International fundraising With Swiss Donors
Switzerland, with its long-standing tradition of philanthropy, presents a thriving and diverse landscape for charitable organisations seeking to make a lasting impact. As a prosperous and politically stable nation, the Swiss populace demonstrates a strong propensity for generosity, creating a wealth of opportunities for international fundraising endeavours. However, navigating the complex legal and regulatory frameworks in Switzerland can pose significant challenges, potentially leading to financial pitfalls and compliance issues for inexperienced charities.
To mitigate these risks and facilitate seamless integration into the Swiss philanthropic ecosystem, partnering with the Chapel & York Swiss Foundation is an invaluable asset. By establishing a fund under their umbrella, your charity benefits from an immediate presence in Switzerland, without the need to establish a separate legal entity. This accelerates your ability to capitalise on fundraising prospects while ensuring full compliance with Swiss regulations.
Moreover, the Chapel & York Swiss Foundation’s extensive expertise and wide-ranging network provide tailored support, enabling your charity to unlock the full potential of Swiss fundraising opportunities. With their guidance, you can foster lasting relationships with individual and institutional donors, and navigate the intricacies of Swiss tax-efficient giving, maximising the impact of your charitable efforts.
Chapel & York can handle all the regulatory, banking, donation processing, and technical issues involved in fundraising in Switzerland, allowing you to raise funds without any worries.
With our expert support, you can focus on your core mission while we handle the details.
Joining the Switzerland Foundation
In evaluating your completed application and conducting our due diligence, Chapel & York will review submitted documentation to ensure your organisation is able to receive grants/payments from the Switzerland Foundation.
In this process, Chapel & York makes no judgments as to the value of the work you do or the capacity of your organisation to do it. Once we are satisfied your application meets the criteria, the application is passed to the Foundation Executive Director to share with the board your desire to set up a fund.
In the event of your application being rejected, you will be refunded the membership fee.
THE BEST FIT
Foundation Membership Levels
All memberships include:
For annual funds, there is a one‑time processing fee of £350 to register for a fund before completing the application form to join the Foundations. For a Temporary Fund, the £350 processing fee applies each time purchased.
Prices exclusive of VAT (where applicable).
| 90-Day Temporary Fund | Starter Fund | Professional Fund | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donation | 100,000 CHF | 100,000 CHF | 100,000 CHF |
| Admin fee (one-time fee) * | £350 | £350 | £350 |
| Annual fee | £0 | £700 | £2,500 |
| Retention fee per donation | 8% | 4.5% | 2.5% |
| Net estimated annual cost | 8,368.87 CHF | 5,606.60 CHF | 5,503.62 CHF |
Join multiple Foundations at the Starter or Professional level and receive a 5% discount on annual fees for each additional fund. This also includes a reduced processing fee of £100 for each additional fund. The discount applies only to Basic and Professional funds beyond the first.
As a current member, you can apply to join additional foundations using the application forms available on the portal.
Memberships can be upgraded at renewal. Requests to upgrade a membership can be submitted to upgrades@chapel-york.com.
the Switzerland Foundation Board
Board Meeting Dates:
The donation cut off dates are the last day of the month before the month the board meeting is being held (denoted in brackets).
- Tuesday, 20th January 2026 (Donation cut off date: Wednesday, 31st December 2025)
- Tuesday, 21st April 2026 (Donation cut off date: Tuesday, 31st March 2026)
- Tuesday, 21st July 2026 (Donation cut off date: Tuesday, 30th June 2026)
- Tuesday, 20th October 2026 (Donation cut off date: Wednesday, 30th September 2026)
