Themes
Fondation Hans Wilsdorf has five priority themes : Social and health; education, training and workforce integration; culture; humanitarian causes; animals and ecosystems.
Our focus is on the canton of Geneva and on humanitarian initiatives originating in Geneva. Our work on the protection of animals and ecosystems extends more broadly across Switzerland and internationally.
Themes
Thematic foundations
Fondation Hans Wilsdorf has established eleven thematic foundations. Although financed by us, each operates independently, with its own governance.
The eleven foundations cover areas such as skills development and workforce integration, support for emerging artists, debt relief, sustainable mobility, cooperation between social enterprises, sustainable housing innovation lab and older citizens.
The thematic foundations were established to strengthen cohesion in the response to social challenges, targeting those areas where public and private interventions are fragmented, disconnected or poorly coordinated. Fondation Hans Wilsdorf aims to complement the existing ecosystem, acting as a catalyst and convenor and enabling new ideas to emerge and develop at scale. The thematic foundations apply this approach to specific sectors, implementing solutions that are locally relevant and that meet the needs of the people and the organisations they support.
These foundations complement the work of existing organisations and align with relevant public policies in their respective domains.
Please contact the thematic foundations directly. Fondation Hans Wilsdorf is unable to act as an intermediary.
Fondation l’Abri
Supports and promotes emerging artists across all disciplines, including music, dance, visual arts, theatre, writing and design.
The foundation offers long-term support via residencies and artistic collaborations.
Director: Rares Donca
Fondation genevoise de Désendettement
Supports eligible adults living in Geneva through grants or interest-free loans to deal with debt.
Director : Johanna Velletri
Fondation Immobilière pour le Développement des Entreprises Sociales
Promotes synergies and develops collaborations between social enterprises based at l’espace Tourbillon in Plan-Les-Ouates.
Directors: Ollivier Gross and Quentin Mathieu
Fondation Immobilière pour repenser le Logement par l’Innovation et l’Expérimentation
Promotes and develops the design and construction of sustainable, affordable and innovative housing that meets current and future needs while addressing environmental, economic and social challenges.
Director: Nadia Cao
Fondation pour la promotion et la valorisation de la formation professionnelle
Encourages, supports and promotes the value of education and vocational training to young people, their families and businesses, through innovative approaches based on collaboration.
Director: Joëlle Mathey
Fondation Appuis aux Ainés
Promotes quality of life, independence and social connections by offering one-off financial assistance to pensioners in need (including those in residential care). It also supports projects promoting quality of life for older people.
Director: Corinne Wehrli
Fondation MODUS pour une mobilité durable à Genève
Supports stakeholders in the transition to decarbonised mobility. It funds projects, connects between stakeholders and functions as a laboratory for experimentation in the development of innovative services.
Director: Guillaume Drevon
FOCUS Foundation – La Tour en communs
Promotes high-quality information as a public
good serving citizens and democratic integrity, and aims
to make Geneva an international benchmark for the new
social contract, in the face of the challenges posed by
digitalisation, disinformation and social cohesion.
Fondation Plaza
Developing and implementing a vision for the regeneration of the Plaza cinema and the transformation of the complex into a cultural centre dedicated to architecture and to the silver screen.
Director: Fabien Gaffez
Fondation en faveur de la qualification et de l'emploi
Supports people under 25 and over the age of 50 in training, re-training and workforce integration. It also provides coaching services to support people into work or through career transition.
Director: Mathilde Appia
Fondation Codex
promotes cultural life and the dissemination of
artistic works in the canton of Geneva, notably through
a space dedicated to digital forms of artistic and
cultural expression, open to the public and to
artists.
Director : Emmanuel Cuenod
