Swarovski Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,658,276 (2024)
• Success Rate: 2% (Creatives for Our Future programme)
• Decision Time: Varies by programme (4-6 months for Creatives for Our Future)
• Grant Range: £17,000 - No specified maximum for organizational grants
• Geographic Focus: International (93 countries)

Contact Details

Website: www.swarovskifoundation.org

Email: office@swarovskifoundation.org

Phone: 020 3640 8310

Registered Address: 1st Floor, Building 4 Chiswick Park, 566 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 5YE

Charity Number: 1153618

Programme-Specific Contact:

• Creatives for Our Future: www.sfcreatives.org

Overview

The Swarovski Foundation was established in 2013 to bring focus to Swarovski's historical commitment to philanthropy. The Foundation's mission is to promote sustainable livelihoods through education to reduce inequality by supporting charitable organizations and signature programmes across three core areas: Equity, Water, and Creativity. With a 2024 operating budget of approximately £4 million and annual grant expenditure of £1.66 million, the Foundation operates with a seven-member team working across London, Austria, and the USA. Since inception, the Foundation has reached over 2 million people in 93 countries through 85 partnerships, with a particular focus on aligning activities to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Foundation is governed by a Board of eight Trustees, including Chair Marisa Schiestl-Swarovski (fifth-generation Swarovski family member) and international experts in human rights, economics, and law.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Creatives for Our Future: €20,000 per grant (6 grants annually)

• Global education and grant programme designed with the United Nations Office for Partnerships
• Targets creatives aged 21-30 working on projects using creativity to accelerate sustainable development
• Includes one-on-one mentorship, online masterclasses, industry networking, and announcement trip to New York
• Fixed annual application cycle (applications typically open summer/autumn, close mid-October)
• 21 projects supported to date

Waterschool Programme: School-based grants and support

• Educational programme empowering young people to become water ambassadors
• Operating in 8 countries (Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, India, Thailand, Uganda, USA)
• Has educated over 800,000 children in 2,500 schools
• Provides teacher relief grants, travel grants, Indigenous and Environmental education
• Partnership-based delivery through organizations like Earthwatch (Australia) and National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (USA)

Action Fund - Emergency Response: Grant amounts vary

• Responds to humanitarian, environmental, and public health emergencies
• Works through established partnerships with major NGOs
• No public application process - Foundation identifies needs and partners proactively

Organizational Partnerships: Grant amounts not publicly specified

• Strategic multi-year partnerships with charities aligned to Foundation's three focus areas
• Examples include ThinkForward, Magic Breakfast, Trussell Trust, Women for Women International
• Thorough research and due diligence conducted before partnerships approved by Trustees

Priority Areas

Equity: Promoting human empowerment through education, jobs, innovation, and sustainable economic growth; increasing youth and gender rights through education and empowerment programmes

Water: Increasing protection of water and biodiversity through education and climate change mitigation; supporting water access and conservation initiatives

Creativity: Increasing access to the creative industry through education; supporting creative solutions to sustainability challenges; fostering innovation in design, fashion, architecture, science, technology, and engineering

Cross-Cutting Themes: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; education as the primary tool for empowerment; reducing inequality; promoting sustainable livelihoods

What They Don't Fund

Creatives for Our Future Programme Exclusions:

• Performing arts (music, dance, theatre, and other artistic activities performed for an audience)
• Literature (creative writing, journalism, novels, stories, poems, screenplays, essays, song lyrics)
• University tuition costs or end-of-degree projects
• Applicants outside the 21-30 age range

General Exclusions (based on focus areas):

• Organizations not aligned to Equity, Water, or Creativity themes
• Projects not demonstrating clear educational component
• Single-beneficiary organizations (Foundation makes grants to multiple organizations)

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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Marisa Schiestl-Swarovski (appointed 2018) - Fifth-generation member of the Swarovski family who has stated: "This year's interest from young talents worldwide on the Creatives for our Future program confirms the strong commitment from younger generations to use creativity and innovation to raise awareness and find solutions to drive sustainable development."

