Swiss Re Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Specific total not publicly disclosed; major award programs total ~USD $850,000+ annually
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (200+ applications for Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award)
• Decision Time: Multi-stage process over several months
• Grant Range: CHF 30,000+ for major projects; Award programs: USD $37,500 - $350,000
• Geographic Focus: Global - Swiss Re office locations worldwide and low/middle-income countries (LMICs)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.swissrefoundation.org

Email: swissrefoundation@swissre.com

Address: Mythenquai 50/60, 8022 Z??rich, Switzerland

Note: Unsolicited applications are only accepted through formal calls for proposals and award programs.

Overview

The Swiss Re Foundation was launched in 2012 by global reinsurer Swiss Re as a non-profit organization committed to promoting societal and environmental resilience. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, the Foundation operates with a small team across offices in Zurich, Bangalore, Singapore, Bratislava, and Armonk. The Foundation focuses on two strategic areas: climate solutions and access to health, with particular emphasis on supporting entrepreneurial solutions in early, seed, and growth stages. Their strategy emphasizes supporting solutions that can grow beyond grant dependence and scale impact through revenue-based business models. The Foundation works both in countries where Swiss Re operates and in targeted developing regions, specifically low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Jacques de Vaucleroy has served as Chairman since October 2023, stating the Foundation is “borne of the belief that corporate foundations can uniquely contribute to addressing societal challenges by supporting sustainable solutions in their early stages.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award

• Amount: USD $700,000 total shared among finalists
• Winner: Up to USD $350,000
• Two runners-up: USD $150,000 and USD $200,000
• Application: Annual competitive application cycle online in English
• 2024 Focus: Enterprises improving primary healthcare access through innovative “brick-and-click” approaches

International ReSource Award

• Amount: USD $150,000 annually distributed among three finalists and winner
• Focus: Social entrepreneurial initiatives driving sustainable water management

Changemakers Africa Incubation Programme

• Amount: Grants of CHF 37,500-50,000 for 6-8 candidates
• Focus: Early-stage African entrepreneurs in health and climate sectors
• Partner: Bridge for Billions

General Strategic Grants

• Amount: Typically CHF 30,000+ for ongoing projects
• Application: Invitation-only basis; organizations identified by Foundation team and network
• Method: Rolling basis for identified organizations; fixed deadlines for award programs

Priority Areas

Climate Solutions

• Natural hazard and climate risk management
• Climate disaster resilience and adaptation
• Risk reduction and social protection
• Weather index-based insurance for smallholder farmers
• Biodiversity conservation

Access to Health

• Primary healthcare access for low-income populations
• Tech-enabled healthcare delivery
• Community healthcare solutions
• Health insurance and financial protection for vulnerable populations
• Women's health solutions
• Telemedicine initiatives

Innovation for Societal Resilience

• Funding research on drivers of resilient societies
• Supporting worthy causes near Swiss Re locations
• Employee volunteering initiatives (Charity of the Year programs)

What They Don't Fund

• Events (unless directly related to a supported project)
• Scholarships and fellowships
• Organizations that cannot receive grant funding from a Swiss non-governmental organization
• Projects lacking measurable social impact
• Projects not serving at least 30% low-income populations (for Resilience Award)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees: Composed of Swiss Re executives, meeting four times annually to set strategic direction, provide guidance, and make decisions on governance and grant requests.

Chairman: Jacques de Vaucleroy (since October 2023)

Other Board Members: Catherine Pellet (Desquesses), Reto Schnarwiler, Valeria Seri

Operational Team: Small team of part-time and full-time members working from Zurich, Bangalore, Singapore, Bratislava, and Armonk

Quote from Leadership: Jacques de Vaucleroy stated: “Borne of the belief that corporate foundations can uniquely contribute to addressing societal challenges by supporting sustainable solutions in their early stages, the Swiss Re Foundation keeps striving to make low-income communities more resilient.”

The 2024 Annual Report noted that milestones achieved demonstrate success in “catalysing sustainable, human-centric approaches to building resilience.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For General Strategic Grants:

• Primarily invitation-only basis
• Grant applicants identified by the Foundation team and network present a short proposal for initial screening
• Successful initial applicants invited to submit comprehensive grant proposal
• Unsolicited applications accepted only through formal calls for proposals

For Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award:

1. Complete online application questionnaire in English before deadline
2. Foundation selects sub-group for full proposal submission
3. International panel evaluates finalist projects
4. Winners announced at award ceremony

For Changemakers Africa:

• Online application through Bridge for Billions platform
• Must be early-stage (ideally within last 2 years or prototype stage)
• Operating in health or climate sectors

Decision Timeline

• Award Programs: Multi-stage process over several months
• Example: 2023 Award opened December 2, 2022; deadline January 23, 2023
• Finalists selected in second phase
• Winners announced later in year (2023 ceremony held September 20)
• General Grants: Timeline varies based on invitation and proposal complexity

Success Rates

• Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award 2019: 200+ applications from 56 countries
• Final Selection: Typically 3-4 finalists selected for awards
• Overall success rate not publicly disclosed
• Multi-stage selection creates competitive process

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed. Award programs operate on annual cycles, allowing for annual applications.

