Annual Report 2011 Fondation Philanthropia - Lombard Odier

Annual Report 2011 

Fondation Philanthropia

Chairman’s foreword 

For seven generations, the partners of 

Lombard Odier have shared the conviction 

that capital must serve society and 

be a positive force for change, a vision 

our Firm expresses not just in the way 

we manage our business, but also in our 

philanthropic commitment to the planet 

and the city of Geneva. 

Two hundred years of social commitment have 

taught us that giving is a wonderful yet challenging 

art. That is why we decided to share our philanthropic 

experience and expertise with our clients 

through philanthropic advisory services rooted in 

our own tradition of giving. We offer support in 

designing giving strategies that meet philanthropic 

aspirations, in selecting the right donation method 

and in enhancing impact on the ground. 

As part of these philanthropic advisory services, 

we have created Fondation Philanthropia, a dedicated 

umbrella structure to make giving easier and 

more secure. It consists of a simple, flexible vehicle, 

drawing on a wide range of skill sets and offering 

tailored solutions to the sometimes complex but 

always very personal journey that is philanthropy. 

In this second annual report, we are proud to pay 

tribute to the numerous projects that the Foundation 

has supported and to its donors whose 

generosity has not wavered despite the current 

economic difficulties. The many projects supported 

by Fondation Philanthropia offer very concrete 

proof of our clients’ dynamic and diverse commitment 

to a fairer, more responsible, and more 

sustainable world. 

Thierry Lombard 

Chairman of the Board of Fondation 

Philanthropia 

3

Contents 

About us 

8 Our mission 

9 Our strengths 

10 Our approach 

11 Our structure 

Perspectives on the added value 

of umbrella foundations 

16 Interview with Karin Jestin, Board 

Member of Fondation Philanthropia and 

Benoît Merkt, partner of the law firm 

Lenz & Staehelin 

Activity report 2011 

20 Our grants 

24 Our beneficiaries 

30 Our funds 

Our thematic funds: a selection 

of projects 

34 The Kenya Red Cross Society 

Responding to the food crisis 

Interview with Abbas Gullet, Secretary 

General of Kenya Red Cross Society 

38 Centre de la Mémoire 

Supporting research into neurodegenerative 

diseases 

Interview with Prof. Patrick Aebischer, 

President of the Swiss Federal Institute 

of Technology in Lausanne and Professor of 

Neurosciences 

42 Equipes Saint-Vincent 

Promoting literacy among vulnerable 

immigrant women 

44 SOS SAHEL 

Fostering sustainable agriculture 

and fighting against desertification 

Our personal funds: a selection 

48 Personalized gift fund: Blaise Lenoir 

scholarship 

Interview with Katia Cruz, 2009 winner 

50 Donor-advised fund: Carlo fund 

Interview with the donor 

54 Donor-advised fund: Citrina Fund 

An expert’s view of the impact of grantmaking 

foundations 

56 Interview with Beate Eckhardt, 

Secretary General of SwissFoundations 

Stand Proud beneficiary 

in the Democratic Republic of Congo 5

About us 

Micro-entrepreneur supported by the Association 

for right to economic initiative (Adie)

Our mission 

To facilitate and realize our clients’ 

philanthropic commitments 

In 2008 we created Fondation Philanthropia, an 

umbrella foundation and registered Swiss charity, 

to assist and support donors in their philanthropic 

commitments. 

Fondation Philanthropia is an active, dedicated 

and exclusive partner that makes philanthropy 

simpler and easier for donors. 

What is an umbrella 

foundation? 

An umbrella foundation is an independent 

foundation that enables donors to realize their 

philanthropic aspirations by contributing to existing 

pooled funds or by creating their own personal 

funds. 

Fondation Philanthropia is based on this model. 

It gives donors the opportunity to support 

good causes through its thematic funds or to 

undertake more personal projects on a strategic 

and permanent basis by creating customized funds 

tailored to the donor’s wishes. 

8 

Our philanthropic tradition 

stems from our concern for others.

Our strengths 

Tradition 

The Firm’s philanthropic tradition has been built, 

developed, and strengthened by the seven generations 

of partners who have headed Lombard Odier 

for over 200 years. It is a tradition that is embedded 

in our philosophy and our values and is key to our 

long-term approach and focus on our responsibility 

to society and future generations. 

Expertise 

Donors can draw on the services of a multi-disciplinary 

team entirely dedicated to philanthropy. 

Alongside our legal and financial experts, our philanthropy 

advisors use their deep knowledge of the 

sector to find the solutions best suited to donors’ 

aims and seek to maximize the effectiveness and 

impact of their donations. 

Support 

As philanthropy is often a very personal matter, 

each of our donors receives individual support and 

assistance within Fondation Philanthropia. Trust is 

key to the support and to the close relationship that 

we build with our donors every step of the way, 

from identification of their goals, to selection and 

monitoring of the projects that are a true fit 

for their ambitions. 

Continuity 

Some donors are extremely keen to ensure that 

their philanthropic commitment is long-lasting 

and to protect it from changes in governance and 

regulations and from possible succession problems. 

Fondation Philanthropia, which enjoys the backing 

of a bicentenary institution, offers the best assurance 

that our donors’ wishes and objectives will 

continue to be honored year after year. 

9

Our approach 

Simplicity 

We make philanthropy simpler and easier by offering 

different ways of giving: 

Thematic funds for donors wishing to promptly 

support pre-selected projects. 

Sheltered funds for donors wanting to be more 

actively involved in choosing projects and allocating 

their donations. 

All the solutions proposed by Fondation Philanthropia 

allow to reduce administrative tasks and 

operating costs. 

Freedom 

Our approach aims to maintain donors’ freedom 

of choice, to respect their intentions and desire 

for personal involvement and their wish for either 

privacy or public association with the projects they 

support. 

Donations can take various forms, all of which 

combine resource flexibility with assurance of 

lasting impact. 

10 

Simplicity and freedom – 

the two facets of our approach

Our structure 

Fondation Philanthropia 

offers unique advantages that 

stem from the philanthropic 

engagement of the Partners 

and of the Firm 11

Contributing via thematic funds 

Thematic funds provide a simple, quick, 

and secure way of donating in complete 

confidence by selecting from among 

four areas of intervention. Fondation 

Philanthropia selects the organizations 

to be supported and can take action, 

depending on the situation, at local, 

regional, or international level. 

Moreover, the pooling of funds allows 

to increase the impact of each donor, 

irrespective of the size of their donation. 

Humanitarian 

and social issues 

Whether it’s responding to emergencies (conflicts, 

natural disasters, crises) or dealing in the long term 

with poverty and vulnerability, humanitarian and 

social action is vital at a time when so many people 

have no access to essential services such as food, 

health, housing, education, jobs etc. 

Scientific 

and medical research 

Scientific and medical research has saved millions 

of lives, increased life expectancy world-wide, and 

improved the living conditions of many communities. 

By supporting research, we can push forward 

the boundaries of knowledge and discover some of 

the solutions to our problems. 

12 

Culture 

and education 

Culture and education are fundamental to human 

development. Transmitting knowledge and sharing 

a common culture are essential not just for social 

progress and cohesion, they also offer individuals a 

chance to control their own destinies and create a 

new future for their communities and themselves. 

Environment and 

sustainable development 

Demographic growth and current models of economic 

development are putting increasing pressure on 

our fragile environment. Deforestation, pollution, 

climate change, overexploitation of natural 

resources, and decreasing biodiversity are just some 

of the many threats to our planet.

