One Life Foundation was founded in 2010, on the occasion of Michael Halbye’s 50th birthday.

Michael wanted to inspire his friends to engage more actively in philanthropy. He asked for no gifts and no speeches. Instead, guests were invited to join workshops hosted by emerging NGOs – including Maternity Foundation and the early idea that would later become Orchid Project, an organisation working to end female genital cutting. Guests could take part in the workshops if they wished, and they were welcome to donate to philanthropic causes.

Many guests gave generously. Some of the donations went directly to Maternity Foundation and Orchid, and with those two projects, the vision they were rooted in and the remaining funds – One Life Foundation was born.

Over time, One Life Foundation has supported a wide range of projects, organisations, and entrepreneurs. We focus on both NGOs and mission-driven entrepreneurs working to create positive impact for people and the planet. While many of our projects take place abroad, they often have a Danish connection at their core.

Some of the initiatives we’ve supported are still thriving more than 10–15 years later, while others have evolved or concluded. We are proud to have backed and collaborated with so many passionate people and projects – from knitting and vanilla production to education, music, and culture.

In 2025, we lost our founder, Michael Halbye, in a tragic accident – a loss felt deeply by all who knew him.

In his honour, we continue the work he started, supporting NGOs and entrepreneurs while keeping Michael’s – and One Life Foundation’s – motto at heart:

One Life to Live, One Life to Give.

His legacy lives on through every project we support and every person we empower.