Our story
The LEGO Foundation shares the mission of inspiring and developing the builders of tomorrow with the LEGO Group. As part of the LEGO family, we benefit from more than 85 years of insight into children and play, the strong LEGO brand and an unwavering focus on making a positive impact on children and society at large.
The story of the LEGO Group spans four generations of family ownership. It all began back in 1932, when carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen founded the company. He called it LEGO from the Danish words ‘leg godt’ which means ‘play well” and the company grew from humble beginnings to become the LEGO Group.
The LEGO Group owner family is actively engaged in the LEGO Foundation board of directors and has chosen to transfer ownership of 25% of the Group to the LEGO Foundation. This is how we fund our activities.
Today, Ole Kirk Kristiansen’s grandson, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, is the owner of the LEGO Group and the deputy chairman of the LEGO Foundation board. Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen’s son, Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, is chairman of the LEGO Foundation board.
Milestones
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- In April, John Goodwin was appointed CEO of the LEGO Foundation.
- Seven years after the initial idea emerged, LEGO® House opened to the public in September 2017. The 12,000-square-metre LEGO House is filled with 25 million LEGO bricks to give LEGO fans of all ages the ultimate LEGO experience.
- In November, the Foundation engaged in a partnership with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education to help implement learning through play in 17,000 schools nationwide.
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- The LEGO Foundation made public its plans to establish local offices in Boston (USA), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Mexico City (Mexico).
- In April, Thomas Kirk Kristiansen became chairman of the board, taking over from Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen as the fourth generation in the LEGO family to hold this post. Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen continues on the board of the LEGO Foundation as deputy chairman.
- The LEGO® Idea Conference 2016 awarded the LEGO Prize to Pasi Sahlberg, Visiting Professor at Harvard University.
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At the LEGO® Idea Conference 2015, the LEGO Prize is awarded to Carla Rinaldi, President of Reggio Children.
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- The Foundation’s first Theory of Change is developed and approved by the Board of Directors.
- In April, the LEGO Foundation hosts a re-purposed LEGO® Idea Conference, successfully gathering the world’s leading voices within play and learning.
- In August, the foundations for the LEGO® House were laid. The LEGO Foundation provided the financing for this project – the ultimate LEGO experience.
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- Revitalising the LEGO Foundation and its strategic focus is initiated.
- A Memorandum of Understanding is signed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and the LEGO Foundation, stipulating that play shall be a part of the kindergarten curriculum.
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- Billund Municipality and the LEGO Foundation enter into a unique public-private partnership focusing on creating the Capital of Children in Billund, home to the LEGO Group headquarter since 1932.
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- The LEGO Foundation primarily focuses its work on product donations and training benefitting underprivileged children around the world.
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- LEGO Charity is established
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- The first LEGO Idea Conference is held.
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- Activities are mostly centered around different donations and support for initiatives such as the LEGO Learning Institute and LEGO Idea House.
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- The LEGO Foundation buys 25% of the shares in LEGO A/S through its subsidiary company.
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- The LEGO Foundation is renamed to its present name.
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- The LEGO Foundation is founded by Edith and Godtfred Kirk Christiansen’s Foundation on December 10, 1986 under the name “The Foundation of December 10, 1986”