IKEA Foundation to bring climate focus to its youth initiatives

Since 2010, the IKEA Foundation has donated $472.12 million in grants. Photo by: Håkan Dahlström / CC BY The IKEA Foundation was founded in 1982 and serves as the philanthropic arm of INGKA Foundation, the owner of the IKEA Group of companies. Since 2010, the foundation has donated a total of 420 million euros ($472.12 million) in grants, focusing on creating better opportunities for children living in poverty. Based in the Netherlands, the foundation finances projects worldwide through the profits of the home furnishings brand. The IKEA Foundation is run by CEO Per Heggenes, who is in charge of determining the foundation’s funding as well as its strategic approach for development initiatives. In 2014, the foundation donated 104 million euros to 40 partners, financing programs in 46 countries. According to Jon Spampinato, head of strategic planning at the IKEA Foundation, roughly a quarter of the donations made by the organization since its inception was allocated for programs designed to protect children from exploitation in India. Spampinato also told Devex that India will continue to figure prominently in the organization’s priorities for several years to come. ●UNICEF ●Save the Children ●KickStart ●PRADAN ●Aajeevika Bureau ●Asian University for Women ●Girls Not Brides ●Half the Sky Movement ●Lila Poonawalla Foundation Emergency response The IKEA Foundation provides financial support to partner organizations to increase efficiency in delivering aid to disaster-affected areas. The foundation collaborates with Médecins Sans Frontières for the provision of medical care, relief items, potable water and sanitation systems for families in targeted communities. The foundation also donates IKEA products such as baby blankets, quilts, mattresses and pillows, as well as IKEA children’s toys to improve the quality of living in disaster-hit areas. Further, the foundation helps UNICEF by donating IKEA toys for early childhood development kits to ensure continued learning during recovery efforts. Other partners for emergency response include Save the Children and UNHCR. The IKEA Foundation actively searches for established organizations that have proven expertise in these areas to form long-term partnerships. Through collaborative efforts between teams in the Netherlands and Delhi, India, and by consulting its partner institutions, the foundation determines which organizations are most capable of helping the Foundation achieve its mission for children. The foundation also seeks out smaller organizations that develop innovative solutions for long-standing problems and helps them partner with larger organizations that can deliver these solutions where they are needed most. The IKEA Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. In a recent statement, the IKEA Foundation announced a substantial 400 million euro commitment for climate-related initiatives that will be implemented through 2020. The new funding will be used to support communities that are most affected by climate change. The foundation intends to build resilience against environmental hazards as well as contribute to recovery efforts when natural disasters hit. According to Spampinato, consultations with leading environmental experts and partner organizations are currently ongoing and are set to continue through the coming month. With this added focus, the IKEA Foundation joins other foundations that have recently announced their commitment to climate action. Contact Stichting IKEA Foundation Email: