But What For? Philanthropy and Donation Consulting in Switzerland

Philipp Augenstein

A businesswoman is selling her company and wants to donate a portion of the proceeds. Her bank structures the assets and assists with the establishment of a foundation, while a lawyer clarifies the legal and tax issues. After a few months, the vehicle is in place: professionally established, tax-compliant, and with sound governance. Only the most important question remains unanswered—what for?

What purpose should the foundation pursue? Which organizations have the greatest impact within the scope of this purpose? And how can this impact be maximized over the years? Anyone in Switzerland who wants to donate larger sums or build a long-term philanthropic commitment soon realizes that such an endeavor touches on a wide range of specialized fields—and hardly any single provider covers them all.

This shows: The Swiss consulting landscape is less a competition among rival providers and more a collaboration among different roles. Banks build structures, lawyers and tax advisors lay the groundwork, strategy consultancies develop the initiative—and the question of where a donation will have the greatest impact is a discipline in its own right. Many donors therefore work not with one, but with several specialized partners. This does not distinguish Switzerland all that much from Germany, whose consulting landscape we have already profiled – except that in Switzerland, the role of banks and umbrella foundations is much more prominent.

Research clearly shows that the question of effectiveness is worth exploring: The best organizations achieve many times more per franc than the average, and because the charity market doesn’t work like a regular market, the most effective offers don’t win out on their own. Anyone who doesn’t consciously ask this question leaves the most important decision up to chance—or to marketing.

What kind of expertise do you need?

The question «Which provider is the best?» is therefore misleading. A more productive approach is to ask: What task needs to be done right now—and who specializes in it?

A Profile of Philanthropy Consulting Firms

Let’s start with the firms whose core business is philanthropy consulting itself. Switzerland only has a handful of them — but their profiles couldn’t be more different:

Behind these brief profiles lie quite diverse organizations. WISE Philanthropy Advisors, based in Geneva, has made family philanthropy its hallmark: co-founder Etienne Eichenberger co-authored The Family Philanthropy Navigator, a seminal work on how families can develop their philanthropic commitment across generations. KENDRIS integrates philanthropy into the overall wealth strategy – which makes sense when giving is part of a broader wealth management strategy. StiftungsZentrum.ch for its part, is the go-to address for the hands-on work: for over twenty years, the firm has been assisting with the establishment and management of foundations, complemented by family office and corporate services.

Two smaller, more specialized players round out the picture: Pagume Philanthropy Advisors, based in Bern, develops impact-oriented strategies for companies, philanthropic foundations, and families, with a particular focus on leadership and international cooperation. And Con·Sense, a spin-off of the University of Basel’s Center for Philanthropy Studies, does not advise donors but the other side: foundations and nonprofit organizations seeking to advance their strategic development.

And Where Do We Come In? The Question of Impact

Our role in this framework is the question that the entrepreneur from the introduction faces: Where should the funds go so that they have the greatest possible impact? Effektiv Spenden does not answer the question of how philanthropic efforts are organized—but rather what for.

In addition, we curate a small portfolio of outstanding international projects, in collaboration with independent research institutes such as GiveWell, Founders Pledge and Animal Charity Evaluators — in the fight against extreme poverty, in climate action, in animal welfare, in defending democracy, and in safeguarding the future. This decision therefore rests on solid evidence rather than on name recognition or marketing. For larger projects, our advisors support you every step of the way — from your giving strategy and the selection of organizations to structuring larger donations, often in collaboration with a bank, family office, or attorney.

Important note: We do not receive any direct or indirect compensation from the organizations we recommend. As a nonprofit organization, our work is financed 100% by voluntary donations – our donor advisory is therefore free and independent.

Banks and Umbrella Foundations: Their Structural Role

What distinguishes the Swiss landscape from the German one is the emphasis on the asset side. Many banks—including UBS, Lombard Odier, Pictet, LGT, and Zürcher Kantonalbank—are active in philanthropy in addition to asset management: They provide advice on establishing foundations, assist with financial management, and in some cases operate their own umbrella foundations. These services are often professional and well-connected. However, they are part of comprehensive wealth management advice—here, and really only here, does the question of independence arise structurally: Those who manage assets do not provide neutral advice on the management of those assets.

There is a specific profession dedicated to this very issue. Specialized investment consultants such as PPCmetrics or c-alm advise foundations and nonprofit organizations on how to invest their assets, select asset managers, and monitor their performance—without managing assets themselves and paid solely by their clients. For those who want an independent assessment of their investment strategy, this is the counterpart to bank advisory services.