S’engager Committing à travers via personal funds 

les Fonds Abrités 

Fondation Philanthropia’s personal 

funds are more tailored solutions that 

allow donors to become involved – with 

confidence and in the long-term– in the 

intervention areas they have themselves 

selected. 

Personalized 

gift funds 

Donors can create a specific fund to tackle an issue 

or to support a cause that is particularly important 

to them. The donor decides the amount of support 

required - which can range from basic administrative 

support, to the selection and monitoring 

of beneficiary organizations - and can name the 

fund and run communication campaigns about its 

activities. 

Donor-advised 

funds 

A donor-advised fund requires greater personal 

involvement by the donor in both the design and 

the management of the philanthropic endeavor. 

Donors can choose the areas and projects to be 

supported and can change the fund’s purpose 

over time. They can also associate family, friends, 

and experts by creating an advisory committee to 

make recommendations to the Board of Trustees of 

Fondation Philanthropia. 

13

Our governance 

The Board of Trustees 

The Board of Trustees ensures that Fondation 

Philanthropia is run well, fulfills its missions and 

complies at all times with the wishes of each donor. 

It meets four times a year and its members, who 

have complementary skills, are all very personally 

committed to philanthropy. 


Chairman, Managing Partner 

of Lombard Odier & Cie. 

A sixth generation partner, Thierry Lombard has 

published numerous books on family-run companies, 

philanthropy and investment. He sits on 

the boards of several companies, foundations and 

associations, especially in the humanitarian and 

environmental fields. He also chairs the ‘ICRC Corporate 

Support Group’ and Family Business Network. 

Anne-Marie de Weck 

Deputy Chair, Managing Partner of 

Lombard Odier & Cie. 

Anne-Marie de Weck has a legal background and 

has headed the Private Clients Unit since 1999. She 

is personally committed to numerous philanthropic 

initiatives, especially in the field of culture and arts. 

14 

Denis Pittet 

Secretary, Partner of the Private Holding company 

and Head of the Legal, Fiscal & Compliance Department 

at Lombard Odier & Cie. 

Denis Pittet brings a wealth of legal and tax expertise 

to the Board. He is involved personally and with 

his family in several philanthropic projects. 

Karin Jestin 

Board Member, Secretary General of Fondation 

Lombard Odier. 

A member of several foundation boards, Karin 

Jestin joined the board of SwissFoundations, the 

association of Swiss grant-making foundations, in 

2011. She brings to the Board her hands-on view and 

operational expertise in the humanitarian sector, 

especially within the International Federation of Red 

Cross and Red Crescent Societies. 

The members of the Board of the Foundation act 

on a purely voluntary basis. 

The main mission of the Foundation 

Board is to ensure that donors’ 

wishes are respected over the 

long term. 

Anne-Marie de Weck

The selection process 

Projects submitted to the Board of Fondation 

Philanthropia have already been through rigorous 

research and due diligence. Together with each 

donor, our philanthropy experts draw a giving strategy 

and then research, analyse and select projects 

accordingly. 

Projects are finally submitted to the Board 

for approval to ensure they match the donor’s 

aspirations and wishes. 

Transparency 

Fondation Philanthropia is a registered charity 

subject to Swiss supervision. It publishes an annual 

report addressed to donors and other stakeholders 

that details its activities and the projects it supports. 

Customized reports are also available 

to donors on request. 

Trust is the key to an effective 

relationship and it is our job to 

ensure donors share that trust. 

Denis Pittet 


Anne-Marie de Weck 

Denis Pittet 

Karin Jestin 

15

Perspectives on the added value 

of umbrella foundations 

Interview with Karin Jestin, member of the Board of Fondation 

Philanthropia and Benoît Merkt, partner in the law firm Lenz & Staehelin 

How are donors and Swiss philanthropy in general 

bearing up in these financially unstable times? 

Benoît Merkt 

From my work as legal advisor to donors and 

foundations, I get the impression that the recession 

has not so much put the brakes on philanthropy 

itself as impacted how it works. There is clearly 

an awareness that the funds available are limited, 

synergies are needed, the best use must be made 

of existing resources and that wherever possible 

administrative costs must be cut and the impact of 

donations improved. 

What difficulties might donors face? 

Karin Jestin 

Potential donors need to answer a number of questions 

and then draw up a roadmap. First of all, they 

have to identify the cause or causes that interest 

them and the type of organization they would like 

to support. But they also need to decide how personally 

involved they or their families wish to be. This 

is where philanthropic advice comes in, making the 

process easier – we listen to donors’ concerns and 

support them throughout the process to help them 

achieve their goals and enhance the impact 

of their donations. 

16 

What criteria should donors take into account 

before deciding their donation method? 

Benoît Merkt 

At the legal level, donors must ensure that they 

structure their donations to be tax-deductible. Individuals 

resident in Switzerland who make a donation 

to an umbrella foundation that is tax-exempt in 

Switzerland – such as Fondation Philanthropia – can 

deduct the amount from their annual net income. 

In Geneva and most other Swiss cantons, the ceiling 

for tax-exempt donations is 20% of the donor’s net 

income. On the contrary, donations made by Swiss 

residents to foreign-registered charities are not 

tax-deductible. 

In the case of substantial donations, donors must 

also ensure that the contractual framework for 

their grants is carefully drafted. It is often advisable 

to draw up a grant agreement specifying the 

beneficiary’s legal obligations, especially in terms 

of activity reports, results and, depending on the 

donor’s wishes, either confidentiality or publicity. 

Potential donors need to answer a 

number of questions and then draw 

up a roadmap. 

Karin Jestin

So why use an umbrella foundation? 

Karin Jestin 

Umbrella foundations such as Fondation Philanthropia 

offer donors several advantages: they can be 

sure that their donation will have a lasting impact; 

they enjoy lower administrative fees because the 

donations are pooled; they can choose their level 

of involvement; and they can decide to donate 

through one of our thematic or personal funds 

while receiving professional philanthropic expertise. 

There is clearly an awareness that 

synergies are needed, the best use 

must be made of existing resources 

and that wherever possible administrative 

costs must be cut and 

the impact of donations improved. 

Benoît Merkt 17

Activity report 

The Gustave Roussy Institute hosts over 300 researchers

Analysis of grants 

In 2011, Fondation Philanthropia distributed grants 

totaling over CHF 2,240,000 to 30 organizations. 

It also committed CHF 1,038,000 to future grants. 

Fondation Philanthropia activities showed real 

continuity from 2010 and an upswing in grants. 

20 

Futures commitments taken over the year 

Grants allocated including past commitments 

Grants by theme 

The breakdown of grants by theme largely reflects 

the difficulties that marked 2011. The economic 

crisis and natural and humanitarian disasters were 

of great concern to donors and had a big impact 

on how grants were allocated. 

In 2011, as in 2010, the main focus was on humanitarian 

and social themes as per the wish to 

provide assistance during dangerous times and 

to the victims of humanitarian disasters. 

Humanitarian and social issues (50%) 

Medical and scientific research (35%) 

Culture and education (7.5%) 

Environment and sustainable development (7.5%)

Types of projects 

Compared with 2010, a much wider variety of 

projects was supported. There was a clear preference 

for two types of intervention. While donors 

chose projects whose key mission is directly 

to strengthen the local skills of the beneficiary 

organizations, they also showed greater interest 

in research which allows to obtain a better understanding 

of particular problems. 

Capacity building (31%) 

General contribution (6%) 

Scholarship and prize (6%) 

Training (8%) 

Research (31%) 

Assistance (10%) 

Advocacy (8%) 

21

Size of beneficiary 

organizations 

Our grant strategy is driven primarily by the 

desire to support donors’ aspirations by selecting 

organizations able to achieve those aspirations. 

