knowledge dissemination. Applicants submit through a digital grant portal (grant.nu) and are evaluated by a research committee and a politically appointed seven-member board, with three annual application deadlines.
The foundation's primary technology footprint is operational rather than product-oriented: a third-party application portal, a closed internal grant-processing system, and a content website (helsefonden.dk) supported by a LinkedIn channel. There are no commercial software products, APIs, or proprietary data assets; the offering is grant capital, not technology.
Helsefonden's business model is endowment-funded philanthropy. The original ~400 million DKK capital has grown to approximately 1 billion DKK, generating returns through external asset managers that fund annual grants. In 2025, the foundation received 509 applications and awarded 72 projects (~14% approval rate) totaling approximately 30 million DKK. The foundation is governed by a politically appointed board (three members by Folketinget, one each by KL, Danske Regioner, the social minister, and the health minister), operates a small secretariat (~8 staff) led by Director Lise Bonnevie, and has distributed approximately 1.8 billion DKK across more than 1,800 projects since inception. Beyond solo grant-making, the foundation co-funds projects with peer philanthropies (notably Bevica Fonden since 2019 and Det Obelske Familiefond since 2026) and runs a dedicated youth initiative, UngeAlliancen, focused on dual-diagnosis young people.
Helsefonden firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Helsefonden
- Legal name
- Helsefonden
- Website
- https://helsefonden.dk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Helsefonden is a Danish non-profit foundation, established in 1973, that awards grants across three social-health program areas to researchers, NGOs, and public-sector projects in Denmark. The endowment-funded foundation has distributed about 1.8 billion DKK since inception.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Helsefonden industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Health and Social Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
Keywords
Where Helsefonden is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Copenhagen
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Helsefonden business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Endowment Investment Returns: Helsefonden operates as an endowment-funded foundation. The foundation was established in 1973 with an initial capital of approximately 400 million DKK from the dissolution of state-recognized health insurance funds. This capital has grown to approximately 1 billion DKK and generates returns through responsible investments that fund annual grant distributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Research grants - annual application cycle |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Helsefonden product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Helsefonden is a Danish public-interest foundation that awards grants to research, model, trial, and information projects within the social and health sectors of Denmark. Grants typically range from 50,000 to 600,000 DKK and are distributed across three program areas: physical settings for elderly and disabled people, trials and experiments at the social-health intersection, and information/knowledge dissemination in social-health. The foundation also operates UngeAlliancen, a dedicated initiative supporting young people with dual diagnoses.
Product overview
Helsefonden is an almennyttig fond (public-interest foundation) established in 1973 that supports projects within the social and health sectors. The organization operates a portfolio of grant programs organized across three distribution areas: (1) Fysiske rammer – ældre og handicappede (Physical Settings for Elderly and Disabled), (2) Afprøvninger & forsøg (Trials and Experiments), and (3) Oplysning & viden (Information and Knowledge). It also runs UngeAlliancen, a dedicated initiative for youth with dual diagnoses. Grantees apply through a digital Ansøgningsportal (grant application portal). Helsefonden does not offer commercial software products; its offering consists of grant funding programs and associated knowledge-dissemination activities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fysiske rammer – ældre og handicappede (Physical Settings for Elderly and Disabled) Grant program supporting projects that develop physical environments and housing solutions for elderly or disabled people in Denmark, including permanent and temporary housing, concrete trials, method development, knowledge building, and model projects. Available to Danish research institutions, NGOs, municipalities, and regions.
- Afprøvninger & forsøg (Trials & Experiments in Social-Health) Grant program funding trials and experiments within the Danish social and health sector, with particular focus on health inequality, prevention, and interventions at the intersection of social and health domains. Available to Danish researchers, NGOs, municipalities, and regions.
- Oplysning & viden (Information & Knowledge in Social-Health) Grant program funding projects on information, knowledge generation, and dissemination within the Danish health sector, primarily at the intersection of social and health domains, including websites, videos, podcasts, and other communication formats.
- UngeAlliancen (Youth Alliance Initiative) Dedicated Helsefonden initiative working for better help for young people under 25 in Denmark with mental health difficulties and problematic substance use (dual diagnoses). Includes the UngeNetværk (Youth Network) and ForældreNetværk (Parent Network) components and has funded numerous projects since 2018.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1.8 billion DKK distributed to 1,800+ projects since 1973
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Helsefonden
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Helsefonden technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Helsefonden partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered major.
