Community engagement is embedded in Novo Nordisk's history and values, where donations are a key element. Our donations can take many forms. It may be employees volunteering their time and resources for community work, it can be donations to improve the capacity in healthcare systems, and it could also be activities to raise awareness about healthy living and lifestyle-related health risks.
In 2010, Novo Nordisk and its employees made substantial donations to institutions such as the World Diabetes Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation, and to aid people with diabetes affected by natural disasters. Employees also raised money to support diabetes through diabetes walks, marathons, diabetes camps and sports activities, and local community health events.
World Diabetes Foundation
In financial terms, our biggest single commitment is its annual donation to the World Diabetes Foundation. At Novo Nordisk's 2002 Annual General Meeting, the shareholders made an agreement obliging the company over a 10-year period to make an annual donation of 0.25% of the net insulin sales of the Group in the preceding financial year.
At the 2008 Annual General Meeting, a new donation in supplement to the existing obligation was agreed on. According to this agreement, Novo Nordisk is abliged to make annual donations to the Foundation of 0.01% in the period 2008-20010 and 0.125% in the period 2011-2017 of the net insulin sales of the Group in the preceding financial year.
However, annual donations for 2010 shall not exceed the lower of DKK 70 million or 15% of the taxable income of Novo Nordisk, and for the period 2011-2017 the lower of DKK 80 million or 15% of the taxable income.
In 2010 the donations amounted to DKK 69 million compared to DKK 68 million in both 2008 and 2009.
Read more about our access to health programmes.
For more information on WDF visit www.worlddiabetesfoundation.org
Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation
An estimated 80% of people with haemophilia live in developing countries, where haemophilia is not a healthcare priority and many people with haemophilia go undiagnosed or are inadequately treated. To address the significant need for improved access to haemophilia care, the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation (NNHF) was established in 2005 as a Swiss non-profit organisation with global focus. Novo Nordisk is committed to providing annual donations on a long-term basis.
The NNHF supports locally managed development programmes focusing on training physicians, nurses and laboratory technicians, educating people with haemophilia and family members, setting up diagnostic facilities, performing screening programmes and establishing national registries. Furthermore, it grants educational fellowships and an annual community award.
Our donations to the NNHF support 38 projects and nine fellowships in 25 developing countries. By working with partners across all areas of the haemophilia community with local ownership of the projects, the NNHF aims to ensure the sustainability of development programmes.
In 2010, NNHF received an annual donation of approximately DKK 15 million from Novo Nordisk.
Read more about the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation at their website www.nnhf.org
Sponsorships
Novo Nordisk primarily sponsors activities within the framework of the company's therapy areas, with a particular focus on diabetes. Whenever possible, the company is actively involved in the planning, execution and/or follow-up of the activities to ensure as high an impact as possible.
In 2010 sponsorship activities focused on health-promoting activities, awareness-raising and prevention of diabetes.
Examples of activities range from diabetes walks, marathons, diabetes camps and sports activities to local community health events.
We do not gather and report the total amount used on sponsorships in the affiliates.
Donations for relief actions
When disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis hit, the infrastructure that normally supplies people with chronic diseases such as haemophilia and diabetes breaks down - meaning a life- threatening situation for hundreds or thousands of survivors. Quick response from companies such as Novo Nordisk is often crucial.
Our donations in 2010 included:
- A donation of 1 million Danish kroner to Pakistani flood victims, with 500,000 Danish kroner going to the Danish Red Cross, which cooperates with Pakistani Red Crescent. The other half was going to supply insulin and medical supplys through Novo Nordisk's affiliate in Pakistan.
- A donation of 50,000 vials of our diabetes product, to victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
Employee donations
In total, our employees donated 395,992 US dollars in total to World Diabetes Foundation, Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation, local initiatives and causes through fundrasing activities and salary deductions.
For more detailed information see employee volunteering.