Formation and administration of private and charitable foundations in Switzerland
Discover our expert services for the formation and administration of private and charitable foundations in Switzerland. We guide you through the legal process, ensure compliance and maximise tax benefits. Entrust us with the management of your foundation for optimal efficiency and impact. Commit to a social or philanthropic mission with a trusted partner.
A stable, liberal and recognised framework.
Swiss Civil Code · Art. 80–89
Swiss foundations are highly active in the fields of health, education, social action, culture, the environment, ecology, research and the funding of public-benefit projects.
Switzerland is one of the world’s most highly regarded jurisdictions for establishing charitable foundations. It offers a stable legal framework, governed by the Swiss Civil Code, recognised for its solidity, continuity and high level of legal certainty. A foundation acquires legal personality upon registration with the Commercial Register.
The assets transferred to the foundation become autonomous and are dedicated exclusively to the purpose defined by the founder. This protected endowment makes it possible to anchor a philanthropic, social, cultural, environmental or scientific mission over the long term.
The foundation board ensures that the purposes set out in the articles are fulfilled in accordance with the founder’s will. Supervision by a public authority strengthens the foundation’s institutional credibility and the trust of donors, partners and beneficiaries.
Finally, charitable foundations may, under certain conditions, benefit from tax exemption in Switzerland, which is a significant advantage when structuring and developing public-benefit projects.
Authority & contact person
Why our clients choose us.
Our senior Swiss corporate services expertise, combined with a strong command of philanthropic and private-wealth matters, enables us to provide clear answers, fast execution and rigorous support for every foundation project. Constant availability, operational flexibility and immediate responsiveness define our approach, with a positioning recognised for service excellence and confirmed by lasting client relationships.
Swiss corporate services expertise and strong command of private-wealth and philanthropic structures. Rigorous execution and structured support from the first exchange through to ongoing administration.
Response within two business days with an initial feasibility opinion regarding supervisory approval and eligibility for tax exemption in the chosen canton.
31 reviews published on Google Business Profile. Lasting satisfaction confirmed by relationships averaging 5 to 10 years.
Affiliations with STEP, AIWM, SFAA and IFA — demanding professional bodies in matters of fiduciary governance, wealth planning, taxation and international structuring.
Your contact person
Andrés Taracido — Swiss Federal Diploma as an Expert in Finance and Investments; Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM); graduate of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) with TEP accreditation, an international reference in matters of foundations, trusts and private-wealth structures; CAS in SME Taxation; IAF-certified Insurance and Pension Advisor. Every new foundation establishment enquiry is personally assessed by him.
What our clients say.
★ 4.7/5 · 31 reviews published on Google Business Profile
What truly sets them apart is their attention to detail and the genuine care they have for their clients. We have the feeling of working with a trusted partner who always has our best interests at heart.
Excellent contact, professional advice, swift answers, deep and precise knowledge of the rules and procedures. And the warm, generous welcome inspires respect and trust.
I strongly recommend this corporate services firm in Geneva. Valuable advice, thorough work and very responsive. The team is also very friendly!
A demanding and supervised establishment.
The foundation must be established by public deed before a notary, with an initial endowment generally set at CHF 50,000 and dedicated to a specific purpose. Before registration with the Commercial Register, the articles must be submitted to the competent foundation supervisory authority for validation. Where tax exemption is contemplated, it is also recommended to have the articles reviewed beforehand by the competent cantonal tax administration. At least one member of the foundation board must reside in Switzerland, an audit body must be appointed, and the foundation can then be entered in the Commercial Register.
The foundation is established by a public deed signed before a Swiss notary, setting out the articles and the founder’s will.
The initial endowment of CHF 50,000 must be allocated to a specific purpose determined by the founder.
One member of the foundation board must reside in Switzerland and an independent audit body must be appointed.
Registration with the Commercial Register confers legal personality on the foundation and marks the start of operations.
A selective support service for a demanding structure.
The Swiss foundation is a robust but complex legal vehicle that requires a clear vision, rigorous governance and sustainable administration. Our role is to support you from the outset in the analysis, establishment and administrative follow-up of your foundation, in order to verify that this structure genuinely matches your objectives.
Before any commitment, we assess the alignment between your project, the purpose pursued, the available resources and the legal, tax and administrative requirements applicable in Switzerland. The foundation is not designed as a flexible or temporary tool: it implies a long-term commitment, an endowment dedicated to a specific purpose and management consistent with the founder’s will.
That is why we adopt a selective and professional approach. We act only when the Swiss foundation is a coherent, credible vehicle suited to the client’s situation. This preliminary analysis secures the project, anticipates governance constraints and ensures compliant administration over time.
