Survey reveals funding opportunity for Swiss nonprofits operating globally

A survey into the involvement of Swiss grant-making foundations in international giving has revealed an opportunity for more nonprofits to receive support.

While many Swiss grant-making foundations already support nonprofits abroad, the survey by StiftungSchweiz found that other foundations are also keen to help in this way but have yet to be approached.

In its Swiss Generosity Abroad study, StiftungSchweiz researchers identified 600 grant-making foundations involved in international giving. 150 were chosen as geographically representative, with 28 responding to a survey – providing a 5% sample for the report.

StiftungSchweiz found that:

• 30% of Swiss grant-making foundations donate directly to organisations based abroad
• 25% donate abroad through organisations based in Switzerland. 30% of these are interested in donating directly to organisations abroad but have not yet been approached
• 45% donate through both organisations based in Switzerland and to those based abroad
• In excess of 150 projects based abroad were funded in 2020 through the 28 Swiss foundations surveyed, with each supporting an average of 5 each. A conservative estimate of the average grant size was €70,000

The report’s findings are broken down into three sections; Facts and Figures, Survey Extrapolations and Estimations and Insights by Dr Peter Buss, founder and CEO of StiftungSchweiz. The study’s approach and methods were also critically appraised by researchers at the University of Geneva – Geneva Centre for Philanthropy (GCP) and the Behavioural Philanthropy Lab.

Commenting, Abel Mon Jardin, StiftungSchweiz director of international development said:

“The number of projects supported abroad and the grants awarded show a high level of willingness on the part of Swiss grant-making foundations to provide support.

“The challenge now is how to get grant-makers and project owners working better together and on a more equal footing.”

StiftungSchweiz surveyed the 28 foundations on the following areas:

• How they work with nonprofit organisations at an international level
• The opportunities for nonprofits to apply for funds from Swiss grant making foundations
• How much funding these foundations provide to those active abroad
• Whether they support nonprofits directly or via a third party
• The goals they pursue in supporting those operating abroad

The study also extrapolated out the findings to the 600 Swiss grant-making foundations involved in international giving.

As a result, StiftungSchweiz estimates that 75% of those giving abroad do so directly to the organisations themselves, and that another 7% are interested in doing so but have yet to be approached. It also estimates that they gave some €38 million in total in 2020, with each one supporting an average 5 projects through a conservative estimate of €12,000 each.

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