We base our decisions mainly on quality and 

relevance and organization size is not a selection 

criterion as such. 

This means that a wide variety of organizations 

are supported, with annual budgets ranging 

from less than CHF 500,000 to more than 

CHF 10 million. 

22 

(in CHF) 

up to 0.5M (31%) 

from 0.5M to 1M (24%) 

from 1M to 10M (14%) 

over 10M (31%) 

Geographical distribution 

of supported projects 

The growing economic uncertainty and vulnerability 

that shaped 2011 prompted our donors to give 

greater support to projects close to home, leading 

to a greater number of grants being allocated to 

Switzerland and France. 

Nonetheless, donors continued to react strongly 

to ecological and humanitarian emergencies, 

particularly in the Horn of Africa, which suffered 

a very severe famine in 2011. 

In 2011 our grants benefitted projects 

in ten different countries.

Relationships with 

beneficiary organizations 

The number of organizations supported remained 

unchanged from 2010 but relationships with 

partners strengthened thanks to the reporting 

and monitoring system. This was complemented 

by field visits whenever the opportunity arose. 

As most donors opt for long-term donations, 

the Foundation is able to support projects over 

several years and develop long-term, trust relationships 

with its partners. 

Relationships with 

partners continue to 

strengthen and develop 23

Organizations supported in 2011 

In 2011, Fondation Philanthropia supported 

30 organizations in several 

regions of the world and in various fields 

through its thematic and personal funds. 

Europe 

Association pour le droit à l’initiative économique 

(Adie) – France 

Providing microcredit and personalized support 

to entrepreneurs 

Supported by the Humanitarian and Social thematic 

fund, Adie enables the unemployed and marginalized 

to create their own businesses and jobs 

through microcredit and personalized support. 

In 2011, Fondation Philanthropia continued its threeyear 

commitment (2010-2012) to the training of 

volunteers who will support the new entrepreneurs 

in their career development. 

Autisme, Piano et Thérapie Éducative 

(APTE) – France 

Helping autistic people overcome their disability 

The Etincelles personalized gift fund supports APTE, 

which helps people in the Paris region who suffer 

from an autistic spectrum disorder. The program is 

based on the use of music, especially the piano, as 

well as other forms of educational therapy. 

24 

Apprentis d’Auteuil 

Apprentis d’Auteuil – France 

Educating and training young people 

Supported by the Humanitarian and Social thematic 

fund, Apprentis d’Auteuil provides education and 

training to over 13,000 young people in difficult 

situations and helps them to integrate into society 

as free, responsible adults. The young people are 

brought to the association by their families or the 

child welfare services. Apprentis d’Auteuil offers 66 

professional training courses in its 200 establishments 

in France. 

In 2011, Fondation Philanthropia made a four-year 

commitment (2011-2014) to support the financing 

of international solidarity youth camps. 

Association Bouée d’espoir – France 

Fighting against exclusion 

The Humanitarian and Social thematic fund 

supports Bouée d’espoir, which combats exclusion 

by offering “lifebuoys” (small financial grants) 

to people in dire need via its partners, which are 

private and public organizations with recognized 

expertise in supporting those in distress. 

In 2011 Fondation Philanthropia continued its 

eight-year support (2010-2017) to the association’s 

activities.

Association Himalaya en Bourgogne – France 

Preserving cultural heritage 

The Etincelles personalized gift fund supports this 

association in the reconstruction of the Bhutanese 

Pavilion, which was displayed at Expo 2000 in Hanover 

and acquired by the town hall of La Boulaye, a 

village in Burgundy. 

Association Parkinson Suisse – Switzerland 

Helping provide information about the disease 

The Gustaaf Hamburger donor-advised fund supports 

Parkinson Suisse, which provides information 

to patients, their families and the general public 

about Parkinson’s disease. It offers advice and 

support to the 15,000 people affected throughout 

Switzerland by organizing consultations, information 

sessions, courses, seminars and respite 

holidays. 

The fund supported the association’s information 

and communication work by providing two-year 

funding (2011-2012) for the publication of its magazine 

and brochure. 

Adie 

Bureau universitaire d’information sociale 

(BUIS) – Switzerland 

Supporting a medical scholarship program 

in Geneva 

The Hussenstein personalized gift fund, in 

partnership with BUIS, set up a scholarship for 

medical students at the University of Geneva which 

supports them throughout all their studies. 

The first two students were awarded a scholarship 

in 2011. 

Centre Corot – France 

Helping socially excluded young people in Ile-de 

France 

The Humanitarian and Social thematic fund supports 

Centre Corot Entraide d’Auteuil. The centre offers 

accommodation and support to young homeless 

people aged 18-24 in Paris, as well as social support 

to underprivileged families, and clothing for men, 

women, and children. 

In 2011, as a result of a grant to Tremplin, a pilot 

project, ten young people received the equivalent of 

1,820 days of support allowing them to find jobs and 

access appropriate housing solutions. 

Centre de la Mémoire – Switzerland 

Supporting research into neurodegenerative 

diseases 

The Medical and Scientific Research thematic fund 

supports this project, described on page 38. 

25


Europe 

Geneva Red Cross – Switzerland 

Helping underprivileged people in Geneva 


supports the Geneva Red Cross, the cantonal 

association of the Swiss Red Cross. Its mission is 

to provide local support to the people in Geneva. 

The organization focuses on helping young people, 

families, the elderly, and migrants. 

The 2011 grant enabled the purchase of a washingmachine 

and tumble-dryer for a home for youths. 

Equipes Saint-Vincent – France 

Promoting literacy among vulnerable immigrant 

women 


this project, described on page 42. 

26 

FiBL 

Marcel Benoist Foundation – Switzerland 

Promoting science in Switzerland 

The Medical and Scientific Research thematic fund 

supports the Marcel Benoist Foundation, created in 

1920 by the Swiss Federal Council to carry out the 

last wishes of a French lawyer resident in Lausanne. 

Over time, the Marcel Benoist Award has become 

Switzerland’s biggest science award. Due to its 

close connection with the government, the renown 

of previous winners, and the gradual expansion of 

fields eligible for the award, it has become muchcoveted 

by Swiss scientists. 

Fondation Philanthropia has given a two-year commitment 

(2010-2011) to supporting the prize money. 

Fundación Putxet – Spain 

Helping the institution support vulnerable immigrants 

The Solidarité donor-advised fund supports this 

Spanish institution, which is based in Barcelona and 

offers general aid, administrative support, and jobseeking 

guidance to vulnerable immigrants.

LEV TOV – France 

Helping the underprivileged 

The Etincelles personalized gift fund supports this 

organization, which provides social support to 

underprivileged members of the Jewish community 

in La Haye-les-Roses. 

Œuvre de la Mie de Pain – France 

Setting up a multimedia platform for the socially 

excluded 


supports this association, which helps the homeless 

and deprived in the Paris region. It provides 

assistance to the extremely vulnerable (emergency 

assistance, food, and shelter) and helps guide them 

toward social and professional integration. 

In 2011 Fondation Philanthropia supported the 

design of a multi-partner platform that will help 

the organization and its partners track and more 

efficiently help their beneficiaries. 

Plugarts – France 

Supporting the marginalized 

The Etincelles personalized gift fund supports a 

writing and musical composition workshop for 

people in the Paris region who are marginalized 

or have disabilities. 

Plugarts 

ProSpecieRara – Switzerland 

Protecting biodiversity in Switzerland 

The Carlo donor-advised fund supports ProSpecieRara, 

which has been working since 1982 to safeguard 

and protect the biodiversity of local animal and 

plant species threatened with extinction by the 

industrialization of Swiss agriculture and animal 

husbandry. 