- Structured governance, with an active, accountable foundation board capable of documenting its decisions.
- Accounting kept in accordance with Swiss standards, accompanied by reliable financial statements audited by an audit body.
- Regular reporting obligations and formal exchanges with the competent supervisory authority, whether cantonal or federal.
- Strict compliance requirements, in order to preserve the statutory purpose, the dedication of the endowment and the continuity of the mission.
- An increased level of analysis on the part of banking institutions, in particular when opening an account, justifying the origin of funds and understanding the project pursued.
- A continuous administration that demands rigour, anticipation and professional support over time.
The Swiss foundation is subject to institutional supervision by the Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations (FSA), which entails more control and less flexibility than a SA, a Sàrl or an association. This constraint is also an advantage: it strengthens the foundation’s credibility, protects the dedicated endowment and ensures compliance with the purpose defined by the founder.
Projects mainly motivated by the search for flexibility, cost optimisation or administrative simplification are generally not suited to a Swiss foundation — and are accordingly not accepted.
We are regularly contacted by people wishing to set up a Swiss foundation in order to:
- pay regular income to their children;
- protect and pass on a family estate;
- provide lasting funding for several generations;
- or maintain a standard of living within the family thanks to the assets placed in the foundation.
In practice, many clients imagine that a Swiss foundation can operate as a “family trust” or as a private-wealth vehicle designed to financially support a family across several generations.
However, Swiss law strictly limits this type of structure.
Under article 335 of the Swiss Civil Code (CC), family foundations may only be created for very limited purposes:
- education costs;
- establishment;
- assistance;
- or analogous purposes closely linked to the specific needs of family members.
Art. 335 CC
1 Family foundations may be created in accordance with the rules of the law of persons or of succession; they shall be intended to cover the costs of education, establishment and assistance of family members or analogous purposes.
2 The creation of family fideicommissa is prohibited.
The Federal Supreme Court and Swiss legal doctrine have long held that a family foundation cannot have as its main purpose:
- to provide ongoing maintenance for a family;
- to distribute regular annuities;
- to ensure financial comfort;
- or to pass on assets from one generation to the next as a patrimony “locked” within the family.
Swiss law in particular prohibits “family fideicommissa”, that is, mechanisms designed to keep assets durably within the same family lineage.
In practice, the authorities and courts very carefully examine:
- the reality of the purpose pursued;
- the actual economic beneficiaries;
- the distribution arrangements;
- and the existence or otherwise of a genuine specific need (training, assistance, particular life situation).
When a foundation is mainly intended to make recurring private-wealth payments to relatives without any link to a specific need recognised by article 335 CC, the legal risk becomes significant:
- challenge to the structure;
- refusal of recognition;
- partial or full nullity;
- intervention of the civil courts;
- or practical impossibility of operating the foundation in the long run.
In this type of situation, we generally prefer to direct clients towards more suitable tools:
- estate planning;
- family holding;
- inheritance pact;
- a foreign trust or family foundation in an appropriate jurisdiction;
- or international wealth structuring.
We also regularly decline charitable foundation projects when the founders believe that the minimum endowment of CHF 50,000 will be enough to launch a genuine operating foundation.
Technically, a foundation can be established with CHF 50,000. However, in practice this amount is very often insufficient to operate a Swiss foundation properly.
Many founders underestimate:
- administrative costs;
- audit fees;
- accounting obligations;
- governance requirements;
- reporting to the supervisory authority;
- banking, legal and fiduciary fees;
- as well as the time required to manage the structure.
They also wrongly believe that it will be “easy” to quickly find third-party funders or institutional donors.
In reality, a credible foundation is generally based on:
- a significant endowment;
- a clear funding strategy;
- solid governance;
- and a real ability to fund its activities sustainably.
In serious philanthropic projects, foundations frequently have a much larger endowment, often several million francs, so that they can fund their activities through investment returns rather than through a constant search for external funding.
In this type of context, we sometimes prefer to direct the client towards:
- an association;
- a pilot project;
- a lighter structure;
- or a gradual ramp-up before considering a Swiss foundation.
Lastly, we decline projects in which a foundation would be used to:
- raise funds;
- obtain tax or reputational advantages;
- while in fact funding private or commercial activities.
This concerns in particular situations where:
- the founders wish to fund their own business;
- the funds collected indirectly benefit the founders;
- the supposedly “public-benefit” activity mainly serves private interests;
- or the structure is used as a marketing or commercial-credibility tool.
The foundation supervisory authorities and Swiss tax authorities very carefully examine:
- conflicts of interest;
- the actual allocation of funds;
- governance;
- remuneration;
- and the existence of a genuine public interest.
