IKEA Foundation donated more than ever in 2012

Making grants to 20 partners, including six new partners, the IKEA Foundation is now the biggest global corporate donor to UNICEF, UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency), the United Nations Development Programme, Save the Children and Fight for Peace International.

Here are more of the highlights from the Foundation’s 2012 annual review , launched today:

• 74 million children in India have benefitted from the Foundation’s 10-year    partnership with UNICEF.
• IKEA’s 2012 Soft Toys for Education campaign  helped the Foundation give €9.3 million to UNICEF and Save the Children to improve children’s education in developing countries.
• The Foundation launched its IWitness programme  for IKEA co-workers to meet and learn from communities benefitting from the Soft Toys for Education campaign.
• For the first time, the Foundation provided funding to US- and UK-based nonprofits for their work in developing countries.

Per Heggenes, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, said: “We were fortunate to be able to give €82 million in donations last year to help create opportunities for children and families living in poverty in developing countries.  However, what’s important isn’t just how much we give, but how we give. By working long-term with the right partners, we can help drive innovation and implement lasting change, allowing us to reach and make a difference in the lives of 100 million children by 2015.’’