Fondation Philanthropia supports the association’s 

activities in French-speaking Switzerland by helping 

to strengthen its team. 

Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) – 

Switzerland 

Financing research into the reduction of bovine 

stress 

The Carlo donor-advised fund supports this research 

institution, described on page 53. 

SOS Amitié – France 

Improving programs to support those in distress 


supports SOS Amitié, a suicide-prevention association 

with a 24/7 telephone helpline manned by 

volunteers who help combat the isolation, solitude, 

malaise and depression of callers. 

Fondation Philanthropia has helped set up a statistical 

program to help SOS Amitié better understand 

its target group and accurately map current 

problems. 

27


Africa 

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences 

(AIMS) – South Africa 

Supporting a scholarship program in South Africa 

The Hanan personalized gift fund supports AIMS. 

Founded in 2003, the institute aims to train the next 

generation of African mathematicians to move the 

continent forward in the sciences and economics. 

A talent-based scholarship system allows fairer 

access. AIMS has been so successful that an identical 

system has been created in Senegal. 

The fund’s contribution has financed 5 scholarships. 

Hospital El Carmelo – Mozambique 

Supporting the hospital’s social and medical work 

The Solidarité donor-advised fund supports El 

Carmelo Hospital in Mozambique, managed by 

the Sisters of Charity of Saint-Vincent de Paul. The 

hospital provides key medical and social services 

to the community. 

In 2011 the fund continued its commitment to the 

hospital and helped develop the bakery it runs for 

its patients and the local community. This long-term 

commitment has been ongoing since 2009. 

Kenya Red Cross Society – Kenya 

Responding to the food crisis 



28 

AIMS 

Stand Proud – Democratic Republic of Congo 

Helping disabled children to walk. 


Stand Proud, which provides free surgeries, 

braces and rehabilitation to handicapped children in 

the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

The grant allowed to renew support to the work 

of the Kinshasa, Kalemie, and Lubumbashi centers- 

assisting some 1,000 children - and to the expansion 

of the management team. 

The Green Belt Movement – Kenya 

Mobilizing local communities to conserve the forests 

The Hanan personalized gift fund supports this 

NGO founded in 1977 by Wangari Muta Maathai, the 

2004 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Green 

Belt Movement works for the reforestation 

of Kenya’s green belt and for the prevention of 

desertification and soil erosion by involving women 

in rural areas, contributing to their emancipation. 

The grant supported 10 tree nurseries in the 

Mathira district. Thanks to a matching grant from 

another foundation, the original grant was doubled 

to finance the planting of around 30,000 trees. 

Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) – 

Nigeria 

Promoting access to pain-relief treatments in Nigeria 

The Citrina donor-advised fund supports this project, 

described on page 54.

SOS SAHEL – Sahel 

Promoting sustainable agriculture in the fight 

against desertification 



Vétérinaires sans Frontières – Democratic Republic 

of Congo 

Reintegrating demobilized child soldiers through 

goat-rearing 

The Carlo donor-advised fund supports this project, 

described on page 52. 

WaterAid – Mali 

Improving access to drinking water, sanitation 

and hygiene 

The Hanan personalized gift fund supports WaterAid, 

which provides drinking water and sanitation to the 

most underprivileged peoples across the world, as 

well as promoting hygiene. 

In 2011 the fund renewed its support for the Mali 

rural program. The Mali project combines the 

building of drinking water and sanitation systems 

with hygiene education programs for local communities. 

The project will ultimately provide access 

to drinking water for 26,600 people and access to 

sanitation for 28,200 people. 

Institut Pasteur 

Global 

Institut Pasteur 

Research into a vaccine against cancer 

The Medical and Scientific Research thematic 

fund supports the Institut Pasteur. After ten years 

researchers have succeeded in stimulating immune 

system responses to certain tumors, paving the 

way for the development of cancer vaccines. The 

challenge now is to prepare the candidate vaccine 

for clinical trials: a feasibility study for industrial 

production of the vaccine using chemical synthesis, 

production of a clinical batch, toxicology study, and 

then the first human trials. 

Fondation Philanthropia extended its three-year 

commitment (2010-2012) to allow the institute to 

continue research on the vaccine up to clinical trials. 

Institut Gustave Roussy 

Promoting a personalized approach to cancer 

The Florena personalized gift fund supports the 

Institut Gustave Roussy, one of the world’s leading 

cancer-research institutes and the Europe’s biggest 

dedicated oncology health centre. 

The fund supported the Cancer Revolution Campaign 

promoting research into personalized cancer 

treatment. 

29

Personal funds 

In 2011, Fondation Philanthropia had 

15 personal funds: ten personalized 

gift funds and five donor-advised 

funds. 

A total of six new funds were set up 

during the year: five personalized gift 

funds and one donor-advised fund. 

Personalized gift funds 

Aidhandicap (created in 2011) 

The fund’s aim is to help the job-market integration 

of those with moderate disabilities. 

Association du Bon Secours 

The fund’s present aim is to support former pupils 

of the Ecole du Bon Secours in Geneva (now called 

Haute Ecole de Santé). Later, the fund will support 

humanitarian and social projects. 

Blaise Lenoir scholarship 

This fund is described on page 48. 

Etincelles 

The fund’s aim is to support public organizations 

with humanitarian objectives. The fund’s area 

of work is vast and includes: the fight against 

disease, addictions, and hunger; promoting 

human dignity; helping the underprivileged, 

disabled, and socially excluded; providing access 

to education and promoting the development 

of all forms of culture. 

30 

Fonds Hanan 

Florena (created in 2011) 

The fund supports large-scale projects to restore 

and promote cultural heritage. Florena is also 

involved in fighting against cancer by supporting 

research, training and patient assistance. 

Hanan (created in 2011) 

This funds scope includes education, demographic 

ageing and wildlife protection. 

Hussenstein 

This fund allocates scholarships for medical 

students at the University of Geneva who are 

struggling to finance their studies. The particular 

focus of this fund is on developing the relationship 

aspect of the medical profession. 

International pour la Musique (created in 2011) 

The fund took over the activities of the former 

Fondation Internationale Pour la Musique, 

supporting the Centre International Nadia et Lili 

Boulanger. It finances scholarships and grants to 

young musicians and composers and contributes 

to the Centre’s new development projects.

Karuna Shechen 

A perennial fund in favour of the Karuna Shechen 

organization, headed by Matthieu Ricard, which 

tackles issues such as access to education and 

primary healthcare in the Himalayan region. 

Pierre et Yvonne Lebesgue (created in 2011) 

The fund focuses on providing assistance to 

people with disabilities in Switzerland. 

Fonds Karuna Shechen 

Donor-advised funds 

Carlo 


Citrina 


Gustaaf Hamburger 

The fund took over the activities of the former 

Fondation Gustaaf Hamburger, providing financial 

support to people suffering from Parkinson’s 

disease and their families and training carers. 

It also assists associations working on this disease 

and scientific institutions and researchers dedicated 

to research in this field. 

Solidarité 

This fund is focused on supporting regional, 

national, and international institutions assisting 

the most underprivileged. The fund backs projects 

that help children, young adults, the elderly, and 

the disabled. 

SOMI (created in 2011) 

The fund provides support to the arts, with a 

particular focus on contemporary music. 