A Swiss foundation cannot be used as a hybrid vehicle between a charitable organisation and a private business.
In this type of situation, the risk is significant:
- refusal of public-benefit recognition;
- loss of tax exemptions;
- intervention by the supervisory authority;
- or even a complete reassessment of the structure.
Where a project has a dominant entrepreneurial or commercial dimension, other structures are generally far better suited:
- commercial company;
- social enterprise;
- association;
- or a conventional investment vehicle.
Private or charitable foundation?
Compare the legal, tax and administrative implications in order to choose a structure genuinely suited to your project.
Private or non-exempt foundation
A private or wealth-planning foundation may meet specific objectives, but it must be analysed with caution. In Switzerland, the foundation is not a freely adaptable vehicle: the assets are dedicated to a determined purpose and the structure must comply with the limits of the Swiss Civil Code.
Family foundations, in particular, cannot be used as mere holding or wealth-transfer vehicles. Their purpose is strictly framed, in particular to cover education costs, establishment, assistance or analogous purposes.
- Ordinary taxation in the absence of tax exemption.
- Mandatory registration with the Commercial Register.
- Possible supervision for ordinary foundations, depending on their purpose and scope.
- Audit body in principle mandatory, except for an exemption or specific regime.
- Enhanced analysis required when the project pursues a family or private-wealth objective.
This type of foundation must be structured precisely in order to avoid any incompatibility between the purpose pursued, governance, taxation and the requirements of Swiss law.
Charitable foundation
A charitable foundation can obtain a tax exemption, but this is never automatic. The cantonal tax administration examines the articles, the purpose pursued, the irrevocable allocation of funds, the actual activity, the circle of beneficiaries and the absence of any dominant private interest.
- Possible exemption from profit and capital tax.
- Possible deductibility of donations for donors, subject to the applicable tax rules.
- Exclusive and irrevocable allocation of assets to the public-benefit purpose.
- No return of funds to the founder, donors or their relatives.
- Commercial activity only ancillary and compatible with the purpose pursued.
- Maintaining the tax status is conditional on continued compliance with tax and statutory requirements.
Before publication in the Commercial Register, it is recommended to have the articles validated by the supervisory authority and, where a tax exemption is requested, to also approach the competent cantonal tax administration.
Our support
Establish, administer and secure your Swiss foundation.
My Swiss Company SA supports founders, families, entrepreneurs and international organisations in the establishment, administration and advisory support of Swiss private, wealth-planning and charitable foundations. From project analysis to drafting the articles, from the tax-exemption application to relations with supervisory authorities and banking partners, we structure a compliant, lasting framework tailored to your objectives.
Registered address and Swiss-resident foundation board member: two requirements, one solution.
When founders or members of the foundation board reside abroad, two essential conditions must be anticipated: the foundation must have a valid address in Switzerland and at least one member of the foundation board must reside in Switzerland.
My Swiss Company SA meets both requirements by offering a comprehensive solution for private, wealth-planning and charitable foundations. We provide a recognised registered address in Switzerland, manage official correspondence and, when necessary, support the appointment or coordination of a Swiss-resident foundation board member.
This dual presence — administrative and local — facilitates interactions with the Commercial Register, the supervisory authority, the tax administration, the audit body and banking institutions. It also ensures continuity and compliance of the foundation when its governance is mainly organised from abroad.
Frequently asked questions about the Swiss foundation
Answers to the questions we receive each week about the initial endowment, tax exemption, governance, foundation supervision, article 335 CC and the annual administration obligations of a private or charitable foundation in Switzerland.
What is the minimum capital required to set up a foundation in Switzerland?
The minimum initial endowment of a Swiss foundation is generally set at CHF 50,000, irrevocably allocated to the purpose defined by the founder in the foundation deed. In practice, this amount is rarely sufficient to operate a foundation sustainably: serious philanthropic foundations often have an endowment of several hundred thousand or even several million francs, in order to cover administration, audit and supervision costs.
What is the difference between a private foundation and a charitable foundation?
A private foundation pursues a private, family or wealth-planning purpose and remains in principle taxable as a legal entity. A charitable foundation pursues a public-benefit purpose, for example in health, education, culture, research or social action, and may, under strict conditions, benefit from tax exemption. The latter implies an exclusive and irrevocable allocation of the assets, a sufficiently wide circle of beneficiaries and the absence of any dominant private interest.
Can a Swiss foundation be exempt from tax?
