The Why Foundation

What The Why Foundation does

The Why Foundation is a Copenhagen-headquartered non-profit media organization founded in 2007 that produces and distributes documentary films centered on human rights. Its content library exceeds 100 films and is distributed through broadcast partnerships to audiences in 191 countries, supplemented by a YouTube presence that has accumulated more than 25 million views. The foundation's primary educational product, ASK WHY? Docs, is a school-based human rights curriculum that engages 9,000 students across 150 Danish schools and 38 municipalities, delivered through a network of 22 local cultural institutions. The program has expanded internationally in 2026 with entries into Norway and Cameroon via a partnership with REGARTLESS.

The foundation's technology footprint is conventional for a documentary non-profit: broadcast licensing to public broadcasters, direct digital distribution via YouTube, and a partner-mediated school delivery model rather than a proprietary platform. The foundation does not disclose any AI, machine learning, or proprietary technology stack in the available data. International expansion in 2026 (Norway, Cameroon) and multi-year municipal partnership agreements (Esbjerg, Frederikshavn) indicate active scaling of the program infrastructure.

The business model is grant-funded philanthropy: the foundation is supported by major foundations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Danish development assistance (DANIDA), rather than commercial revenue. There is no disclosed pricing model, subscription product, or fee-for-service education offering. Revenue mechanics consist of grant inflows underwriting documentary production, broadcast licensing (where applicable, typically non-exchange or symbol-fee), and direct delivery of educational programming to schools and municipalities at no cost to end users. Customer segments are dual-natured: funder-side (institutional philanthropy) and beneficiary-side (schools, students, municipal governments, broadcast audiences).

Name

The Why Foundation

Legal name

THE WHY FOUNDATION

Website

https://thewhy.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Why Foundation is a Copenhagen-based non-profit media organization producing and distributing human rights documentary films to audiences in 191 countries, while operating the ASK WHY? Docs educational program in 150 Danish schools and 38 municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Documentary Film Production and Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Issue & Advocacy Documentaries (MPADADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business, Politics & Current Affairs Documentaries (MPADADAJ), Educational & Instructional Nonfiction (MPADADAL), Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG)

Keywords

• Human rights documentaries
• Documentary film production
• Educational media programs
• Global broadcasting distribution
• Nonprofit media foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: The organization operates as a non-profit funded by foundations, government agencies, corporations, and individual donors who support its mission to provide free access to reliable information through documentary films.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Why Foundation produces and distributes fact-based documentary films and multimedia content covering human rights, democracy, justice, and equality, organized into seven thematic docuseries (WHY DEMOCRACY?, WHY POVERTY?, WHY WOMEN?, WHY SLAVERY?, WHY PLASTIC?, WHY STORIES, WHY FREEDOM?) with 100+ films. It also operates the ASK WHY? Docs educational program that delivers documentary screenings in cinemas and schools with teaching materials, guest speakers, and facilitated dialogue to engage students with global challenges. All content is provided free of charge, reaching 191 countries through broadcasting partnerships and YouTube.

