Henry Dunker bequeathed and donated a fortune equivalent to SEK 58 million (about ten times this monetary value in 2019 figures) to Henry and Gerda Dunker's Donation Funds and the Henry and Gerda Dunker Foundation.
The Dunker Foundations’ returns
Through the returns from the Dunker Foundations, Helsingborg City has financed, among other things, Helsingborg City Theatre, the Cultural Centre in Fredriksdal, Dunkers Kulturhus, new stands at the Olympia football arena and the Helsingborg Arena. Helsingborg Concert Hall, inaugurated in November 1932, was also largely funded by Henry Dunker while he was still alive.
Gerda Dunker had a strong interest in culture, but neither she nor Henry showed any interest in sport. Most of the projects that Helsingborg City has carried out using the returns have been related to culture, but to some extent they have also been used for sporting purposes. How the funds are used by Helsingborg City is decided by the City Council, where a two-thirds majority passes decisions. The Dunker Foundations cannot influence this, but only have the task of managing the capital in the best way according to the will of the testator.
The Dunker Donation Funds and Foundation
Henry Dunker's legacy is divided into three foundations:
The foundation called The Henry and Gerda Dunker Donation Fund No. 2 >>
The Henry and Gerda Dunker Foundation >>
The foundation called The Henry and Gerda Dunker Donation Fund No. 1 >>
The Dunker Interests
The Dunker interests are the largest individual shareholder and hold the majority of votes in Trelleborg AB. The Dunker interests exercise their ownership through representation on the company's nomination committee and through appointed board members. These have assignments on the Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee and the Finance Committee.
According to Henry Dunker's will, the foundations cannot sell their shares in Trelleborg AB without the Board's agreement and the county administrative board, which is the supervisory authority, and Helsingborg City Council granting approval. According to the will, three members of the Board must reside in Helsingborg and its environs.
The Dunker interests consist of two foundations; The Henry and Gerda Dunker Donation Fund No. 2 and The Henry and Gerda Dunker Foundation. These two foundations in turn control three active limited companies: Henry Dunkers Förvaltnings AB, Förvaltningsaktiebolaget HD and Aktiebolaget Hevea. Over the past 10 years, up to 2023, the foundations have distributed approximately SEK 1 billion to Helsingborg City and beneficiaries.
The Henry and Gerda Dunker Donation Fund No. 2
The Board of Directors that manages Donation Fund No. 2 has as its main task to follow and develop Trelleborg AB and to create growth for the foundations' assets.
After a part of the annual net income in Donation Fund No. 2 has been added to the company’s capital, a part goes to inheritance benefits for the Dunker couple's siblings, nephews and nieces and the latter’s children for three generations and the rest will be placed at the disposal of Helsingborg City.
The portion allocated to Helsingborg City shall be used for an independent purpose of benefit to the city of Helsingborg within the city of Helsingborg, or for the beautification of the city or for the maintenance or expansion of such, as previously realised through the returns from the fund.
The Henry and Gerda Dunker Foundation
The main purpose of this foundation is to promote the care of those who are severely physically ill and in need, especially those resident in Helsingborg.
The Dunker couple's former residence, Villa Hevea, also called the Dunker villa, was included in the bequeathed assets and is now used as a nursing home according to Henry Dunker's ordinance.
The foundation was founded back 1953, i.e., before Henry Dunker's death in 1962. Its task then was to offer care to the elderly in Helsingborg City and to contribute money to cancer research. Upon Henry's death, the foundation took over Villa Hevea, and in 1971 the villa was expanded. Since 1992, the Dunker nursing home has been run by Helsingborg City and is included in the city's care homes.
The Henry and Gerda Dunker Donation Fund No. 1
The Henry and Gerda Dunker Donation Fund No. 1 is administered and managed by Helsingborg City. The main proportion of the returns shall be used for an independent purpose of benefit to the city of Helsingborg within the city of Helsingborg, or for the beautification of the city or for the maintenance or expansion of such, as previously realised through the returns from the fund.
