Social Welfare

Social Initiatives in Switzerland

The Vontobel Foundation is committed to equal opportunity through integration and to projects that promote mental health.

We support projects that contribute to equal opportunities in education and in the workplace. Well-targeted integration projects enable people to live independently and contribute to society. In this way, poverty is reduced, and sought-after professionals receive training. Such projects make a positive impact throughout Switzerland or more specifically in the Zurich region. We also support projects dedicated to promoting mental health. We are convinced that psychological stability is the basic prerequisite for independent and responsible action.

Social initiatives abroad

The Vontobel Foundation helps individuals and communities worldwide earn a sustainable income through education and entrepreneurial approaches, thus preventing poverty and exclusion.

Our funded projects improve the income of disadvantaged demographic groups. The support should not create dependencies but rather empower people to shape their own lives. This corresponds to our understanding of sustainable poverty reduction. Our funding activities focus on:

Projects concerning education and vocational training
Initiatives with an entrepreneurial approach
Projects promoting health
Initiatives reinforcing nature conservation efforts, together with local communities

We expect our project partners to achieve a transformative impact and pursue an innovative approach that can be scaled up after an initial phase.

Insights into our funding activities

The Vontobel Foundation's “Addis Guzo” project: A man in a wheelchair helps a child in a wheelchair.

Providing New Life Opportunities through Rehabilitation and Integration

The Vontobel Foundation supports the project “iRi – Integration, Rehabilitation, Inclusion" led by the organization Addis Guzo, which aims to improve the living conditions of people with disabilities in Ethiopia.

The Vontobel Foundation's “Co Operaid” project: A man repairs a circuit and laughs into the camera.

Supporting Education for Children in Africa and Asia

The organization CO-OPERAID helps young people from the slums and streets of Kenya enter the job market for the first time. Promoting self-sufficiency aligns with one of the objectives of the Vontobel Foundation.

The Vontobel Foundation's “Crescenda” project: A woman is dusting off and is happy.

Helping Migrant Women Gain Employment Experience

The pioneering project “Skalierung FEMKooperativen” (Scaling FEMCooperatives) led by the Crescenda Association creates fair jobs for female migrants in self-organized teams, enabling them to become members of the cooperative.

The Vontobel Foundation's “Dargebotene Hand” project: A woman lies on the sofa and looks up thoughtfully.

Assuring First Aid for Greater Psychic Steadiness

“Dargebotene Hand” (The Offered Hand) has expanded its pastoral counseling service for teenagers and young adults in Switzerland. Its easy online access allows for swift, anonymous assistance in emergencies and other sensitive situations.

The Vontobel Foundation's “Rock Your Live” project: Two young men look at a whiteboard and think.

Mentoring for Youth with Refugee Backgrounds

ROCK YOUR LIFE! helps young people who came as refugees to build a stable network of relationships and develop their personal and professional potential.

Classroom with teachers, pupils and lots of plants

Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future

Boosting education instead of unemployment, the 12-month "SkillsHub" program led by the Pestalozzi Overseas Children’s Foundation in Zambia teaches young people basic skills in math, reading, writing, and IT, along with further professional competencies.

Preferences

We give preference to projects that:

follow innovative methods and produce measurable results
have the potential to be replicable and achieve broad impact
foster the resilience of individuals and communities
pave the way to sustainable financing models
aim to achieve realistic goals over several years
build on a realistic risk analysis and require minimal reserves
are transparent and have an excellent chance of success

Exclusion criteria

The following are generally not eligible for funding:

Fundraising campaigns following disasters
Infrastructure projects unrelated to our objectives
Activities that are primarily commercial in nature

There is no entitlement to the Foundation’s services. They remain at the discretion of the Foundation Board. In the case of a rejection, we ask for your understanding that we do not provide justification for our decision.

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