The question of impact—where the funds should go—is a separate issue. This, too, is not typically part of a bank’s core business, and that is precisely why the two roles can be effectively combined.

«A bank is strong when it comes to structure: the investment of a foundation’s assets and support with governance, particularly in the financial management of a foundation. The questions of what exactly a donation should be used for and where a donation will have the greatest impact are distinct disciplines in their own right—there is a strong case for asking them deliberately and for bringing in specialized partners to address them.» Dr. Hansjörg Schmidt, long-time Head of Foundations at Zürcher Kantonalbank (through 2026)

Those who wish to enjoy the benefits of a foundation without establishing one themselves will find a streamlined alternative in the growing number of umbrella foundations: For example, with the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation or the Fondation des Fondateurs, you can set up your own fund under an existing umbrella. The umbrella foundation handles management and administration, while the donor continues to decide on the funding purposes. Our Effektiv Spenden Depot follows this principle—but links it from the outset to the question of effectiveness.

To Get Started on Your Own: Spheriq and Zewo

Not every inquiry requires an in-person consultation right away. If you’d like to get a general idea on your own first, you might consider Spheriq, the country’s largest research platform for nonprofit organizations and foundations, offering extensive search and filtering options. Until October 2025, the platform was known as StiftungSchweiz; today, it serves as the digital infrastructure for the entire nonprofit sector.

And for many donors, the Zewo seal of approval is the first point of reference: it evaluates transparency, governance, and the responsible use of donations—in other words, whether an organization operates in a reputable manner. Whether an organization achieves particularly more impact than others is something it deliberately does not address. Both questions are valid; you just need to know which one a seal answers. You can find a detailed explanation in our article «The Zewo Seal of Approval: A Critique».

Research also emphasizes that impact is more than just a selling point. The Center for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS) at the University of Basel, the leading research institute on the Swiss nonprofit sector, views impact as the foundation of trust. Its director, Prof. Dr. Georg von Schnurbein, sums it up:

«NPOs earn trust when they clearly demonstrate the difference they make.» Prof. Dr. Georg von Schnurbein, Director of CEPS, in «Philanthropy Today» No. 1/2026

What applies to organizations also applies to donors: People who can see the difference a donation makes are better able to make informed decisions.

FAQs

Do I even need philanthropy consulting?

The larger the planned commitment, the more valuable independent advice can be. Those who regularly donate large sums or wish to establish philanthropic structures often benefit from strategic guidance.

Should I combine multiple counseling services?

In many cases, yes. Larger philanthropic projects span various fields of expertise—wealth structure, law, taxes, governance, and the selection of effective grant-making organizations. That’s why many donors work with several specialized partners: the bank handles the structuring, the attorney clarifies the legal issues—and evidence-based donation counseling ensures that the funds go where they’ll have the greatest impact.

How much does philanthropy consulting cost?

That depends on the provider. Many traditional counseling services operate on a fee basis. Some nonprofit organizations—including Effektiv Spenden—offer counseling free of charge.

Are donations tax-deductible in Switzerland?

Generally speaking, yes: Donations to organizations that are recognized as nonprofit and tax-exempt can be deducted from taxable income. However, the amount of the deduction is regulated at the cantonal level and can vary significantly depending on your canton of residence; in addition, separate limits apply at the federal level. Because the details depend heavily on individual circumstances, we’ll be dedicating a separate article to this topic soon.

Which counseling service is the best?

The question is misleading: Providers take on different roles and often don’t compete with one another at all. What matters is what task you need to tackle—structure, legal matters, strategy, or impact.

Conclusion: It’s Not About the Best Provider, but About the Right Team

Back to the entrepreneur from the beginning: What she lacks isn’t the one “best” advisor, but the right team. The bank and the lawyer have already played their parts—the structure and foundation are in place. The question that remains—and one that will determine the impact of her wealth—is: what for? The Swiss consulting landscape is small enough that you can get your own impression of each provider, and diverse enough that there’s a specialist available for each of these roles.

If we’ve piqued your interest, or if you have any questions or suggestions, or if you’d like free personal donation advice — even in collaboration with your existing advisors — please contact us: by phone at +41 44 244 27 38, per e-mail or directly with an appointment of your choice.

About the author

Philipp Augenstein

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I am the Swiss Country Manager for Effektiv Spenden. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this article, please feel free to contact me. You can write me an e-mail or call me at +41 78 480 42 92. You can also book a free donation consultation with me.