Nobel Foundation

Hello, we are the Nobel Foundation. Our story begins not with an invention of our own, but with a surprising gift from a remarkable person. His name was Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor who lived in the 1800s. He was famous all over the world for inventing dynamite, a powerful explosive. But near the end of his life, he decided to use the great fortune he had earned for a very different purpose. In his will, which is a legal document that explains what to do with a person's belongings after they pass away, Mr. Nobel left his money for a special mission: to create awards for people whose work helps all of humanity.

After he passed, it was time to make his wish a reality. We were officially established on June 29th, 1900, in Stockholm, Sweden, to take on this important job. Our purpose was clear from the very beginning: we would be the caretakers of Alfred Nobel’s final wish, making sure his vision would continue for many years to come.

Our main job has two parts. First, we manage the money that Alfred Nobel left behind. This is a very serious responsibility. We must invest it wisely so that there will always be enough to fund the prizes and celebrate the winners. Second, we make sure the Nobel Prizes are awarded every single year. Mr. Nobel wanted to honor people who made incredible achievements in five specific areas: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. Each of these fields represents a different way to make the world better, from understanding the secrets of the universe to creating stories that inspire us or building bridges between nations.

Our mission is to carry out Alfred Nobel’s instructions to celebrate the people whose work provides the “greatest benefit to humankind.” This powerful idea is at the heart of everything we do. We help shine a light on discoveries that can save lives, ideas that can change how we see the world, and actions that can bring about a more peaceful future.

The first time we helped present these special awards was a very important day. It was December 10th, 1901, a date chosen because it was exactly five years after Alfred Nobel's passing. On that day, the first group of winners, who are called Nobel Laureates, were honored for their groundbreaking work. But we, the Nobel Foundation, did not choose them. Mr. Nobel wanted the winners to be selected by experts who truly understood each subject. To make this happen, special committees were formed in Sweden and Norway. These committees are made up of scientists, doctors, writers, and other experts who carefully study the year's most important achievements. This system of using independent experts is still how it works today, which helps make the Nobel Prize a fair and respected honor.

For many years, there were just the five prizes that Alfred Nobel described in his will. Then, in 1968, another award was added. The Prize in Economic Sciences was established in memory of Alfred Nobel to honor important work in that field. Today, our work continues, guided by the same principles from over a century ago. We carefully protect the prize fund to ensure the awards can continue far into the future. We also organize the grand award ceremonies that take place each year. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, while the ceremonies for the other prizes are held in Stockholm, Sweden. A big part of our job now is to help share the amazing discoveries and inspiring stories of the Nobel Laureates with people all over the world, so everyone can learn from their work.

While our name is connected to the prize, it is important to remember that we do not choose the winners. We are the guardians of Alfred Nobel's legacy. We make sure the process is fair, the ceremonies are respectful, and the story of the prizes continues to be told. By managing this special gift, we help ensure the Nobel Prize remains one of the world's most respected honors. Our greatest hope is that this legacy will continue to inspire new generations of scientists, writers, and peacemakers to ask big questions, to dream big, and to work towards a better, kinder, and more hopeful future for everyone on Earth.