Dachstiftung der Christoph Merian Stiftung (DS-CMS) is a Basel-based umbrella foundation that centrally manages multiple affiliated grantmaking foundations and supports projects in the trinational Basel region. Its giving is strongly place-based and practical, with a focus on social welfare, culture, and nature—especially support for older or vulnerable people, refugee assistance, local cultural and music projects, and hands-on nature conservation. Applicants can expect program-specific priorities depending on the sub-foundation, with a mix of small to mid-sized project grants and a few larger awards for conservation or special initiatives.
Annual Giving$3.3M
Focus Areas
Basel Social Welfare and Vulnerable PopulationsRefugee Support and Emergency AssistanceLocal Arts and Cultural ProjectsHistorically Informed Classical MusicNature Conservation in Northwestern SwitzerlandElder Care and Social Participation
Giving Approach
Mixture of open, ongoing digital applications and foundation-specific review cycles; no single umbrella deadline. Grant sizes range from small project grants around CHF 5,000 to larger awards up to CHF 50,000+ for conservation prizes, with some programs making decisions twice or three times per year and others accepting applications year-round.
Recent grants from Dachstiftung der Christoph Merian Stiftung's latest annual report (2025)
Grants parsed from this funder's most recently published annual report.
Recipient
Amount
Year
Purpose
Merian Gärten
CHF 3,3 Mio.
2025
own institution
Cartoonmuseum Basel
CHF 1,6 Mio.
2025
own institution
Christoph Merian Verlag
CHF 1,3 Mio.
2025
own institution
Merian Gärten
CHF 3,3 Mio.
2025
own institution
Cartoonmuseum Basel
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Check the specific sub-foundation first, since each has its own eligibility, geography, and decision schedule. Most programs accept submissions anytime through a digital process, but some have fixed annual deadlines or set review meetings; align your project timing to the next decision round and clearly show regional relevance, practical impact, and fit with the foundation’s social, cultural, or nature priorities.
Notable grantees:
• Emma Schaub Stiftung
• Otto Erich Heynau Stiftung
• Jacqueline Spengler Stiftung
• H. und E. Walder-Bachmann Stiftung
• Stiftung Theres und Ignaz Rieser
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Dachstiftung der Christoph Merian Stiftung that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intake
DS-CMS Allgemeine Förderung
SozialesKulturNatur
Who can apply: Unterstützt werden gemeinnützige Organisationen, deren Vorhaben zu den Förderschwerpunkten und Handlungsfeldern passen. Nicht gefördert werden u.a. Projekte ausserhalb der Region Basel, Einzelunterstützungen, rückwirkende Förderung, Defizitgarantien, Firmen-/Sponsoring-/Werbeanlässe, kommerzielle Anlässe, Schulprojekte, Lager und unbefristete Förderungen.
Deadline: Gesuche können jederzeit gestellt werden.
Who can apply: Projects should serve the harmonious combination of nature conservation, forestry and agriculture; be practical, applied and concrete; and be located in Northwest Switzerland, especially Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft and Aargau, as well as Jura and Solothurn north-west of the Aare.
Deadline: Anytime; board meets three times yearly.
Dachstiftung der Christoph Merian Stiftung (DS-CMS) - allgemeine Förderungen
SozialesKulturNatur
Who can apply: Projekte und Organisationen müssen zu den Förderschwerpunkten und Handlungsfeldern passen. Nicht gefördert werden u. a. Projekte ausserhalb der Region Basel (mit Ausnahmen bei einzelnen Stiftungen), Einzelunterstützungen, rückwirkende Förderung, Defizitgarantien, Firmen-/Sponsoring-/Werbeanlässe, kommerzielle Projekte, Schulprojekte, Lager und unbefristete Förderungen.
Deadline: Fördergesuche können jederzeit gestellt werden.
refugee supportlegal assistancemedical assistance+5 more
Who can apply: Supports organizations, funds and projects in three categories: refugees coming to Switzerland; people who left their home country abroad for political reasons; needy families in Switzerland, especially in Canton Bern. Fördergesuche can be submitted at any time.
Deadline: Anytime; board meets twice yearly in spring and autumn.
prevention and protection from violencesocial healthmental health+4 more
Who can apply: Supports gemeinnützige soziale und kulturelle Projekte im Raum Basel; applications can be submitted anytime and are reviewed three times per year.
Deadline: Anytime; board meets three times yearly.
H. und E. Walder-Bachmann Stiftung (Hermann und Elisabeth Walder-Bachmann Stiftung)
NaturschutzWald- und Offenland-MassnahmenPraxisnahe ökologische Projekte
Who can apply: Projekte, die der Verbindung von Naturschutz, Forst- und Landwirtschaft dienen; praxisnah und konkret (z. B. Waldrandaufwertungen, Trockenmauern, Anlage von Weihern).
Deadline: Einreichung jederzeit möglich; Walder-Preis: jährliche Ausschreibung (Details auf Anfrage).
daily living supportsocial participationbridge emergency situations
Who can apply: Organizations must be domiciled in Basel-Stadt and provide offerings for older, especially vulnerable and/or visually impaired people. Applications can be submitted anytime.
Deadline: Anytime; board meets twice yearly in spring and autumn.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.