For Ania Stoltz-Andersen, project manager at TrygFonden, Danish Social Innovation Academy has been a space for professional growth and a driving force behind new ways of thinking about foundation work. A concrete example is the “Forandringskraft” platform, which brings people together from across Denmark to connect local initiatives with national movements
“What will you do tomorrow?” That was the final question posed to the 500 participants at the professional festival Forandringskraft 2026. The two-day, full-program event had been marked by a spirit of hope—now it was time to call for action. As Ania Stoltz-Andersen, head of the secretariat behind Forandringskraft, looked around the room, she hoped the participants would leave with one thing in particular. “A sense of community. That the participants would be reassured that they are not alone. That is incredibly important when you’re dealing with complex change projects in your day-to-day work.”
After all, change isn’t necessarily about creating new projects, but about strengthening what’s already underway. It’s about providing courage and direction, she points out. “Perhaps the most important thing is that people go home and keep going, but with a stronger belief that it makes sense.”
STORIES OF CHANGE
How do we showcase the change we’re creating? This is a recurring question among many who work toward long-term social change.
In 2026, the Academy of Change ( Danish Social Innovation Academy ) is working to create new narratives of change based on the Academy’s own work and the stories of its members. To this end, the secretariat has gathered insights and experiences from members through logbooks, qualitative interviews, surveys, and observations.
Throughout the year, you’ll have the opportunity to meet a variety of members and learn more about what they take away from the Academy and the difference they make in society.
Read the interview with Anna Mollerup, director of Paths for Everyone, and Torben Vind Rasmussen, chair of Efterskolerne
The Academy as a Spearhead – The Power of Change as a Movement
"The Power of Change" is a new way of working for TrygFonden, which Ania is helping to develop together with her colleague, Project Manager Britt Wendelboe. It is a philanthropic role in which the foundation both provides support and actively contributes as a development partner. The overall goal—as with a regular donation—is to spur action and create change in society.
Danish Social Innovation Academy, both the members and the secretariat, is a close partner in the Forandringskraft initiative. Ania describes the relationship between Forandringskraft and the Academy as a kind of food chain, in which the Academy plays a central role in terms of both content and format.
“Forandringskraft would not exist in its current form without the Academy. The Academy is the spearhead—the place where radical innovation and systemic critique take place. Forandringskraft is the next link in the chain and broadens its reach.”
Forandringskraft emerged from a desire to bring together and connect the many initiatives working toward social change. While the Academy can take a more exploratory and experimental approach, Forandringskraft aims to reach a broader audience, says Ania. “The Academy is meant to be a very specialized resource for a smaller group. That’s where you can really delve deeply into topics, and then members can spread the impact throughout society. Forandringskraft is meant to be accessible to a wider audience.”
“The Academy is the vanguard—the place where radical innovation and systemic critique take place. The power to drive change is the next step in the funnel and broadens its scope.”
– Ania Stoltz-Andersen
At the same time, she emphasizes that the two initiatives share the same goal: to spur action and create momentum in society—albeit through different approaches.
For Ania, the measure of success—both for Forandringskraft and her membership in the Academy—is not a specific end goal, but a process: “We’re never finished. It’s about setting things in motion—new beginnings. And making the cracks bigger. This work is, after all, also a personal mission, and it can be risky to invest your own resources in it. Here, the Academy is my community. You know you’re not alone when you’re working toward something that will pay off in the long run.”
Ania Stoltz at Forandringskraft 2026. Photo: Niklas Adrian Vindelev
From Insight to Action in Your Own Life organisation
For Ania, the Academy’s greatest strength—and what she finds particularly useful in her own work—is its ability to stay at the forefront of societal developments. “The Academy is top-notch when it comes to challenging the status quo and taking on new topics. It pushes you out of your comfort zone. It’s not just new knowledge—it’s new ways of thinking and working,” she says.
She points out that the Academy was an early adopter of concepts and approaches that have since become more widespread, such as long-term thinking and imagination. At the same time, the formats create a space where participants can immerse themselves and build relationships over time.
“I am being equipped to bring new perspectives into the organization, where I can draw on the Academy’s methods and approaches.”
– Ania Stoltz-Andersen
“The Academy may not be a pioneer in a particular approach or method, but it is the first to bring it to a broad management level where we wouldn’t otherwise have encountered it. You go home feeling enriched and inspired, and you can join a conversation about something new six months later because you participated in a lab. That has been incredibly valuable to me in many situations,” says Ania.
In her day-to-day work at TrygFonden, she actively draws on the knowledge and experience she gained at the Academy to help shape the organization’s direction as a development partner. In particular, her work on imagination and new forms of collaboration has left a lasting impression, serving as an important point of reference and providing substantial weight in internal discussions.
“I am being equipped to bring new perspectives into the organization, where I can draw on the Academy’s methods and approaches in our internal efforts to further develop our own work.”
Ania Stoltz-Andersen
Member of the Academy since 2021. Ania is the head of the Backbone Secretariat at Forandringskraft. She is employed as a project manager at TrygFonden. Ania previously served as communications director for Tryghedsgruppen/Trygfonden and, most recently, as program manager for Social Responsibility & Sustainability.