The Grundfos Foundation, owner of Grundfos, a global provider in water technology, has expanded its budget for donations this year from a planned $18 million to $29 million and will include COVID-19 among its donation areas.
The main donation areas remain water, research, and inclusion. However, the foundation is eager to step up to aid in the fight against COVID-19 as well.
“In 2020, Grundfos turns 75. This is a good occasion for expanding the donation activities significantly, and we plan to commit $29 million to donations this year,” said Kim Nøhr Skibsted, executive director.
“The funds will primarily support our existing donation areas where we support mission-driven research and learning, sustainable solutions, humanitarian aid through access to drinking water, and inclusion of the socially vulnerable through public-private collaboration. There’s plenty of worthy causes to support, and our donations should help bring about new, groundbreaking solutions.”
In 2019, the foundation committed $17 million to philanthropic projects. Among its highlights was the completion of the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp water distribution system and bringing access to drinking water to more than 200,000 people in western Tanzania in partnership with the American nongovernmental organization, Water Mission. The foundation supports similar projects in collaboration with UNICEF, Plan International, and Oxfam.
COVID-19 means a change of focus for the Grundfos Foundation (Poul Due Jensen Foundation).
“WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) is also a core tool to shield humans against the corona pandemic, and we are following the situation closely to see how we can be of assistance,” Skibsted said. “Within research, we will support changed priorities that can help mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak now and in the future. We will remain true to our partnerships, but we will adapt to the new reality in Denmark and globally.”
Grundfos, a manufacturer member of NGWA, is based in Bjerringbro, Denmark. The global pump manufacturer has regional headquarters in the Houston, Texas, area.