Foundations in Norway

They constitute a small but economically important contribution to Norway's social and cultural life and to sports, education, and science.

Traditionally foundations were based to promote an idealistic goal, for instance of social, humanitarian, religious or educational nature.

In later years it has been increasingly common for foundations to perform the idealist work themselves, to become holding companies within certain fields or as research organizations.

During Roman Catholicism in Norway, it was customary that the Church was given money and land in return for posthumous clerical services.

Modern foundations originated along with settled estates (stamhus) and fee tails (fideikommiss) during absolutism in Norway, and members of the Dano-Norwegian nobility were among the first to establish such.

In 1814, when the Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway was introduced, the foundation system was the only to survive; the creation of new settled estates and new fee tails was prohibited.

However, based on later interpretations of section 108 of the Constitution, Norwegian authorities have limited the possibility to create foundations that have as purpose to make beneficiary relatives and kin of the founder.