Realdania is a philantropic association supporting projects in the built environment within three focus areas: Cities, buildings and built heritage. Their mission is to improve quality of life for the common good through the built environment. The Foundation strives to create value through development and change, dialogue and knowledge, partnerships and networks and by taking initiatives and being proactive.
At the end of 2011 Realdania’s net capital amounted to approx. EUR 2.1 billion. In 2011 Realdania made grants of approx. EUR 160 million. Over the past 11 years the Foundation has supported philanthropic initiatives with a total project value of approximately EUR 3,0 billion. Of this amount, Realdania has provided EUR 1.4 billion, while the other part has been provided by other project partners.
Realdania not only allocate funds but also share their expertise and network. Since Realdania was founded in 2000, they have funded or co-funded more than 2,000 projects of which 700 are currently active. This provides a large knowledge base, which offers a good starting point for any project that is approved for funding. The Foundation carries out strategic philanthropic work, where the dissemination of knowledge is considered at least as important as the physical project. By granting what they call “smart money”, Realdania work to make sure that the experiences acquired in the projects will benefit others working with the built environment and thus society at large.
Funding projects fall within one of three strategic focus areas, and Flagships usually span over more than one:
- The city: Improved quality
- The construction industry: Greater efficiency
- The building heritage: Preservation through reuse
Furthermore projects should:
- Make a difference in the built environment
- Display merit in terms of demonstration and dissemination of knowledge
- Generate new knowledge or new experience
- Embody or advance architectural quality
- Be economically sustainable – also in the long term
The flagships underline how Realdania operates strategically. They are large, visible projects with significance extending beyond the here and now. The projects will often be financially substantial and they are typically organized in cooperation or partnerships with others.
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