31

Thematic funds: 

a selection of projects 

SOS SAHEL helps the development of rural communities

The Kenya Red Cross Society 

Responding to the food emergency 

Context Choice of partner 

Famine and food insecurity are among the greatest 

environmental and social challenges that humanity 

faces. Poor rainy seasons damaged agriculture and 

animal husbandry in the summer of 2011 caused a 

major food crisis in the Horn of Africa affecting 12 

million people, including 3.2 million in Kenya. 

The shortage of drinking water and food meant an 

immediate yet sustainable solution was needed to 

respond to the desperate situation of communities 

facing both cyclical droughts and devastating 

floods. 

34 

In emergencies it is important to quickly be able 

to select a partner that has robust and effective 

operational capacity. During the 2011 famine the 

Foundation decided to focus its aid on one single 

country - Kenya. This was one of the countries 

hardest hit by the famine caused by the drought, 

suffering widespread malnutrition and a major 

influx of refugees from Somalia. After considering 

several organizations and operating procedures, we 

chose the Kenya Red Cross Society that has been 

working in Kenya since 1963 and has the capacity 

and authority to coordinate both emergency food 

programs and longer-term projects. 

In conjunction with Fondation Lombard Odier, a 

two-pronged approach was adopted. Fondation 

Lombard Odier and its employees supported 

an emergency food distribution program for six 

months while Fondation Philanthropia provided the 

funds for a sustainable agriculture project.

Focus on the project 

The idea 

The Tana River, Kenya’s main river, can be used for 

land irrigation but is poorly exploited by local people 

who lack the knowledge and means to make the 

most of this resource. In 2010 the Kenya Red Cross 

launched a pilot project in the Tana River region to 

help local people develop their agricultural skills so 

as to be able to cope better with future droughts. 

1,700 small farmers were given drought-resistant 

Focus seeds, irrigation sur pumps, le and projet practical training and 

the supported communities successfully withstood 

the 2011 drought - with such promising results that 

the Red Cross decided to scale up the program. 

The objective 

The objective is to boost the agricultural skills of 

affected rural communities, especially those of 

previously pastoral communities to increase their 

production and income and make them more 

resilient to future droughts. 

The impact 

The grant of over CHF 324,000 trained and equipped 

many beneficiaries. For example, 120 beneficiaries 

have now attended training sessions on agricultural 

and irrigation best practices; some 5 metric tons of 

drought-resistant seeds have been distributed to 

more than 600 homes; 4,500 families have received 

agricultural tools, farming equipment, and fertilizers; 

and 12 irrigation pumps and four greenhouses 

have been set up in various communities. 

Developing local 

agricultural skills in the 

Tana River region 

Strengthening 

resilience to droughts 

Distribution of five 

metric tons of droughtresistant 

seeds 

35

The Kenya Red Cross Society 

Responding to the food emergency 

Interview with Abbas Gullet, 

Secretary General of Kenya Red Cross Society 

Given the huge scale of emergency requirements, 

how did you set your priorities? 

Back in January 2011, when we understood that 

we were about to face a very dry season, we 

immediately planned our response, with two 

priorities. 

The first priority was of course to respond promptly 

to distress and to protect the weakest: women and 

children, the sick and the elderly. We set up access 

for them to food, water, and medical treatment. 

The second priority was to devise a long-term 

strategy that would help communities deal with 

future droughts without assistance. Droughts 

appear cyclically every three or four years in this 

part of Africa. It’s therefore important to help the 

local communities become more resilient and 

improve their food security. 

What obstacles have you faced? 

Our main challenge was how to select which 

communities to help from among the three million 

people affected by the famine and to determine 

whether we had the logistics to reach the most 

vulnerable. 

The other problem was collecting enough money 

for our work. This wasn’t easy at the start – we 

sounded the alarm back in January 2011. It was 

only when the media began to talk about the 

catastrophe in the Horn of Africa that funds 

began to arrive. 

36 

How would you describe your collaboration with 

Fondation Philanthropia? 

Our relationship with the Foundation has been 

very positive and smooth. The first thing we did 

was draw up a clear, detailed project and discuss 

the different aspects of the project with the 

Foundation’s team. Being able to discuss matters 

regularly was very helpful. It allowed us to create a 

mutual trust basis, which is essential in all quality 

relationships between donors and operating 

partners. 

Farmers in the region of Tana River receiving 

water pumps to improve irrigation

Centre de la Mémoire 

Supporting research into 

neurodegenerative diseases 


Demographic ageing is significantly increasing 

the number of people at risk of aged-related 

neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. 

In Europe alone, 8.6 million people currently suffer 

from neurodegenerative diseases. In Switzerland, 

10% - 12% of people above the age of 65 suffer from 

some form of dementia, the most common of 

which is Alzheimer’s. 

These are diseases that cause a full-scale economic 

disaster, as well as causing both psychological and 

physical suffering within families. All too often 

they go hand in hand with a loss of autonomy and 

independence. 

38 

The CHUV (University Hospital of the Canton of 

Vaud) is a hospital with a Europe-wide reputation in 

medical treatment, medical research, and training. 

The CHUV is involved in several areas of research. 

Since there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s or 

similar diseases, the Centre decided to strengthen 

its diagnostic and clinical approach and also its 

training and research in this area. To create a hub 

for multidisciplinary research and cutting-edge 

treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, it set 

up the “Memory Centre”, where neurologists, 

geriatricians, psychiatrists, and neuropsychologists 

work together closely. 

Thanks to support from the Foundation and 

other partners, the new centre is one piece in the 

Alzheimer program developed by the Canton of 

Vaud’s Department of Health and Social Affairs. 

Vaud is the first canton to develop this kind of 

public policy. 

The centre aims to set a benchmark for the 

diagnosis of causes and the development of 

treatments for age-related dementia. 

In 2010, one in four people suffered 

from senile dementia 

Association Alzheimer Suisse


The idea 

Neurological genetics has now taken off, with 

all that implies for research, diagnostics, and 

patient care. A global, multi-disciplinary approach 

now needs to be developed to tackle this issue 

comprehensively. 

The objective 

The creation of a benchmark centre in the field 

makes it possible to leverage resources and 

interdisciplinary skills. In the longer term, it may 

also lead to other collaborative projects. First of 

all, the aim is to carry out diagnosis, examination 

and monitoring of cognitive tests for early signs of 

Alzheimer’s in collaboration with the Swiss Federal 

Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and 

the Swiss National Science Foundation. There are 

also plans to develop a neuro-imagery research 

laboratory and a therapeutic platform for clinical 

trials of new molecules. 

The impact 

In 2011 the Centre had two main focuses, research 

and patient care. Open one day a week, it carried 

out 600 examinations on 500 patients. 

The Foundation has decided to contribute a total of 

CHF 260,000 on a staggered basis over four years 

(2010-2013), which will finance one neuropsychology 

position for clinical research into neurodegenerative 

disease. 

In the long term, the Centre will develop new 

diagnostic and therapeutic strategies focusing 

on prevention, detection, genetics advice, and 

personalized patient care. 

A global, multi-disciplinary 

approach 

Creation of 

a benchmark centre 

600 examinations 

of more than 

500 patients 

39

Centre de la Mémoire 

Supporting research into 

neurodegenerative diseases 

Interview with Prof. Patrick Aebischer, President of the Swiss Federal 

Institute of Technology in Lausanne and Professor of Neurosciences 

The EPFL has long had a policy of close collaboration 

with the Lake Geneva region. What are the 

reasons for its neuroscience partnership with the 

CHUV in Lausanne? 

The CHUV Memory Centre is a multidisciplinary 

centre developing medical, diagnostic, and clinical 

skills in the field of neurodegenerative diseases. It 

develops training and research through cross-sector 

research that starts with the laboratory and ends 

with the patient. 

