Pro Patria is a Swiss heritage funder focused on preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage across Switzerland. It supports restorations, renovations, and conservation projects for historic buildings, churches, transport infrastructure, museums, and culturally important landscapes, as well as projects that transmit living traditions, dialects, festivals, and cultural practices. Its portfolio suggests a strong preference for visible heritage assets with local community value and projects that strengthen cultural continuity and social cohesion.
Focus Areas
Historic Building RestorationSwiss Architectural HeritageChurch and Religious Heritage SitesIntangible Cultural Heritage TransmissionTraditional Festivals and Dialect PreservationHeritage Transport and Cultural Landscapes
Giving Approach
Structured grantmaking with four annual application deadlines for each program; supports project-based grants for restoration/renovation or cultural transmission initiatives, typically in Switzerland and often for heritage assets with clear cultural significance.
How to approach this funder
Apply through the appropriate program (materielles or immaterielles Kulturerbe) by one of the four annual deadlines: 20.01., 01.05., 05.08., or 09.10. Emphasize the project’s heritage value, community benefit, and any participatory or educational elements; for built heritage, highlight preservation urgency, historical significance, and renovation plans.
Want a Personalized Pitch for Pro Patria?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Who can apply: The project should serve the innovative transmission of a living tradition. Priority is given to projects that use and enliven built heritage in a participatory way. In general, completed projects, new buildings, pure operating/maintenance work, digitization of collections, and production/distribution of books, audio guides, videos or films are not supported.
materielles Kulturerbebauliches Erbearchäologisches Erbe+6 more
Who can apply: Projects must promote Baukultur or living traditions in Switzerland. For material heritage, the object should have recognized cultural significance, preferably with public access, and applicants should cooperate with a recognized specialist institution during the work. For intangible heritage, the project should support the innovative transmission of a living tradition; priority is given to projects that use and enliven built heritage in a participatory way. In general, completed projects, new buildings, pure operating/maintenance work, digitization of collections, and production/distribution of books, audio guides, videos or films are not supported.
Gesuche für Unterstützungsbeiträge – Immaterielles Kulturerbe
Immaterielles KulturerbeLebendige TraditionenBrauchtum+1 more
Who can apply: Projekt muss der innovativen Weitergabe einer lebendigen Tradition dienen; partizipative Nutzung des baulichen Erbes wird priorisiert. Neubauten, abgeschlossene Projekte und bestimmte Produktionen werden in der Regel nicht unterstützt.
Deadline: Vier jährliche Einreichfristen: 20.01., 01.05., 05.08., 09.10.
Gesuche für Unterstützungsbeiträge – Materielles Kulturerbe
Erhaltung historischer BaukulturRenovation und Sanierung historischer GebäudeBauliches Kulturerbe+2 more
Who can apply: Objekt besitzt ausgewiesenen kulturellen Stellenwert; prioritär mit öffentlichem Zugang; Zusammenarbeit mit anerkannter Fachinstanz. Neubauten, reine Betriebs-/Unterhaltsarbeiten, abgeschlossene Projekte und bestimmte Produktionen werden in der Regel nicht unterstützt.
Deadline: Vier jährliche Einreichfristen: 20.01., 01.05., 05.08., 09.10.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.