Application Success Factors

Key Requirements

• Measurable Impact: Applicants must demonstrate high levels of social impact with reliable measurement methods
• Low-Income Focus: For Resilience Award, at least 30% of customer base must be low-income populations
• Legal Compliance: Must comply with legal framework of operating countries and be able to receive grants from Swiss non-governmental organization
• Revenue Potential: Preference for solutions that can grow beyond grant dependence and scale through revenue-based business models
• Entrepreneurial Approach: Support for entrepreneurial solutions in early, seed, and growth stages

Recent Successful Projects (2024)

Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award Winners:

• ZimbosAbantu (USD $350,000): Primary care clinics on wheels
• Intelehealth (USD $150,000): Tech-enabled healthcare for all
• Cliniva (USD $200,000): All-in-one healthcare solution for women

Other 2024 Projects:

• Cardio4Cities: Strengthening public health systems
• Save the Children: Climate resilience through adaptation and risk reduction
• NucleusIS: Technology for Africa's healthcare value chain
• Living Goods: Data-smart community healthcare
• Saathealth (India): Financial resilience related to health for “missing middle”
• Drinkwell (Bangladesh): Safe water access in Dhaka

Language and Terminology

• “Resilience” is central concept throughout funding priorities
• “Human-centric solutions” and “sustainable approaches”
• “De-risking entrepreneurial solutions”
• “Evidence-based” and “actionable evidence”
• “Brick-and-click” approaches (combining physical and digital)
• References to UN Sustainable Development Goals

Strategic Advice

• Focus on scalability and sustainability beyond grant funding
• Demonstrate innovation in approach to building resilient societies
• Show clear connection to either climate solutions or access to health
• Emphasize impact on low-income populations
• Provide evidence of measurable social impact
• For African entrepreneurs: Consider Changemakers Africa incubator for structured guidance in business strategy, marketing, fundraising, and impact tracking

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation Priority: General grants are primarily invitation-only; focus efforts on formal calls for proposals and award programs rather than unsolicited applications
• Focus Alignment: Ensure project clearly aligns with either climate solutions OR access to health???these are non-negotiable focus areas
• Sustainability Model: Strong preference for entrepreneurial solutions with revenue-based business models that can scale beyond grant dependence
• Geographic Fit: Best opportunities in LMICs or near Swiss Re office locations; dual geographic approach requires strategic positioning
• Impact Measurement: Prepare robust impact measurement framework demonstrating benefit to low-income populations (minimum 30% for awards)
• Competitive Process: Award programs are highly competitive (200+ applications); ensure application demonstrates innovation and clear differentiation
• Annual Cycles: Major award programs run annually???plan ahead and watch for calls for proposals on website
• Employee Engagement: For UK-based organizations near Swiss Re locations, consider Charity of the Year opportunities with built-in employee volunteering

References

1. Swiss Re Foundation Official Website. “Swiss Re Foundation.” https://www.swissrefoundation.org/

1. Swiss Re Foundation. “Application Process.” https://www.swissrefoundation.org/become-a-partner/grants/application-process.html

1. Swiss Re Foundation. “Grant Opportunities.” https://www.swissrefoundation.org/become-a-partner/grants/grant-opportunities.html

1. Swiss Re Foundation. “Annual Report 2024.” https://www.swissrefoundation.org/what-we-have-achieved/foundation-report/swiss-re-foundation-annual-report-2024.html

1. Swiss Re Foundation. “Annual Report 2023.” https://www.swissrefoundation.org/who-we-are/foundation-report/swiss-re-foundation-annual-report-2023.html

1. Swiss Re Foundation. “Board of Trustees.” https://www.swissrefoundation.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees.html

1. Swiss Re Foundation. “Projects.” https://www.swissrefoundation.org/what-we-do/projects.html

1. Swiss Re Foundation. “The 2024 Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award.” https://www.swissrefoundation.org/e4ra24.html

1. Swiss Re Foundation. “Strategy.” https://www.swissrefoundation.org/what-we-do/strategy.html

1. Terra Viva Grants. “Swiss Re Foundation.” https://www.terravivagrants.org/group-1-agriculture-fisheries-forestry/swiss-re-foundation/

1. Opportunities For Africans. “The Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award 2023.” https://www.opportunitiesforafricans.com/the-swiss-re-foundation-entrepreneurs-for-resilience-award-2023/

1. Swiss Re. "Swiss Re's Board of Directors proposes Jacques de Vaucleroy for election as Chairman." Press Release, July 12, 2023. https://www.swissre.com/media/press-release/pr-20230712-chairman-vaucleroy-press-release.html