- Det Obelske FamiliefondmajorHelsefonden and Det Obelske Familiefond partnered to establish Foreningen DobbeltRamt-UngeAlliancen, an organization dedicated to strengthening support for young people struggling with both mental health difficulties and substance use problems.
- Bevica FondenmajorJoint funding partnership with Bevica Fonden to investigate the effects of Team Tvilling and Cykling uden alder (Cycling without Age) - movement programs for people with mobility limitations. Combined grant of 5 million DKK allocated to research project led by Statens Institut for Folkesundhed.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Helsefonden competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TrygFonden: Danish grantmaking foundation focused on safety, health, and well-being initiatives. Directly comparable to Helsefonden as both fund health and social projects in Denmark and operate similar three-pillar funding structures with comparable grant sizes.
- LEO Fondet: Danish grantmaking foundation funding dermatology, mental health, and health research initiatives. Directly comparable to Helsefonden in Danish health-focused grantmaking, particularly in mental health and vulnerable population research.
- Det Obelske Familiefond: Danish grantmaking foundation supporting health, social, and cultural projects. Directly comparable to Helsefonden and an active co-funding partner through the UngeAlliancen initiative, with similar Danish operating scope and grantmaking focus.
- Bevica Fonden: Danish grantmaking foundation focused on disability and accessibility, funding mobility and inclusion projects. Directly comparable to Helsefonden given joint co-funding of research on movement programs for people with mobility limitations and similar Danish focus on vulnerable populations.
Others
- Realdania: Danish philanthropic association funding built environment, quality of life, and community projects. Thematically comparable to Helsefonden's physical-settings pillar for elderly/disabled populations, though primarily focused on construction and urban planning rather than social/health research.
Broad incumbents
- Augustinus Fonden: Danish grantmaking foundation supporting research, health, social, and cultural causes. Broadly comparable to Helsefonden as a Danish multi-purpose foundation with health and social grantmaking activities, though with broader thematic scope.
- Lundbeckfonden: Danish grantmaking foundation funding neuroscience and brain health research. Comparable to Helsefonden as a Danish foundation funding health research with academic and clinical partners, though narrower in disease focus and larger in scale.
- VELUX FONDEN: Danish grantmaking foundation funding research in health, science, environment, and aging. Comparable to Helsefonden as a multi-pillar Danish foundation with significant health funding, particularly around elderly populations and quality of life.
- Novo Nordisk Fonden: One of the world's largest foundations, funding health, science, and biotechnology research in Denmark and internationally. Broadly comparable to Helsefonden as a Danish health-focused grantmaker, though orders of magnitude larger and operating across much broader thematic scope.
- A.P. Møller Fonden: One of Denmark's largest foundations, supporting health, science, education, and social initiatives. Broadly comparable to Helsefonden as a major Danish health funder, though with vastly larger endowment and broader thematic mandate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Helsefonden social profiles
Digital presenceHelsefonden financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Helsefonden leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Helsefonden funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Helsefonden M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Helsefonden
What does Helsefonden do?
Helsefonden is a Danish public-interest foundation that awards grants to research, model, trial, and information projects within the social and health sectors of Denmark. Grants typically range from 50,000 to 600,000 DKK and are distributed across three program areas: physical settings for elderly and disabled people, trials and experiments at the social-health intersection, and information/knowledge dissemination in social-health. The foundation also operates UngeAlliancen, a dedicated initiative supporting young people with dual diagnoses.
Is Helsefonden a public or private company?
Helsefonden is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Helsefonden founded?
Helsefonden was founded in 1973. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Helsefonden based?
Helsefonden is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Helsefonden make money?
One revenue line is on record: endowment Investment Returns.
Who are Helsefonden's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TrygFonden, LEO Fondet, Det Obelske Familiefond and Bevica Fonden. Realdania is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Augustinus Fonden, Lundbeckfonden, VELUX FONDEN, Novo Nordisk Fonden and A.P. Møller Fonden.
Does Helsefonden have an API?
No public API is recorded for Helsefonden.
What industry is Helsefonden in?
Helsefonden's product category is Charitable Health and Social Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.