Annual Report 2014 Table of Contents

Annual Report 2014 Table of contents 3 Contents Our work Our strategic approach · 04 Distribution policy · 08 Our programmes · 09 Examples of our work · 16 Research network · 22 What does success look like? · 24 Our LEGO heritage · 29 Letter from our chairman and CEO · 30 Key figures · 32 Why play? · 37 Governance and leadership · 38 Board of directors · 40 Our team · 44 Financial statements Management’s review 2014 · 48 Management’s statement · 50 Independent auditor’s reports · 52 Income statement · 54 Activity reporting · 55 Balance sheet · 56 Statement of changes in equity · 58 Accounting policies · 59 Notes · 61 Ole Kirk’s Foundation · 64 Information about the LEGO Foundation · 66 Print: Rosendahls Design: KIRK & HOLM Our strategic approach Our strategic approach 4 5 Transforming attitudes and behaviours Our strategic towards learning through play approach Our aim is to build a future in which learning through Our work is about challenging the status quo by play empowers children to become creative, engaged, re-defining play and re-imagining learning – changing life-long learners. We do this by promoting systemic, the way people understand the importance of play, scalable change in partnership with others by especially the value it has in helping children learn skills transforming attitudes and behaviours to learning essential for life in the 21st century. through play. Our focus is on children aged 0–12, with a special To do this, we: emphasis on early childhood. At this age, children play Build and share Open minds naturally and there is widespread acceptance that they Identify and support PROGRAMMES that do so. However, play is widely under-appreciated for its EVIDENCE to show to develop BUY-IN demonstrate results role in enabling early learning. This is particularly critical value for children aged 0–6 because this is when they develop Build and share EVIDENCE to show value most rapidly, both physically and mentally. Open minds to develop BUY-IN Investments that focus on children at an early age can create a solid foundation for their future potential as learners, and for their health and abilities. We intend These three approaches are a foundational part of our to demonstrate the value of hands-on, minds-on play strategic framework and what lies behind our current from early childhood onwards – not only in enhancing programme portfolio. traditional learning, but also in stimulating creative and critical thinking skills that impact lifelong learning. We believe that sustainable change happens when you transform attitudes and behaviours across society. Identify and support That’s why we want to work with parents, caregivers, school systems, institutions and governments to make PROGRAMMES that learning through play a reality in the lives of millions of demonstrate results children. Our strategic approach Our strategic approach 6 7 We will achieve Theory of change this by: Promoting systemic, scalable change in partnership with others Strategic and current portfolio objective by transforming attitudes and behaviours to learning through play Build and share Open minds EVIDENCE to show to develop BUY-IN value Empowered by: Values and 80+ years of LEGO Financial resources Instant recognition long-term play experience and from a 25% share in and credibility from Three mutually focus from our commitment in the the LEGO Group the LEGO brand reinforcing founding family DNA of our people and brick approaches Identify and support PROGRAMMES that Our mission is to: Inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow demonstrate results Our aim is to: Re-define play and re-imagine learning Build a future in which learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, life-long learners Our current portfolio: Play based Sparking a Re-imagine Capital of Local LEGO Learning Global Learning Children Community We will Five core Make Play based Dialogue Invest to Build the Engagement focus on: Children aged 0–12, especially in early childhood programmes Learning a Spark a Global Re-imagine Capital of Support LEGO reality for Dialogue to Learning Children to Group So that: millions of make quality around the create an employee Children benefit from the transformative power of learning through play to children early learning a world exemplar that commitment develop the social, cognitive, physical, emotional and creative skills to serve well-resourced informs us and priority in them, their communities and society throughout a lifetime. inspires others targeted countries Which requires that: Children Parents Teachers Systems Govern- are engaged are equipped are equipped such as ments Research network and Communication in learning and and schools, child resource evaluation capacity platform through play empowered empowered care, etc. em- Four enabling policies that activities to use learning to use learn- brace learning support through play ing through through play learning Operational Organisational play through play platform development Distribution policy 8 Our programmes Distribution policy Play based The charter stipulates that the LEGO Foundation will provide The core programmes and activities serve as our main support for children and their development along with support distribution categories: 1 Learning for general research and educational purposes. It also empha- Play based Learning sises the close relationship between the LEGO Foundation Sparking a Global Dialogue and the LEGO Group through the stipulation of the purpose to Re-imagine Learning Sparking a ensure and support the ongoing existence and development of Capital of Children the Group. In line with these purposes, the LEGO Foundation Local LEGO Community Engagement Global Dialogue supports Ole Kirk’s Foundation’s charitable activities and Research network 2 interest in the Danish society, where the LEGO Foundation and the LEGO Group have their headquarters. Distribution guidelines Re-imagine • Every grant must be kept within the purposes mentioned in With a starting point in the charter, our strategy – our Theory our charter. Learning of Change – defines our aim as to build a future where learning • Every programme and activity grant must be kept within the 3 through play empowers children become creative, engaged, agreed Theory of Change. life-long learners. • The distribution framework must safeguard our obligations Capital by ensuring that sufficient funds are available to cover 3 years Our board of directors lays down the framework for grants of activity even without new income from the LEGO Group. of Children as part of approving the yearly budget and plans. During the • When giving grants to third-party organisations, we agree 4 year, the leadership team puts forward individual proposals for a budget for administration/overhead appropriate to the distribution of grants within that framework, for board approval. purpose of the grant and the nature of the grantee. • The LEGO Foundation does not consider unsolicited Local LEGO grant applications. 5 Community Approved by the board of directors Engagement Our programmes Our programmes 10 11 Play based Sparking a 1 Learning 2 Global Dialogue The LEGO Foundation is working to make play based It often involves product donations of LEGO play and The LEGO Foundation wants to promote quality play- This unique forum provides a strong stage for leading learning a reality for millions of children all over the learning materials as well as teaching the caregivers – based early childhood development, so that govern- academics, authors, researchers and innovators to world. parents, teachers, educators – about the importance ments recognise its value and make it a well-funded discuss, debate and co-create an actionable agenda for of play and how to engage with children in a fun and priority. changing the way we approach children's learning and The Play based Learning programme is about bringing dynamic way. development. The LEGO Prize, traditionally announced playful learning tools and activities to children and To do this, we will engage a diverse set of actors at at the LEGO Idea Conference, honours outstanding achieving measurable impact on their cognitive, Building strategic partnerships with local, regional two levels – globally and at the country level – where achievements in play and learning. Past winners include emotional, social and creative skills in specific countries and international organisations is also an important coordinated research and policies on scaling, measure- Astrid Lindgren, Nicholas Negroponte and Sir Ken or regions. component. Through these partnerships we seek to ment, and financing of quality early childhood learning Robinson. reach and influence stakeholders such as governments, will help to change mindsets amongst global leaders school systems and parents to embrace and use and policymakers. The 2015 conference is scheduled for 13–15 April. learning through play. One of our beacon activities in this programme is the We work in South Africa and Ukraine, but will be adding annual LEGO Idea Conference. Each spring, the LEGO more locations over time. Foundation hosts this conference in Billund, home of the LEGO Group, to bring together the world’s leading voices in the fields of play and learning. Participants gather to exchange ideas and unveil new insights about the power of play. Our programmes Our programmes 12 13 Re-imagine Capital 3 Learning 4 of Children The Re-imagine Learning Programme identifies and To help identify innovation around the world, the LEGO Imagine a unique public-private

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