Product overview

The Why Foundation is a non-profit media organization that produces and distributes documentary films and multimedia content about human rights, democracy, justice, and equality. The organization operates a multi-product portfolio consisting of seven thematic docuseries (WHY DEMOCRACY?, WHY POVERTY?, WHY WOMEN?, WHY SLAVERY?, WHY PLASTIC?, WHY STORIES, and WHY FREEDOM?) containing 100+ documentary films, complemented by the ASK WHY? Docs educational program that brings documentary screenings to schools and cinemas with teaching materials and guest speakers. Services include film production, film curation, broadcasting through international partners, localization into local languages, and community empowerment initiatives. The organization reaches 191 countries through partnerships with broadcasters, schools, CSOs, NGOs, and social media channels, with 25+ million YouTube views.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WHY DEMOCRACY? A documentary series exploring democracy, governance, and political systems around the world, featuring films that examine voting, political participation, and civic engagement for global broadcast audiences.
• WHY POVERTY? A documentary series examining global poverty, inequality, and economic challenges, featuring films about homelessness, development, and social justice issues worldwide.
• WHY WOMEN? A documentary series focusing on women's rights, gender equality, and challenges faced by women globally, featuring stories about discrimination, empowerment, and social change.
• WHY SLAVERY? A documentary series exposing modern slavery, human trafficking, and forced labor worldwide, featuring films that document exploitation and human rights abuses for global broadcast audiences.
• WHY PLASTIC? A documentary series addressing plastic pollution, environmental degradation, and sustainability challenges, featuring films about ocean plastic, recycling, and environmental justice.
• WHY STORIES A curated collection of human rights documentaries from filmmakers around the world, organized into themed collections including Children, Environment, and Justice.
• WHY FREEDOM? A documentary series exploring freedom of expression, censorship, and human rights issues related to press freedom and individual liberties.
• ASK WHY? Docs A nationwide human rights education program that uses documentary films, teaching materials, guest speakers, and dialogue to help students engage with human rights, democracy, and global challenges. Includes cinema screenings followed by educational activities and conversations with people who have lived the themes, delivered in partnership with schools, municipalities, and cultural institutions in Denmark and Norway.
• Film Production Production of documentary films about human rights, democracy, justice, and equality for global distribution across broadcast and digital platforms.
• Film Curation Curating and selecting documentary films from around the world for distribution through the foundation's docuseries and educational programs.
• Broadcasting Distribution of documentary content through partnerships with broadcasters worldwide, including BBC and other international television networks reaching 191 countries.
• Local Languages Localization and translation of documentary content into local languages to reach broader global audiences across 191 countries.
• Empowering Communities Community engagement programs that empower local communities to engage with human rights issues through documentary film screenings and dialogue.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86.8% of students said they learned something new about human rights and global challenges
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sundance InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm festival and institute supporting independent filmmakers, potentially co-developing documentary content.
• BBC World NewscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal broadcaster reaching 200+ countries and territories, airing THE WHY documentary content to international audiences.
• ARTEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean cultural channel broadcasting documentary content across France and Germany to millions of viewers.
• DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDenmark's public service broadcaster, a key domestic distribution partner for documentary content.
• PBScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmerican public broadcaster distributing documentary content to US audiences.
• The Freedom FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnti-slavery organization that is a key partner for the WHY SLAVERY? documentary series.
• United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency partnering on human rights education programs, including the REGARTLESS Human Rights Film Festival in Cameroon.
• Esbjerg MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish municipality that has entered into a three-year partnership with ASK WHY? Docs.
• Frederikshavn MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish municipality that has entered into a three-year partnership with ASK WHY? Docs.
• REGARTLESScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization hosting the REGARTLESS Human Rights Film Festival in partnership with THE WHY, UN Human Rights Office, and Open Restitution Africa.
• IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor documentary film festival providing platform for screenings and industry connections.
• Open Restitution AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican organization providing documentary content and partnering on human rights education initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ARTE: European public service broadcaster (France/Germany) with a strong documentary catalogue on social and political issues. Distribution partner of The Why; serves as a publicly-funded analogue for cross-border documentary reach.
• PBS Frontline: Long-running US public broadcaster investigative documentary strand, already a distribution partner of The Why. Comparable in delivering fact-based documentaries on democracy, rights, and justice to wide audiences.
• Al Jazeera Documentary: Major MENA-headquartered documentary unit producing and commissioning rights, justice, and inequality content globally. Operates at similar scale and thematic depth as The Why's docuseries slate.

Direct peers

• Participant Media: Impact-driven media company producing documentary and narrative films around social issues (e.g., An Inconvenient Truth, Food, Inc.). Operates a similar "purpose-driven doc production and global distribution" model, although for-profit.
• Doc Society (formerly BRITDOC): Global non-profit that supports documentary filmmakers tackling social impact themes, runs Good Pitch cohorts and impact campaigns. Closest functional peer to The Why Foundation in combining doc production funding, impact strategy, and global distribution.
• WITNESS: International non-profit that uses video and film to support human rights defenders; like The Why, it produces and distributes rights-focused video content globally and partners with civil society organizations for impact.
• Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program: Strategic partner of The Why; funds and supports independent documentary filmmakers globally on social-justice themes. Highly comparable mission and grant-making role in the documentary ecosystem.

Others

• Skoll Foundation: Major impact philanthropy funding documentary and narrative media ventures (e.g., Sundance, Participant) tied to social change. Adjacent funder/ecosystem participant to The Why's foundation backers rather than a direct production peer.
• International Documentary Association (IDA): US-based non-profit membership organization supporting documentary filmmakers globally via grants, advocacy, and the Pare Lorentz Award. Comparable ecosystem-builder role; less direct production overlap.

Emerging players

• Human Rights Watch (Film & Multimedia): International human rights organization producing video/multimedia reports and short documentaries on rights abuses. Same target audiences and rights-themed content; differs in advocacy-led vs. distribution-led model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thewhyfound?lang=da
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/thewhyfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheWhyFound
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thewhyfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thewhyfoundation
• TikToktiktok.com/@thewhyfoundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Why Foundation