Vontobel Stiftung is a Swiss foundation that supports socially cohesive, science-oriented, and dialog-strengthening projects, with a clear emphasis on practical impact in Switzerland. It typically funds charitable organizations working in social welfare, culture and civic life, nature and science, and medical research—especially projects that promote equality of opportunity, integration, environmental protection, and early-career research. The foundation appears to favor thoughtful, often innovative initiatives with measurable benefits, and it also maintains an interest in supporting economically disadvantaged individuals and families.
Focus Areas
Social Cohesion and Civic DialogueDemocratic Values and Public EducationNature Conservation and Animal WelfareApplied Environmental and One Health ResearchEarly-Career Medical ResearchIntegration and Labor Market AccessMental Health and Poverty Reduction
Giving Approach
Mix of invite-only multi-year core support and open-ended project grantmaking. Culture and Society grants are partnership-based with no public application process, while Nature and Science, Medical Research, and Social Welfare accept applications year-round and are reviewed by the Foundation Board; funding tends to support Swiss charitable organizations, with some international project eligibility in nature/science and social welfare.
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How to approach this funder
Check the specific program carefully: Culture and Society is invite-only, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to work. For the open programs, applications can be submitted at any time, but proposals should clearly show Swiss charitable status, a strong social or scientific purpose, innovation or scalability, and concrete outcomes aligned to the program’s themes.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Vontobel Stiftung that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intake
Social Welfare
social welfareintegrationequal opportunity+6 more
Who can apply: Projects led by recognized Swiss charitable institutions are supported. Preference is given to innovative, measurable, replicable projects with broad impact, resilience, sustainable financing prospects, realistic multi-year goals, sound risk analysis, minimal reserves, transparency, and strong success potential.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time; board review occurs four times per year.
nature conservationspecies protectionlandscape protection+10 more
Who can apply: Supports projects with innovative methods, measurable results, replicability, resilience, realistic multi-year goals, transparency, and strong success potential. For research support, applicants are young researchers at established institutes working on eligible topics. Animal shelters and sanctuaries are excluded.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time.
medical researchclinical researchyoung researchers+2 more
Who can apply: Applicants should be young researchers working on a relevant project at an established research institute. The foundation generally supports salaries for early-career researchers and does not fund materials or laboratory costs. It does not support medical research projects initiated by other foundations.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time.
Social Welfare (Support for Organizations - Soziales)
Social welfareIntegration / employmentMental health+2 more
Who can apply: Project must be proposed by a charitable Swiss institution. For organisational/project applications include current funding gap (project budget minus already committed funds). Applications and documents accepted in German and English.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time; project applications are reviewed by the Foundation Board four times per year.
Nature and Science (Support for Organizations - Natur und Wissenschaft)
Nature conservationAnimal welfareLandscape protection+2 more
Who can apply: Project proposals must come from charitable Swiss institutions or established research institutes (for grant support to young researchers). Applications and documents accepted in German and English. Animal shelters and sanctuaries are generally excluded.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time; project applications are reviewed by the Foundation Board four times per year.
Medical Research (Support for Organisations - Medizinische Forschung)
Medical researchEarly-career researcher salariesNeuro-rehabilitation, diagnostics, neonatal therapy examples
Who can apply: Project must be conducted by a young researcher at an established research institute. The applicant should request the amount required for the project; no upper or lower limits defined. Materials/lab costs generally not funded. Applications accepted in German and English.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time; medical research grants are reviewed by the Foundation Board (regular meetings).
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.