Yes, but only charitable foundations can obtain exemption from profit and capital tax, by decision of the competent cantonal tax administration. The exemption is never automatic: the administration examines the articles, the actual activity, the irrevocable nature of the allocation of funds, the circle of beneficiaries and the absence of private interest. It is recommended to have the articles pre-validated before registration with the Commercial Register.
How long does it take to set up a foundation in Switzerland?
Setting up a Swiss foundation generally takes between 6 and 12 weeks, between the preliminary analysis, the drafting of the articles by the notary, validation by the foundation supervisory authority and registration with the Commercial Register. The timescale may extend to 16–20 weeks in the event of a tax-exemption application, which requires an additional exchange with the cantonal tax administration.
Must a member of the foundation board reside in Switzerland?
Yes. Under Swiss law, at least one member of the foundation board must be domiciled in Switzerland and have signing authority, in order to ensure local representation before the authorities, the Commercial Register, the bank and the supervisory authority. When the founder or other board members reside abroad, My Swiss Company SA can provide this qualified local presence as well as the registered address in Switzerland.
Is it possible to set up a family foundation in Switzerland?
Yes, but the purpose is strictly limited by article 335 of the Swiss Civil Code: education costs, establishment, assistance of family members or analogous purposes. Swiss law prohibits family fideicommissa, that is, mechanisms designed to pay regular annuities, provide ongoing maintenance for a family or transmit a locked patrimony across several generations. For wealth transfer, other tools are better suited: estate planning, family holding, inheritance pact or foreign trust in an appropriate jurisdiction.
Who supervises foundations in Switzerland?
Supervision is exercised by a cantonal foundation supervisory authority or, for foundations with a national or international reach, by the Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations. The authority verifies each year that the foundation respects its statutory purpose, governance, accounting obligations and the allocation of funds in accordance with the founder’s will.
Can a Swiss foundation carry out a commercial activity?
Yes, but only on an ancillary basis and provided that this activity is compatible with the statutory purpose and does not become the foundation’s main objective. For an exempt charitable foundation, the commercial activity must not generate a dominant private benefit for the founders, governing bodies or their relatives, as this could jeopardise the tax status.
Are donations to a Swiss foundation tax-deductible?
Donations made to a Swiss foundation recognised as charitable and tax-exempt are tax-deductible for donors, within the limits set by federal and cantonal law — generally up to 20% of net income for individuals and 20% of net profit for legal entities. Donations made to a non-exempt private foundation are in principle not deductible.
What are the annual administration costs of a Swiss foundation?
Annual fees typically cover bookkeeping, the audit body (auditor), the supervisory authority’s fees, banking and legal costs, domiciliation and the local representation of the board. The annual administration budget generally starts at around CHF 8,000 to 15,000 for a small foundation and increases with the complexity of activities, the size of the endowment and the reporting obligations.
How is a Swiss foundation dissolved?
A Swiss foundation cannot be freely dissolved by its founder: dissolution only occurs if its purpose has become impossible to achieve, unlawful or immoral, in accordance with art. 88 CC, and requires a decision of the supervisory authority. In the event of dissolution, the remaining assets are generally allocated to another foundation pursuing an analogous purpose, and not returned to the founder.
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All My Swiss Company services in Switzerland.
Beyond domiciliation, My Swiss Company SA supports entrepreneurs and international groups across the entire lifecycle of their Swiss entity — establishment, administration, tax representation and governance.
Accounting, VAT, Payroll & SME Taxation
- Bookkeeping, closing and financial statements compliant with the CO
- VAT: returns, rate checks and prevention of reassessments
- Payroll: AHV, BVG, UVG, permits and employee taxation
Swiss Company Formation: SA, Sàrl, Branch & Holding
- Company formation: SA, Sàrl, branch & holding
- Incorporation with deed, capital and registration with the Commercial Register
- Business creation with coherent banking and tax structuring
Swiss Resident Director & Manager: Fiduciary Mandate
- Swiss resident director for SA with valid representation
- Swiss resident manager for Sàrl with documentary follow-up
- KYC, governance and periodic control in Switzerland
Company Domiciliation: Registered Address & Mail
- Legal registered address, c/o and official notifications to the Commercial Register
- Reception, sorting and forwarding of administrative and banking mail
- Domiciliation integrated into a genuine administrative structure
VAT Tax Representative in Switzerland for Foreign Companies
- Swiss VAT registration and official fiscal representation
- Quarterly VAT returns, corrections and exchanges with the FTA & customs
- Upstream analysis of liability and non-compliance risks
Establishment & Administration of Foundations in Switzerland
- Establishment of private, family or charitable foundations
- Structuring, board governance and annual administrative follow-up
- Tax framework, possible exemption and documentary compliance
