In May 2026, the Foundation of Christian the Fourth’s Guild distributed foundation grants to 17 associations and activities

Christian the Fourth’s Guild was founded in 1942 during the Second World War as a gathering place for true Danes. 

The Guild’s Foundation was established on May 2, 1997, when the Guild contributed an initial capital of DKK 500,000. Fortunately, developments over the years have increased the Foundation’s capital to nearly DKK 2 million.

The Foundation’s statutes state that it may support “social, humanitarian, and cultural activities within Aalborg Municipality.” In special cases, however, this area may be extended. Due to the Foundation’s limited size, its policy throughout the years has been to provide broad support through smaller grants to individual recipients, with special consideration given to voluntary unpaid work.

The composition of the Board has remained relatively stable over the years, as only three board members have been replaced during the Foundation’s lifetime.

The current Board members are City and Regional Council member Vibeke Gamst, who serves as Chairman but was unable to attend on the day; former Managing Director of AKKC Ernst Trillingsgaard; Professor Michael Slavinsky Dahl; Guild Master Niels Voss Hansen; and Chair Brother Jens-Chr. Schmidt, who serves as the Foundation’s daily administrator.

This year marked the 29th occasion on which the Foundation had the pleasure of distributing grants to relevant and carefully selected causes, involving no fewer than 17 recipients:

The recipients included Aalborg Castle Theatre, supporting the theatre production “The Harbour – The Heart of the City”; Aalborg Chamber Music Festival, for concerts performed by young talents; Aalborg Senior Sports “Real Men,” for a cycling event covering a total distance of 3,335 km; the association “De Positive,” consisting primarily of women with visible and invisible disabilities; Aalborg Company Sports, especially the “MudRace” event characterized by obstacles, teamwork, and plenty of smiles; the Colitis-Crohn Association, supporting research into serious intestinal diseases and organizing support activities for patients; Charity of Aalborg, which distributes Christmas parcels to lonely young and elderly people; the nearly 200 unpaid volunteers at Aalborg University Hospital who help patients with practical matters; the Norden Association, organizing a Nordic Song Evening at Duus with the Greenlandic choir Ikinngutigiit and “Friends of Ballads”; Aalborg Mini City near Springeren, a group of model builders recreating old Aalborg; the Danish Cancer Society for organizing “Pink Saturday”; the Knitting Girls at Vestbyen Senior House for yarn used to make sweaters, socks, hats, and gloves distributed to homeless people at Café “Hjerterummet” and the women’s shelter in Saxogade; Jazz Club “Satchmo,” a local jazz club organizing 5–8 concerts at Duus; an Experience Day for young people with physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities; the Griffen Senior Club with around 40 members arranging various activities for pensioners; the association Fit4Cure for organizing a major international event for people with Parkinson’s disease; and finally Kulturnat Nibe Activity, whose purpose is to organize various cultural events free of charge to participants.

In total, the Foundation of Christian the Fourth’s Guild distributed approximately DKK 63,000 to valuable and life-affirming activities, which the Foundation hopes many people will benefit from.

The grant ceremony took place at Duus Vinkjælder at Nytorv in Jens Bang’s Stone House, where Christian the Fourth’s Guild conducts initiation ceremonies for new Guild members and also maintains meeting facilities in the beautiful historic building.

Afterwards, the attending guests and grant recipients were invited on a guided tour of the old Holy Ghost Monastery at C.W. Obels Plads, where Søren Wormslev—journalist and much more—was ready to provide information about the monastery and the activities that can be experienced there.