DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Swiss news & articles
Switzerland donated more than 2 billion francs to charities last year
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Switzerland donated more than 2 billion francs to charities last year

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

What is the Geneva Convention and why does it matter?What is the Geneva Convention and why does it matter?
Was there really a tsunami-like wave on Lake Geneva in the 6th century?Was there really a tsunami-like wave on Lake Geneva in the 6th century?
Tick season in Switzerland: What expats need to knowTick season in Switzerland: What expats need to know
Climate change "played a role" in Blatten landslide, says ETHClimate change "played a role" in Blatten landslide, says ETH
4 in 10 have fare dodged on Swiss public transport, survey reveals4 in 10 have fare dodged on Swiss public transport, survey reveals
What are the top worries among people in Switzerland?What are the top worries among people in Switzerland?
Crime in Switzerland: Which regions are worst affected?Crime in Switzerland: Which regions are worst affected?
Sirens to sound across Switzerland on February 5: What you need to knowSirens to sound across Switzerland on February 5: What you need to know
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Sep 8, 2022
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

The Zewo Foundation - the certification body for non-profit organisations that collect donations in Switzerland - has announced that international companies, families, individuals and charitable foundations donated over 2 billion Swiss francs to charities in 2021. Donations were made for causes both at home and abroad, with more than half of the donations coming from private households.

Switzerland donates 2,05 billion to good causes

According to the report, given to Blick, Switzerland donated 2,05 billion Swiss francs to charitable causes in 2021. It is the second time the country has donated over 2 billion francs to charity and matches the record set in 2020. 

Most of the donations (53 percent) came from private individuals or households, followed by charitable foundations and churches (23 percent), humanitarian organisations (17 percent) and entrepreneurs and Swiss companies (7 percent). According to Zewo, 2021 saw the number of donations transferred by the internet, SMS or through banking apps like Twint double from levels seen in 2020.

Swiss public donate to causes both at home and abroad

With nations around the world still in the midst of the COVID pandemic, with many people experiencing food and fuel insecurity, the most popular organisations to donate to in 2021 were those that operate internationally, with every other franc being donated to a cause from abroad. The report also found that more money was paid to charities focusing on nature and environmental protection, while slightly less was given to health and social organisations.

Interestingly, Zewo found that the number of charities that said that the government was their main benefactor has declined from 20 percent in 2020, to 14 percent in 2021. Finally, they found that for around half of all aid organisations in Switzerland, individual donations are their most common source of income.

By Jan de Boer