Development Co-operation Profiles

The LEGO Foundation is a Denmark-based private philanthropic foundation focusing on the development of children’s learning through play across the world.

LEGO Foundation provided USD 258.4 million for development in 2022 through its grantmaking activities. Compared to 2021, this amount represents an increase of 36.7% in real terms.

In 2022, the LEGO Foundation provided USD 9.3 million of gross development finance to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression. Moreover, USD 7.3 million was granted in support of Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers in neighbouring countries.

In 2022, the LEGO Foundation channelled its development finance mostly through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society (USD 165.7 million), multilateral organisations (USD 55.9 million) and universities, research institutes or think‑tanks (USD 30.7 million).

In 2022, the LEGO Foundation provided USD 55.9 million to the multilateral system, representing 21.6% of its development finance, all of which was earmarked for specific countries, regions, themes or purposes.

All contributions to the multilateral system by the LEGO Foundation were provided to the United Nations (UN) system. The most significant UN recipients were UNICEF (USD 50.7 million) and the WHO (USD 5 million).

In 2022, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 165.7 million of the LEGO Foundation’s gross development finance, almost all of which was earmarked for specific projects or programmes. Most of these contributions were channelled through international NGOs (50.7%) and NGOs based in developing countries (38%).

Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.

In 2022, the LEGO Foundation’s development finance was primarily focused on Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. USD 133.6 million was allocated to Africa and USD 10.4 million to Latin America and the Caribbean, accounting for 51.7% and 4% of gross development finance respectively. A sum of USD 95.6 million (37%) was unspecified by region in 2022, mainly including multi-regional programmes and research grants. Of this unallocated total, USD 7.3 million was provided in support of refugees and asylum-seekers in donor countries.

In 2022, 55.9% of gross development finance went to the top 10 recipients, most notably South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda and Ukraine.

Least developed countries (LDCs) and other low-income countries (LICs) received USD 87.8 million (34%) of the LEGO Foundation’s gross disbursements in 2022, followed by upper middle-income countries (20.7%), noting that USD 97.3 million (37.6%) was unallocated by income group.

Furthermore, the LEGO Foundation allocated USD 48.4 million of its development finance to land-locked developing countries in 2022, and USD 208 thousand to small island developing states (SIDS) in 2022, notably Jamaica.

Support to fragile contexts reached USD 89.8 million in 2022, representing 34.8% of the LEGO Foundation’s development finance.

Learn more about support to fragile contexts on the States of Fragility platform.

In 2022, almost all (99.6%) of the LEGO Foundation’s contributions were allocated to social infrastructure and services, notably education. Humanitarian assistance amounted to USD 0.9 million.

In 2022, the LEGO Foundation committed the largest shares of its contributions to quality education (SDG 4), reduced inequalities (SDG 10) and no poverty (SDG 1) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Official website: https://learningthroughplay.com

The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, the Sustainable Development Goal focus of private development finance, channels of delivery, unspecified/unallocated allocations, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.