Why prioritize neurosciences? The brain is the organ 

that is most resistant to progress in therapies. 

Nowadays as we age we can rely on medicine to 

repair, restore, or replace our joints, heart, vessels, 

etc. It’s much more difficult to treat the brain, and 

it’s essential that researchers and physicians work 

together to develop new prevention, diagnosis, 

and therapy tools. In this field, research draws 

on cutting-edge medical technology in imagery, 

genetics, and IT, which are precisely some of the 

EPFL’s strong points. Our investments include 

electronic monitoring, biomarkers (for imagery), 

and neuroprostheses. 

40 

What is the current state of research in Switzerland 

and elsewhere in the world regarding cures 

for neurodegenerative “dementia” diseases? 

First of all, I have to confess that this is a field of 

research that is in a transitional phase. Research into 

Alzheimer’s previously concentrated on therapeutic 

agents targeting amyloid plaques. Unfortunately, 

when we reached phase three of our clinical trials, 

the results were disappointing. We need to come up 

with new alternative strategies. 

For example, we could target amyloid filaments 

(before the formation of plaques), as these filaments 

seem to act like infectious proteins or prions. 

This could lead to a vaccine against Alzheimer’s. 

Aside from vaccinations, we also need to develop 

unorthodox ways of defeating this research-resistant 

disease, for example, via anti-inflammatory 

routes countering oxidative stress that might 

include targeting the glial cells of our brain instead 

of the neurons. 

The concept of Alzheimer’s disease will become 

more complex. Biological research will become 

more systematic and try to take into account the 

heterogenic nature of the syndrome and use more 

sophisticated biostatistic, neuro-physiological, 

and genetic tools. In genetics especially, we need 

to obtain a fuller understanding of the etiology of 

Alzheimer’s disease, with genetic profiles for lateonsite 

diseases. We will combine this with new biomarkers 

that allow early diagnosis and, hopefully, 

more personalized care depending on 

the genetics profile.

What is your view on medicine aiming to add life 

to years instead of years to life? 

Adding life to years is just as important as adding 

years to life. The various chronic diseases have 

different impacts on disability and mortality. 

Cardiovascular diseases and cancer contribute 

more to mortality than to disability. In such cases, 

medicine’s aim in fighting mortality is to add years 

to life. However, Alzheimer’s and other forms of 

dementia drastically decrease patients’ quality of 

life, without affecting their longevity. Patients face 

years of disability. It’s therefore not enough to just 

add years. We need to do more than that. We need 

to prevent or delay the onset of dementia and other 

brain disabilities. That’s what “adding life to years” 

means. 

Ultimately, we need to distinguish between 

memory loss due to age and memory loss due to 

diseases such as Alzheimer’s. For example, a healthy 

active life probably protects us fairly well from 

normal age-related degeneration, but not from 

Alzheimer’s. To identify what “normal” loss means, 

we can probably rely on the study of people who 

age gently, those who live a very long time, such as 

centenarians. The first systematic genetics studies 

of centenarians are under way. 

We need to prevent or delay the onset 

of dementia and other brain disabilities. 

That’s what adding life to years 

means. 

Tulips are the symbol 

of Parkinson’s disease 41

Equipes Saint-Vincent 

Promoting literacy among 

immigrant women 


There are 107 million migrant women in the world 

today. While family reunion is a major reason for 

migration, more and more women are emigrating 

alone to find not just work but also independence. 

There are many reasons for social exclusion – being 

able to express yourself and communicate is 

essential to social integration. 

In France, women account for 51% of the country’s 

total 54,000 immigrants. Often they speak little 

or no French and find themselves in a vulnerable 

position with real integration problems. 

42 

The Equipes Saint-Vincent are teams of volunteers 

trained to work hands-one helping primarily 

women and their families create or restore social 

links. They currently belong to the worldwide 

AIC – Associations Internationales de Charité 

(international charities association) network. 

Having supported part of the literacy program 

in 2010, the Foundation decided to continue 

its involvement and extend its funding in the 

organization, enabling the teams to improve the 

training program throughout the Paris region. 

Taking part in the workshops 

is an opportunity to meet lots 

of people and it gets me out 

of my solitude 

Beneficiary of an Alpha Déclic workshop


The idea 

Many immigrant women in France suffer from 

social exclusion because they do not speak French. 

Often their ability to read and write, even in their 

own language, is poor. As a result, they rapidly lose 

their independence and self-confidence. Learning 

French on literacy courses allows these women to 

become less lonely and integrate better into French 

society. It also offers hope for the future, because 

when a woman has access to education, her children 

benefit too. 

The objective 

Helping immigrant women overcome obstacles 

and conquer their fears so that they can acquire the 

necessary skills to integrate into French society and 

find jobs. 

The impact 

The fund’s donation of CHF 18,492 financed four 

literacy workshops in Paris. The workshops provided 

literacy classes for 80 women, 17 of whom passed 

the DILF elementary-level French language examination. 

Ten other women took part in a jobseekers 

training course. 

One key feature of the workshops is that a childcare 

service is provided, enabling women with children 

to attend. 

Learning to speak French helps 

them integrate and learn about 

their rights 

« If you educate 

a woman, you are 

educating two gene- 

rations » 

(UNESCO) 

Socio-economic 

reintegration of immigrant 

women 

80 women took 

part in the literacy 

workshops 

43

SOS SAHEL 

Promoting sustainable agriculture 

in the fight against desertification 


Desertification is an obstacle to agricultural and 

human development in sub-Saharan Africa as it 

makes the land impossible to cultivate. Arid zones 

make up 37% of Africa. As world citizens, we all 

share a collective responsibility to combat the 

deterioration of our ecosystems, which is partly the 

result of global warming and human activities. 

Enabling local people to play a role in projects by 

providing training programs and creating local 

incentives, in particular by promoting sustainable 

agriculture, will help them improve their situation. 

44 

SOS SAHEL launched its first program in 1976, the 

year it was founded. The program drilled thousands 

of boreholes with pumps throughout the Sahel. The 

association has now been funding rural development 

projects in sub-Saharan Africa for more than 

40 years with projects in seven countries: Burkina 

Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal 

and Chad. 

Its grass-roots presence creates an integrated 

approach to local development problems, helping 

raise local people’s awareness in the process and 

giving them the means to carry out practical measures. 

This is particularly important in an unstable 

political environment. 

In 2010, 70% of the world’s arid 

land (3.6 billion hectares) were 

already subject to desertification


The idea 

The Sahel is a region affected by drought and 

desertification, two phenomena that prevent the 

local people from accessing natural resources. The 

aim is to meet these urgent needs and make it 

easier for local people to access basic services on a 

permanent basis. 

The objective 

Helping to improve living conditions for local people 

by fighting malnutrition and severe poverty. 

The measures, which are implemented by the local 

people, are aimed at boosting access to fundamental 

services – water, health, and education – and 

developing sustainable agriculture to protect the 

fragile environment. 

The impact 

In 2010, the Foundation made a three-year commitment 

to the association. In 2011, it provided 

CHF 28,894 to relocate a section of the SOS SAHEL 

team to Dakar to facilitate contact between project 

managers and local partners and to be closer to 

beneficiaries. 

Fostering rural and 

human development in 

sub-Saharan Africa 

Combating 

desertification 

Strengthening local 

capacities 

45

Our personal funds: 

a selection 

ProSpecieRara works for the protection of Swiss biodiversity 

threatened by the industrialization of farming.

