Dr. Dr. Elisa Bortoluzzi Dubach: Interview with Guido Braschler, Managing Director of the umbrella foundations Accentus, Empiris and Symphasis
"We value contact with people who show passion and commitment to their cause"
In which areas are the three foundations Accentus, Symphasis and Empiris active?
The umbrella foundations Accentus and Symphasis have a very broad range of purposes. Their sub-foundations are therefore involved in a wide range of areas such as nature conservation, animal and species protection, culture, popular sport, education and social issues. Empiris is suitable for sub-foundations in the areas of research and science and, in addition to Switzerland, also has an international focus. Accentus is suitable for sub-foundations that want to be active in Switzerland. Symphasis is home to sub-foundations that also want to realize projects in developing countries.
How many sub-foundations are active in the three foundations?
The three umbrella foundations comprise a total of around 150 sub-foundations. Donors are free to choose which areas they want their sub-foundation to support. They value the experience and network of the Foundation Board and the head office. Another major advantage is that the establishment and administration of the subfoundation is free of charge, as Credit Suisse covers all personnel and infrastructure costs.
In which cantons of Switzerland are the foundations most present?
The sub-foundations are initiated by donors who are at home throughout the country and in all language regions. This means that we are also present in all cantons. In the cities, we support social and cultural projects in particular, while in the mountain regions we support many projects for the benefit of flora and fauna, as well as infrastructure projects. It is important to us that we, as Swiss umbrella foundations, are active in all parts of the country.
In which countries are the umbrella foundations active?
We have a list of priority countries in East Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia. We visit these countries, which are also supported by the Swiss government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), sporadically and check the implementation and impact of our supported projects on site. Donors are of course free to name other countries with which they have a special connection, for example.
What criteria are used to select the projects?
The projects should correspond to the objectives of the sub-foundations and be implemented by ambitious institutions that attach importance to reliability and impact measurement and do not generate unnecessarily high overhead costs. We have a list of criteria that must be met for each project. This catalog includes the description of the project, its budget and objective and is published on our websites: www.accentus.ch, www.empiris.ch, www.symphasis.ch.
Do you select projects or are you approached by the applicant?
Our donors determine the purpose of their sub-foundation. We support them by approaching potential project partners and inviting them to submit an application. In this way, we receive project applications that match our sub-foundations. Applications that reach us unsolicited are less likely to receive support because they often do not match the purpose of the sub-foundations.
What makes a good application?
A good application corresponds to the purpose of the sub-foundations as well as our content and formal criteria, which we mention on the websites. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. It is a shame if an applicant spends a lot of time formulating an application and it is then rejected because the project does not fit in with the purpose of the subfoundation.
When and how will the applicant receive feedback?
We are in constant contact with the applicants. If a project can be passed on to an allocation committee for approval, we let the applicant know. If a project is approved for support, we will respond immediately after the decision has been made. Rejections are also communicated within a short period of time.
How do you measure the impact of the projects?
We require both interim and final reports with a comparison of the actual and budgeted project costs as well as a narrative report. We also check the external evaluations of projects and programs commissioned by the project partners.
When is an applicant a "good applicant"?
We are delighted to receive a suitable application from exciting institutions and value contact with people who show passion and commitment to their cause. We remain in contact with our partners throughout the duration of the project and expect open, honest and comprehensive reporting so that we can inform donors about the impact of their donation. We also establish long-term relationships of trust with project partners and accompany each other over several years. We very frequently bring donors and partners together, which often leads to very cordial encounters and interesting conversations.
The interview was conducted by Dr. Dr. Elisa Bortoluzzi Dubach. She is a foundation and sponsorship consultant, author of "Foundations - The Guide for Applicants" and lecturer(www.elisabortoluzzi.com).