The Kavli Trust owns the Kavli Food Group, and this ownership provides the basis for its financial support of good causes. Part of Kavli’s profits are reinvested to strengthen and develop group’s operations, while the remainder benefits research, cultural activities and humanitarian work through the trust. Although the overall amount can vary from year to year, donations from the trust have recently increased substantially.
The Kavli Trust is currently in the midst of an exciting development phase. Traditionally, it has received applications and spread support widely. But the recent trend has been towards backing fewer, larger and more long-term projects. In this way, the trust can make a bigger contribution to meeting important social needs and have a clear impact in these areas. The new approach also permits a closer partnership with recipients over a longer period, so that the two sides can jointly achieve better results and a bigger return for society from the funding.
The trust gives priority to large, long-term projects. An example of collaboration from each of its three main areas of humanitarian work, research and culture are provided below.
- Gibside School in Gateshead is a school for pupils with learning difficulties and special requirements.
- Sally Ann, the Salvation Army’s international fair trade concept.
- The trust has created a dedicated centre for dementia research at the Haraldsplass Diaconal Hospital in Bergen.
- Support from the Kavli Trust is making it possible for 4,000 children to attend school in Burkina Faso.
- The shocking human suffering in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 has prompted the Kavli Trust to support efforts to bring relief after the disaster.