We Are A Philanthropic Association
Our focus is on solving challenges in the Danish society in cooperation with the government, the municipalities, foundations, associations, private businesses, and local, voluntary enthusiasts
The foundation of Realdania
We are a philanthropic association focused on addressing societal challenges in collaboration with passionate individuals and local and national partners. We are an independent philanthropic association with about 190,000 members nationwide.
In Denmark, around 6 million people live in approximately 1,400 towns and cities, surrounded by over 4 million buildings. These structures encompass our daily lives—where we live, work, go to school, spend our free time, and live our lives. It is in these spaces that Realdania makes a difference.
Where Does the Money Come From?
The association Realdania has roots in the mortgage business. Its foundation was established over 150 years ago by Danish homeowners and businesses based on real estate financing. On October 2, 2000, we transitioned from being a financial association to a philanthropic one when the then-association RealDanmark sold its mortgage and banking activities to Danske Bank.
Before the sale, the association had a base capital of DKK 10.5 billion, which, by law, could not be distributed to the members. Instead, the funds were to be used for the common good, and the association changed its name to Realdania and adopted a purely philanthropic purpose—to create quality of life for all through the built environment.

A Presentation of Realdania
We are a fully self-endowed philanthropic association with about 185,000 members. We work for the common good to benefit everyone in Denmark by supporting projects all over the country. The money that we grant to projects comes from the return on our investments.