About us

The Minor Foundation for Major Challenges is a Norwegian trust that funds communication projects which mitigate anthropogenic climate change.

In 1972 designer Peter Opsvik had an idea that would forever change the way we look at children's furniture: a chair designed to develop with the child through life. It took time to find someone who believed in his idea, and who would support it coming to life. Born from that same commitment to sustainable solutions that will last us a lifetime, the Opsvik family created a trust to support new ideas for how to fight climate change and implement climate action.

The board grants support to the projects they believe have the greatest impact on influencing opinion and increasing political support for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Our board

Ingrid Lomelde

Chairman

Ingrid Lomelde holds a masters degree in political science from the University of Oslo and has dedicated her career to developing climate solutions that protect and respect nature and people. Ingrid has long experience promoting sustainable development, climate science and energy transition across the public, private and civil society sectors in roles as Conservation Director in WWF Norway, as Head for the Climate Team in the Norwegian Research Council and as Sustainability Director in several renewable energy companies.

Tor Opsvik

Board member

Mr. Tor Opsvik has a PhD degree, with a thesis in History at the University of Santiago de Chile. He holds a Masters degree in Sociology and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. He has been an advisor at the Norwegian Directorate of Immigrationworks. Currently, he works as a teacher in Latin American history and culture at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Trude Rauken

Board member

Unni Berge

Board member

Unni Berge is a political scientist. For the last four years she has been Head of communication and PR in The Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, the world's biggest association for EV drivers with more than 120.000 members. Previously she has worked for the Norwegian government and in the Norwegian Parliament with issues concerning international development and environmental politics. She has also been the deputy chairman of the Zero Emission Resource Organisation and has served on the boards of both Nature and Youth and the Sophie Prize.

Our history

2000

Peter Opsvik’s family-owned company donated one third of its shares to The Minor Foundation for Major Challenges. The foundation supports communication projects that contribute to mitigating human-made global warming.

2001

The Foundation awards its first grant, to a project for raising awareness of climate change in Russia.

2011

Awarded grants surpass 10 million NOK in total. The project portfolio includes start funding to a new NGO called 350.org, work to include migrant communities in climate action, and ground-breaking analysis of equity in climate policy.

2018

The Foundation sells its shares in Peter Opsvik AS and decides to make its entire asset base available for grantmaking during the decisive decade for climate action towards 2030.