Personalized gift fund 

Blaise Lenoir scholarship 

Training young radio hosts 

The donor’s motivation The giving strategy 

In memory of their son Blaise Lenoir, a radio 

enthusiast who died prematurely on an internship 

at Radio One FM, his parents wished to honor his 

memory by funding a scholarship program. 

Portrait of the fund 

This personalized gift fund aims to counter the 

lack of training opportunities for young radio 

enthusiasts. Every year a scholarship is awarded to 

the best candidate in the scholarship tests. Young 

people aged 18-25 wishing to become radio hosts 

may apply. The award gives them the opportunity 

to complete a six-month internship with a radio 

broadcaster (One FM) and in specialized training 

institutions in France and Canada. 

48 

At present, there are not enough training programs 

in Switzerland for young people wishing to become 

radio hosts. The creation of a scholarship with a 

registered local radio broadcaster, One FM, helps fill 

this gap and gives highly motivated candidates the 

opportunity to fulfill their ambitions. 

This project also has an international dimension, as 

it allows the young scholarship winners to benefit 

from experience abroad. 

Blaise was a fighter with a passion 

for the radio, and this scholarship 

program is a good way to keep alive 

his philosophy and our memory 

of him 

Philippe Bonna, a close friend of Blaise and a member of the scholarship jury panel.

Interview with, Katia Cruz 

first winner of the scholarship 

How did you hear about this scholarship? And 

what did the selection process involve? 

I’d always been passionate about music but I didn’t 

have any experience and I never dreamt I could 

become a radio host myself one day. I found out 

about the scholarship on the internet and after 

some hesitation decided to send a sample broadcast 

to Radio One FM in Geneva. 

Only four of the original 40 candidates were then 

selected for an interview. I was the lucky winner 

and I was thrilled to be able to begin this new 

adventure. 

How has the scholarship benefited you personally 

and professionally? 

Professionally, the internship has given me lots 

of confidence for when I’m on air and has opened 

many doors. But above all it has allowed me to 

discover a new passion for radio. 

I was lucky after my internship, because I was given 

the opportunity to go on to host a broadcast every 

Sunday on One FM, and I hope that this will be a 

long-term position. The support I received throughout 

my internship from Lionel, my mentor at 

One FM, also helped me a lot. 

I was also given the opportunity to spend two 

weeks in Quebec attending a training course at 

the ‘Cépeg de Jonquière’ school. 

What hurdles do young people interested in 

this job have to overcome? 

In Switzerland, there are very few training opportunities 

or radio internships. There are advanced 

courses, but no means of starting off in the profession 

as a novice. It’s a big battle to have any chance 

of a career at all in radio. But I think that encouraging 

people to enter this field is great, and I’d like 

to thank again to Mr. and Mrs. Lenoir for 

the opportunity they gave me. 

The aim of this scholarship is to 

train young people in all aspects of 

a radio host’s job and give them the 

skills they need 

Lionel Demander, mentor of the scholarship program at One FM 49

Donor-advised fund 

Carlo fund 

Protecting and promoting 

the wellbeing of farm animals 

The donor’s motivation Giving strategy 

As she does not have any heirs, the donor wished to 

make during her lifetime a contribution to a cause 

she is passionate about. She therefore created a 

fund to protect highly vulnerable animals. As she 

has already been involved in nature conservation 

for a long time, she is particularly aware of the need 

to protect and care for farm animals that are all too 

often maltreated, especially in industrial farming. 


This donor-advised fund is focused on animal 

protection in Switzerland and abroad. Its particular 

focus is improving the well-being of farm animals 

and developing of alternatives to in vivo testing. 

50 

This fund’s strategy covers a range of issue areas: 

general protection of farm animals, research for 

improving livestock breeding practices and acting 

against animal experimentation. 

When drawing up the fund’s strategy, the team also 

considered possible synergies with issues related 

to human development, in particular food security. 

This was to take into account of the soaring need 

for food as population levels and longevity increase, 

and also to improve the living conditions of people 

whose livelihood depends on animal husbandry.

Interview with the donor of the Carlo fund 

What prompted you to engage in farm animals 

protection? 

I’ve always loved animals. I kept dogs, cats, and 

even a parrot that I’ve named Carlo. After the 

very sudden loss of my husband, I had to take 

over his business in Japan and I started to become 

interested in farm animals. Farming conditions are 

heavily affected by the productivity requirements 

of unbridled industrialization. Whether the farm 

produces eggs or meat, the animals end up paying 

for higher and higher profit targets. They enjoy 

hardly any protection, and their suffering increases 

at the time of slaughter. This runs counter to 

the practice on traditional farms, where farmers 

have developed a sense of community with their 

animals. 

How do you hope to make a difference and what is 

your vision for the future? 

I’m very concerned by the idea that even in a 

developed country like Austria, my home country, 

there is still too much cruelty on large breeding 

farms despite the laws and regulations supposed to 

protect animals. I’m really pleased to see the rising 

awareness of the general public, consumers, farmers, 

police and legislators, for the need to protect 

farm animals. 

This improvement is the result of awareness 

campaigns and other measures of animal protection 

organizations. That’s why I want to continue 

to support them, in particular in countries that are 

major producers but are lagging behind in terms of 

regulations and the education of farmers. 

Why did you choose Fondation Philanthropia 

to shelter your fund? What do you think are the 

advantages of this structure? 

I wanted to make more than just a one-off 

donation, but I didn’t have enough assets for an 

independent foundation. Fondation Philanthropia, 

a Swiss public-interest foundation, offered me the 

flexibility I was looking for as well as the ability to 

take action throughout the entire world. And very 

simple procedures. That’s what persuaded me. 

Animals end up 

paying for higher and 

higher profit targets 51

Focus on a project 

supported by the Carlo fund 

Vétérinaires 

Sans Frontières Suisse 

Reintegrating former girl soldiers in the Democratic 

Republic of Congo through goat-rearing 

The challenge 

The Democratic Republic of Congo currently has 

some 30,000 child soldiers that need to be reintegrated 

into a society that is struggling to find the 

necessary resources to survive. They are frequently 

marginalized and socially excluded. As a result, they 

often re-enroll in paramilitary groups. 

The objective 

Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse helps with the 

socio-economic reintegration of these children, 

especially girls, by involving them in goat-rearing. 

This also helps foster an environment where fewer 

children enroll in armed groups and boosts the food 

security of the communities concerned. 

The impact 

Around 275 families have already benefited from 

this program. The Carlo fund decided to contribute 

CHF 50,000 to the third phase of the project, 

enabling 100 families (75 girls and 25 households) 

to join the program, which teaches them how to 

build goat shelters and rear goats. Two veterinary 

surgeons, two trainers, and one supervisor have also 

been trained in the field. 

52 

30,000 child soldiers 

Socio-economic 

reintegration through 

goat-rearing 

100 families integrated 

in the program

Focus on a project 

supported by the Carlo fund 

Research Institute 

of Organic Agriculture 

(FiBL) 

Conducting research into reducing stress in animals 

sent for slaughter. 

The challenge 

Most of the 56 billion farm animals slaughtered 

each year are reared in intensive, industrial farms 

that are designed to maximize the farmer’s productivity 

and profits but are damaging to animals’ 

health. 

The objective 

Since 2009, the fund has supported a research 

project to decrease bovine stress, particularly at the 

time of slaughter. The project researches whether 

heightened contact between animals and farmers 

can help to lower animals’ stress (in particular 

before slaughter). 

The impact 

In 2011, the Carlo fund continued its funding 

under its three-year commitment (2009-2011) 

of CHF 70,000. The results show that greater 

contact between humans and animals, especially 

via handling techniques, makes it possible to 

significantly reduce stress indicators (blood levels 

of lactate and glucose). 

