Gebert Rüf Stiftung is a Swiss innovation foundation that backs practical, impact-oriented projects at the intersection of technology, education, and science communication. It tends to fund high-potential pilots and scaling efforts rather than general operating support, with a strong preference for Swiss universities, schools, startups, media innovators, and ecosystem-building partners. The foundation is especially distinctive for its staged support of student entrepreneurship and deeptech commercialization, as well as its willingness to invest in the broader infrastructure of the Swiss philanthropy sector.
Annual Giving$15M
Focus Areas
Deeptech CommercializationStudent Entrepreneurship and Venture CreationDigital and Future-Skills EducationScience Communication and Public EngagementMultimedia Journalism and Digital StorytellingPhilanthropy Sector Capacity Building
Giving Approach
Primarily program-based, strategic, and often invite-only funding, with a mix of staged grants, accelerator-style support, and quarterly open calls in select programs. Grant sizes range from about CHF 10,000 to CHF 150,000 depending on the program, and support often includes coaching, milestone-based progression, or partnership with intermediaries such as Kick Foundation or multi-donor funds.
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How to approach this funder
Check each program’s access model carefully: some are invite-only, while others run on fixed quarterly deadlines (commonly 1 February, 1 May, 1 September, and 1 December). Applicants should align closely with the foundation’s emphasis on innovation, measurable impact, and Swiss relevance, and for entrepreneurship programs be prepared to show clear validation, commercialization potential, and university or ecosystem backing.
Notable grantees:
• Venture Kick
• Kick Foundation
• Talent Kick
• Luya Foods
• Center for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS), University of Basel
• SASC – Swiss Agricultural School Caucasus
• Spheriq
• SwissFoundations
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Gebert Rüf Stiftung that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Sep 1, 2026Award: $20K – $100K
Innovationsfonds für multimedialen Journalismus
journalismmedia innovationmultimedia storytelling+2 more
Who can apply: Qualified journalists working in Switzerland who form interdisciplinary teams with designers and programmers. Open-access publication in a Swiss online and/or print medium is required; redactions must co-fund scaling projects by at least 50%.
Deadline: Quarterly deadlines: 1 February, 1 May, 1 September, 1 December; next visible cycle 1 September 2026
Who can apply: Bottom-up initiatives from teachers or school leaders at public schools of all levels in Switzerland. Projects must be scalable and cannot fund pure infrastructure, tool/software development, events, publications, or private school projects.
Deadline: Quarterly deadlines: 1 February, 1 May, 1 September, 1 December; next visible cycle 1 September 2026
entrepreneurshipstartup formationinnovation+1 more
Who can apply: Bachelor and master students at Swiss universities of applied sciences, or graduates up to 6 months after completion. Project leaders must be affiliated with the university during the project. Project must be an innovative, impact-oriented business idea with university support.
Deadline: Quarterly deadlines: 1 February, 1 May, 1 September, 1 December; next visible cycle 1 September 2026
deeptechstartup accelerationresearch and development+2 more
Who can apply: Project must be a university-based spin-off still based at a Swiss university or research institution and currently in Venture Kick stage 1 and 2, but not yet stage 3. Funding goes to the university, not directly to founded startups.
Deadline: Quarterly deadlines: 1 February, 1 May, 1 September, 1 December; next visible cycle 1 September 2026
Innovationsfonds für multimedialen Journalismus (IMJ)
multimedia journalisminvestigative reportingscience-informed journalism+1 more
Who can apply: Qualified media professionals working in Switzerland; team must include journalist(s) and designer(s)/programmer(s); Open Access publication in a Swiss online/print medium; redactional co-funding expected for scaling phase.
Deadline: Quarterly submission windows: 1 February, 1 May, 1 September, 1 December. Next listed deadline: 01.09.2026
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.