Director: Jakhya Rahman-Corey - Responsible for building on Swarovski's philanthropic heritage by identifying strategic opportunities aligned to the Foundation's mission. She has stated: “Education being the greatest tool we can use so people can feel empowered and make decisions as to what careers they may want to go into, and it further goes into a lens of equity, creativity and water.” She also emphasizes: "The Swarovski Foundation's mission is to promote sustainable livelihoods through education to reduce inequality. With the Creatives for Our Future programme, we can harness this through young creative talent seeking to break innovative ground and spearhead new approaches and ideas in sustainable development."

Head of Advocacy and Engagement: Charlotte Bancans

Recent Trustee Appointments (2024):

• Ryan Gawn - Formerly Director of The LEGO Foundation, designed and led a $70m philanthropic initiative
• Lynda Mansson - Founder of LeaderLy, former CEO of MAVA Foundation (granted over €1.17 billion to 500+ organizations over 13 years)
• Heinz Fassmann - President of the Austrian Academy of Science

Board Composition: 8 Trustees total, including Maximilian Haim-Swarovski (fifth-generation Swarovski family member). All Trustees are international experts from key fields including human rights, economics, and law. All Trustees approve every single project the Foundation supports.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Creatives for Our Future Programme (Public Application Process):

• Online application through https://creatives.swarovskifoundation.org/application
• Application must be submitted in English
• Required materials:
• Valid passport with ability to meet US entry requirements (including Visa)
• Proof of age (21-30 years)
• Creative portfolio (under 50MB)
• 2-minute introduction video in English (max 150MB)
• Bank account in applicant's name for grant receipt
• Application typically opens in summer/autumn and closes mid-October
• Next cohort announcement: April 2025 at UN Headquarters, New York

Waterschool Programme:

• Partnership-based delivery through established education organizations
• Schools can participate through local delivery partners (e.g., Earthwatch in Australia, NGRREC in USA, Teach For All network partners)
• Contact relevant delivery partner in your country or region

Organizational Partnerships (No Public Application Process):

• The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from charitable organizations
• Partnerships are identified through the Foundation's own research and due diligence process
• Once identified, thorough screening, research, and due diligence conducted by the Foundation team
• All partnerships require approval from all 8 Trustees
• The Chair and Trustees are tasked with ensuring the Foundation's mission is met through support of charitable partnerships within the three focus areas

Emergency Response (Action Fund):

• No public application process
• Foundation proactively identifies emergency needs and works through established humanitarian partners (UK for UNHCR, Red Cross, Oxfam, etc.)

Decision Timeline

Creatives for Our Future:

• Application deadline: Typically mid-October
• Shortlisting and evaluation: October-March (approximately 4-6 months)
• Announcement: April at United Nations Headquarters in New York
• Programme delivery: Following announcement

Organizational Partnerships:

• No fixed timeline
• Involves thorough research and due diligence before Trustee approval
• Multi-year partnerships typically established

Success Rates

Creatives for Our Future:

• First cohort (2021): 400 submissions from 72 countries, 9 selected = 2.25% success rate
• Recent cohorts: 6 successful applicants per year
• Evaluation based on 6 criteria: Design and Creativity, Innovation, Potential, Feasibility and Scalability, Impact, Sustainable Development, and Funding Transparency

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated for Creatives for Our Future programme. As this is an annual programme for ages 21-30, individuals who age out cannot reapply. No information available about reapplication for unsuccessful organizational partnership proposals (as there is no public application process).

Application Success Factors

For Creatives for Our Future Programme (based on Foundation's stated evaluation criteria):

1. Design and Creativity: “Design and creativity is more than a medium of aesthetics and desirability – we want to see how applicants use design and creativity for their innovations in an original way.” Your project should demonstrate creative approaches beyond mere aesthetics.

1. Innovation: The Foundation asks “Is the innovation new, original and solution led? Or is it a game-changer for an existing system or idea?” Projects should demonstrate genuine novelty or transformative potential for existing approaches.