A livestock-rearing 

system damaging 

to animals’ well-being 

Reducing animals’ stress 

Correlation between 

contact with people and 

decreased animal stress 

53

Donor-advised fund 

Citrina Fund 

Fighting cancer 

The donor’s motivation Giving strategy 

The fund was created in memory of the founders 

of the Citrina Foundation, set up in 1979 in Liechtenstein 

and active in the field of cancer. The fund 

has been brought into Fondation Philanthropia to 

keep it operative over the long term in a structure 

that permits sustainable management at moderate 

costs. 


This donor-advised fund supports a wide range of 

projects related to cancer, including, among others, 

research and patient care. 

54 

Cancer is a human drama and a major social challenge. 

It affects 25 million people worldwide, but 

the chances of recovery are higher today due 

to better detection and treatment methods. 

There are different ways of tackling cancer – via prevention, 

screening, research and treatment among 

others. The main goal is to reduce the incidence 

of the disease and improve the quality of life and 

support for patients and their families. 

It is therefore necessary to increase preventive 

action and research while optimizing care costs, 

and to enable patients to benefit rapidly from 

scientific discoveries. 

One in three people 

will be affected by cancer 

at some stage in their life

Focus on a project supported 

by the Citrina fund 

Union for International 

Cancer Control (UICC) 

The challenge 

More than 3.3 million people die each year in pain 

without access to adequate pain relief treatment. 

Morphine is safe, inexpensive and easy to administer 

in resource constrained settings. However, 

millions of individuals with cancer cannot access 

pain relief because of a number of factors including 

legal restrictions, weak health systems, poorly functioning 

markets and misconceptions about drug 

misuse and addiction. The Treat the Pain program 

was initially tested in Uganda, where it met with 

very encouraging success. This approach is now 

being replicated in Nigeria, where some 170,000 

patients die every year without pain relief. 

The objective 

Treat the Pain is a joint program of the Union for 

International Cancer Control (UICC) and the American 

Cancer Society (ACS) to make effective pain 

control measures universally available to cancer 

patients by 2020. 

This objective can only be achieved by working 

side by side with governments and civil society to 

overcome the obstacles that still prevent access to 

pain relief. In Nigeria, the program aims to increase 

the number of patients receiving pain relief from 

the current count of 270 to 100,000 by 2014. 

The impact 

An agreement has been signed with the Nigerian 

Ministry of Health to hire one full-time staff member 

to implement the project. The first real step in 

this direction was the government’s purchase of 

26 kg of morphine – the morphine acquired since 

2007 amounted to barely a kilo. The Citrina fund is 

contributing CHF 100,000 to this new phase of the 

project. 

3.3 million patients 

die every year without 

access to palliative care 

UICC 

Increasing the number 

of patients receiving 

pain relief from 270 

to 100,000 

26 kg of morphine 

now available 

55

A perspective on the impact 

of grant-making foundations 

Interview with Beate Eckhardt, 

Secretary General, SwissFoundations 

As Secretary General of SwissFoundations, how 

do you view the giving strategy of foundations 

and the impact of philanthropy in Switzerland? 

For some years now, the landscape of Swiss 

foundations has been seeing a real renaissance. 

This is a clear shift marked by continuous growth, 

hundreds of new foundations created every year 

and increasing professionalism within the sector, 

as borne out by the awareness that a consistent 

giving strategy is needed to ensure the efficient 

use of funds. 

Foundations in Switzerland are estimated to hold 

more than CHF 50 billion. Yet large as this figure 

may seem, the foundations themselves are niche 

players in comparison with government organizations. 

As a result, foundations need to examine 

even more carefully the areas in which they would 

like to actively invest their funds and resources. 

They have a unique advantage over other players 

in that they are the only ones that can invest risk 

capital. So they can encourage innovation at an 

early stage and give fresh – and decisive – momentum 

to social developments. 

Other benefits include knowledge and experiencesharing 

as well as cooperation between foundations. 

In Switzerland, debate about these topics 

has only just begun. 

56 

What aspects of our current regulatory, tax, and 

cultural environment are the main obstacles to 

philanthropy in Switzerland and which aspects 

work in its favor? 

Switzerland has one of the most liberal set of 

laws for foundations in Europe. Our country is – 

justifiably – considered a veritable paradise for 

foundations. It is fairly easy to set up a philanthropic 

foundation in Switzerland. Society and politicians 

are open-minded and have a positive attitude 

toward private donations. But there are obligations 

too. 

The days when foundations could operate away 

from the public eye are definitely over. Foundations 

must now be transparent and publish data and 

reports. And as part of their self-regulation, they 

have a duty to actively inform and communicate. 

This is how the sector can show its importance 

and its role as a trustee for society. It is also in 

foundations’ best interests to anticipate regulatory 

requirements if they are to retain control of the 

sector’s future. 

Foundations can encourage 

innovation at an early stage 

and give fresh – and decisive – 

momentum to social developments

Fondation Philanthropia will soon be joining the 

SwissFoundations network: what advantages do 

you see in its membership? 

It goes without saying that all foundations, irrespective 

of their size, are important stakeholders in 

the Swiss philanthropic landscape. However, the 

fact that 80% of foundations in Switzerland have 

assets of less than CHF 5 million may well call their 

feasibility into question. 

SwissFoundations is an association that brings 

together Swiss grantmaking foundations. For 

several years now, we have supported the idea that 

umbrella foundations – for foundations with a more 

modest level of assets – are an excellent alternative 

to the creation of a separate foundation. Umbrella 

foundations offer nearly all the advantages of separate 

foundations, without any of the disadvantages. 

We are therefore delighted that Fondation 

Philanthropia has become the fourth umbrella 

foundation in the SwissFoundations association. 

This strengthens our presence in French-speaking 

Switzerland and helps us in our efforts to 

position SwissFoundations as the voice of Swiss 

philanthropic foundations. 

The increasing professionalism 

of the sector bears out the 

awareness that a consistent 

giving strategy is necessary for an 

efficient use of funds. 57

Auditors 

SFG Société Fiduciaire et de Gérance SA 

Bd du Théâtre 10 

CH-1211 Geneva 11 

Fund manager 

Discretionary management mandate 

Lombard Odier & Cie 

Rue de la Corraterie 11 

CH-1204 Genève 

58 

Fondation Philanthropia Copyrights 

Contact 

contact@fondationphilanthropia.org 

p.1 © SOS SAHEL 

p. 4 © Stand Proud 

p. 6 © ADIE 

p. 8 © WaterAid 

p. 10 © The Green Belt Mouvement 

p. 13 © Institut Curie 

p. 17 © Ville de Lausanne 

p. 18 © A. Cheron – Institut Gustave Roussy 

p. 21 © SOS Sahel 


p. 24 © Apprentis d’Auteuil 

p. 25 © Adie 

p. 26 © FiBL 

p. 27 © Plugarts 

p. 28 © AIMS 

p. 29 © Institut Pasteur 

p. 30 © Rémy Gindroz 

p. 31 © Karuna Shechen 


p. 34 © Kenya Red Cross Society 



p. 41 © Equipe Saint-Vincent 





p. 47 © ProSpecieRara 

p. 49 © Katia Cruz 

p. 50 © PMAF 


p. 52 © PMAF 


p. 54 © UICC 

p. 55 © UICC

Fondation Philanthropia 

Rue de la Corraterie 11 

CH-1204 Geneva 

contact@fondationphilanthropia.org

Annual Report 2011 Fondation Philanthropia - Lombard Odier

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