Founded in 1980, the Right Livelihood Award Foundation is a charity registered in Sweden. Its office is located in Stockholm.

The Foundation is a politically independent and non-ideological platform for the voices of its Recipients to be heard. It is sustained by individual donations from different countries.

The Foundation has partner organisations in the US, Germany, and Switzerland. Its network of recipients, donors, and other supporters covers five continents.

According to its Statutes,

the purpose of the Foundation shall be, by presentation of Right Livelihood Awards, to promote scientific research, education, public understanding and practical activities which:

• contribute to a global ecological balance
• are aimed at eliminating material and spiritual poverty
• contribute to lasting peace and justice in the world.

The Foundation shall also support and report on the projects for which awards are presented.