1. Clear SDG Alignment: Projects must demonstrate how they “drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations.” Be explicit about which SDGs your project addresses.

1. Funding Transparency: "Is the applicant's intention for use of the grant responsible and in alignment with the programme's objectives to further sustainable development through creativity?" Provide clear, detailed budget justification showing responsible use of €20,000.

1. Feasibility and Scalability: While not explicitly defined, this criterion suggests projects should be realistic to implement and have potential for growth or broader impact.

1. Demonstrable Impact: Projects should show clear potential for measurable positive outcomes in sustainable development.

Examples of Successful Projects: The Foundation has supported 21 projects to date that showcase “groundbreaking approaches to sustainable development” through creative disciplines including jewelry, fashion, art, design, architecture, videography, photography, and engineering.

For Organizational Partnerships:

• Strong alignment with one or more of the three focus areas (Equity, Water, Creativity)
• Clear educational component to the work
• Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Demonstrated track record and organizational capacity
• Geographic reach or focus in areas where Foundation is active
• Examples: Women for Women International (Afghanistan support), Magic Breakfast (UK school nutrition), ThinkForward (UK youth employment), Trussell Trust (UK food banks), mothers2mothers (Mozambique cyclone response)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Creatives for Our Future is highly competitive with approximately 2% success rate - applications must be exceptionally strong across all six evaluation criteria to succeed

• Education is the cornerstone - Director Jakhya Rahman-Corey emphasizes education as “the greatest tool we can use so people can feel empowered” - ensure your project has clear educational outcomes

• No public application process for organizational grants - the Foundation identifies and approaches potential charity partners rather than accepting unsolicited proposals; focus efforts on the Creatives for Our Future programme if you're an individual creative, or on getting noticed through sector networks if you're an organization

• Every partnership requires full Trustee approval - all 8 Trustees approve every single project, indicating a highly selective and rigorous decision-making process with emphasis on strategic alignment

• Think beyond aesthetics - the Foundation explicitly states they want to see creativity used “in an original way” beyond aesthetics and desirability; demonstrate how your creative approach drives tangible sustainable development outcomes

• Be specific about SDG alignment - given the partnership with the UN Office for Partnerships, clearly articulate which SDGs your project addresses and how you'll measure progress toward them

• Age restrictions are firm for Creatives for Our Future - you must be 21-30 at time of application, so plan accordingly if approaching either age boundary

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Charities Aid Foundation
• The Elton John AIDS Foundation
• Trust for London
• MOONDANCE FOUNDATION
• Stelios Philanthropic Foundation
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• The Baring Foundation
• The Wimbledon Foundation
• The Constance Travis Charitable Trust
• THE MICHAEL BISHOP FOUNDATION
• The Band Aid Charitable Trust
• THE FORRESTER FAMILY TRUST
• RSM UK Foundation
• The Evan Cornish Foundation
• THE HUGH SYMONS CHARITABLE TRUST
• National Lottery
• BRINGING HOPE
• SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES
• HELP FUND
• HELPING FAMILIES

References

• Swarovski Foundation official website: https://www.swarovskifoundation.org
• UK Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1153618
• Creatives for Our Future programme website: https://creatives.swarovskifoundation.org
• “The Swarovski Foundation at 10: Bling for the Masses Funds Sustainability Innovators,” Inside Philanthropy (https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/the-swarovski-foundation-at-10-bling-for-the-masses-funds-sustainability-innovators)
• “Advancing Water Equity With Creativity and Collective Action,” Triple Pundit, 2024 (https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2024/swarovski-foundation-education/815776)
• Swarovski Foundation Trustees page: https://www.swarovskifoundation.org/about-us/our-team
• UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Swarovski Foundation Partnerships: https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/swarovski-foundation
• Coutts Million Dollar Donor Report 2016 - Swarovski Foundation Case Study: https://philanthropy.coutts.com/en/reports/2016/united-kingdom/case-studies/swarovski-foundation.html
• Swarovski Foundation Impact Report: https://impact.swarovskifoundation.org