Foundations in the Canton of Zurich
An innovative location packed with international appeal
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Find out which foundations are based in the Canton of Zurich and what they do
Foundations in Zurich
Home to more than 2,200 charitable foundations and featuring a modern, foundation-friendly environment, the Canton of Zurich is one of the world’s leading locations for foundations. Find out why here.
Events
A successful and inspiring launch for the 1st Zurich Foundation Forum with over 240 participants
On October 1 – the International Day of Foundations – the first Zurich Foundation Forum took place. Under the motto “Collaboration creates impact,” more than 240 representatives from politics, academia, and practice discussed how foundations can increase their impact and strengthen Zurich as a location.
News
The “Verein Stiftungsstandort Zürich” takes over the initiative
With a ceremonial act, the founding members officially launched the “Foundation Hub Zurich Association” on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. This marks an important step toward further strengthening Zurich as a foundation hub. Composed of key stakeholders, the association institutionalizes the initiative launched in 2021 by the Zurich Cantonal Government to promote Zurich as a foundation location.
The aim of the association is to sustainably strengthen Zurich as a location for philanthropic actors, further develop the foundation ecosystem, and foster dialogue between the foundation sector, the Cantonal Government, public administration, academia, and business. As the opening event of its activities, the association invites participants to the 1st Zurich Foundation Forum on 1 October 2025.
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The Canton of Zurich is home to more than 2,200 charitable foundations. With its modern and foundation-friendly framework conditions, the Canton of Zurich is among the leading international foundation hubs. Together with the other founding members—SwissFoundations, the Association of Swiss Grant-Making Foundations; proFonds, the umbrella organization of charitable foundations in Switzerland; the Center for Foundation Law at the University of Zurich; and the ZKB Philanthropy Foundation—the Department of Economic Affairs aims to make Zurich an even more attractive foundation hub and to further promote networking within the sector as well as with business, public administration, and research.
Through targeted measures and initiatives, the association contributes to a dynamic and innovative foundation landscape and to stronger connections among the various stakeholders in Zurich. The representatives of the founding members—the Department of Economic Affairs of the Canton of Zurich, proFonds, SwissFoundations, the Center for Foundation Law at the University of Zurich, and the ZKB Philanthropy Foundation—today signed the founding statutes under the leadership of Government Councillor Carmen Walker Späh, Rector Prof. Dr. Michael Schaepman, and Cantonal Councillor Roger Liebi.
The founding members delegated the following individuals to the association’s board: Lisa Meyerhans Sarasin (President), François Geinoz, Dr. Matthias Inauen, Prof. Dr. Dominique Jakob, Dr. Joëlle Pianzola, and Dr. Lukas von Orelli.
Under the jointly defined motto “Collaboration creates impact,” the association will offer an exchange and networking platform for charitable foundations with cantonal and local authorities at the 1st Zurich Foundation Forum. This year’s thematic focus areas are entrepreneurial funding models, arts and culture funding, social-sector funding, and funding activities for a sustainable food system. In addition to exciting insights into pioneering projects, the core of the 1st Zurich Foundation Forum will be exchange and networking. The forum will feature interactive formats that enable engaging discussions and new connections.
Impressions from the second Foundation Dialogue of the Canton of Zurich, 1 October 2024:
Verein Stiftungsstandort Zürich
The Verein Stiftungsstandort Zürich sustainably strengthens Zurich as a location for philanthropic actors and is committed to the further development of the foundation ecosystem as well as to fostering dialogue between the foundation sector, politics, public administration, academia, and business.
The Verein Stiftungsstandort Zürich is supported by:
Online Info
Are you looking for general information, guidance or advice? You will find a broad range of information on foundation-related topics in the section below.
What is a foundation?
How to set up a charitable foundation
Legal framework
Education and continuing education
Networks and associations
Information Desk
