Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung

What Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung does

Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung is a family-owned Swiss charitable foundation headquartered at Rennweg 73 in Basel, Switzerland. The foundation was established by Jeannine and Matthias Eckenstein-Geigy in connection with the birth of their granddaughter Lucy, who was born with severe disabilities from oxygen deprivation; the family subsequently expanded its philanthropic mission to support people with disabilities and broader cultural, societal, and ecological causes. Governed by a three-member board (Gabriel Eckenstein as President, Corinne Eckenstein, and Guy Simonius), the foundation operates as a grant-making entity that does not accept unsolicited applications but identifies and funds partner organizations independently.

The foundation's funding portfolio spans multiple thematic verticals: disability inclusion and residential care (Wohnheim NGG in Gänserndorf with EUR 4.9M; Haus KoMeT in Niebüll; Aluna Móvil in Cartagena), pediatric and public health research (UKBB Professorship in Pediatric Pharmacology with CHF 15M; Swiss TPH Professorship in Epidemiology and Household Economics with CHF 14M), circular economy initiatives (BaselCircular public-private partnership with CHF 8M; CQ - Association for Circular Intelligence), water access (Viva con Agua), conservation (Biovision in Zanzibar), education financing (Educa Swiss, Child's Dream in the Mekong region), and arts and culture (Verein Tanzhaus Basel). Commitments typically take the form of multi-year grants (often 10+ years) supplemented by low-interest loans to selected partners, with funding periods structured to enable sustainability beyond the foundation's support window.

The foundation operates a non-commercial revenue model: it is funded by family endowment capital and disburses grants rather than selling products or services. Geographic reach extends across 14+ countries in Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Austria), Latin America (Colombia), Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand), and Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, Nepal, Guatemala). Reported employee count is 11-50, consistent with a lean foundation staff administering a diversified grant portfolio rather than operating service delivery infrastructure.

Name

Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung

Legal name

Eckenstein-Geigy Stiftung

Website

https://eckenstein-geigy-stiftung.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung is a Basel-based family charitable foundation that provides multi-year grants and low-interest loans to non-profit partners across disability inclusion, pediatric health research, circular economy, conservation, education, and water access initiatives spanning Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation / Grant-Making Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAA

Private Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAH

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAM

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAJ

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAL

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAB

Community Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYHLAJAOAC

Global Health Financing Mechanisms & Pooled Funds

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health Initiatives & Partnerships

Keywords

• Grant-making foundation
• Philanthropic funding
• Charitable foundation services
• Social impact funding
• Sustainability grant programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Grants or Program Funding, Personnel, Operations, Others

Core offering

Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung is a Swiss family charitable foundation that provides partial funding, flexible financing, networks, and personal guidance to non-profit organizations and institutions. It supports innovative projects addressing cultural, societal, and ecological challenges, with focus areas including disability inclusion, youth empowerment, circular economy, healthcare research, education, water access, and environmental conservation across Switzerland, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Product overview

Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung is a grant-making foundation based in Basel, Switzerland, that does not operate a unified product platform. Instead, it funds and partners with diverse organizations and projects aligned with its mission to support innovative solutions for cultural, societal, and ecological challenges. The foundation's portfolio spans multiple impact areas: circular economy initiatives (BaselCircular, CQ - Association for Circular Intelligence), healthcare research (UKBB, Swiss TPH), water access (Viva con Agua), education financing (Educa Swiss), disability inclusion and housing (Wohnheim NGG Gänserndorf, Haus KoMeT, Aluna Móvil), environmental conservation (Biovision), prosthetics (Circleg), youth development (Child's Dream Foundation), and arts/culture (Ecoalf, Verein Tanzhaus Basel). These funded projects operate independently with the foundation providing flexible financing, networks, and personal support rather than a centralized product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BaselCircular Public-private partnership between the Canton of Basel-Stadt and the Eckenstein-Geigy Foundation that supports Basel-based companies in transitioning to circular business models.
• UKBB Eckenstein-Geigy Professorship and Research Centre for Paediatric Pharmacology Research center at the University of Basel and the University Children's Hospital Basel focused on research and development of medicines for newborns, infants, toddlers, and adolescents, including optimized dosage forms and age-appropriate drug dosing.
• Swiss TPH Eckenstein-Geigy Professorship in Epidemiology and Household Economics Professorship at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel linking epidemiology with economics and social sciences to strengthen health systems in Africa and Switzerland through quantitative models.
• Viva con Agua Water Projects Water projects in Nepal, Guatemala, Mozambique, Uganda, and Switzerland using art, music, and sports to raise awareness and funds for global water issues.
• CQ - Association for Circular Intelligence Systemic enabler and incubator for the circular economy based in Basel, bringing together actors from business, science, public administration, and civil society to jointly develop and implement circular solutions.
• Wohnheim NGG, Gänserndorf Integrative residential home for severely and mildly disabled people with a therapy animal farm near Vienna, promoting nature-based living, learning, and participation for people with disabilities.
• Educa Swiss Educational Loans Swiss foundation supporting motivated individuals in implementing their educational projects through free planning assistance and low-interest educational loans.
• Circleg Prosthetics Program Kenyan-Swiss social enterprise developing appropriate prosthetic systems for the lower limbs, producing innovative, high-quality plastic prostheses locally in Kenya to address the global gap in prosthetic care.
• Child's Dream Foundation Mekong Programs Interventions to improve the well-being of children and young adults in the Mekong region (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand), covering healthcare, education, responsible leadership, and environmental sustainability aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Biovision Zanzibar Conservation Beekeeping and mangrove conservation project in Zanzibar, linking modern beekeeping for income generation with the use of multifunctional trees as alternatives to threatened mangroves.
• Haus KoMeT, Niebüll Conductive residential and living community for young people with multiple disabilities in Niebüll, Germany, providing holistic development through movement and social-emotional competence.
• Aluna Móvil Cartagena Education Early remedial education for children with disabilities and counseling for families in their homes in poverty-affected neighborhoods of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
• Ecoalf Sustainable Fashion Sustainable fashion and environmental protection initiative focusing on participation of fishermen and promoting the circular economy, using waste as a resource for the fashion industry through fishermen network expansion in the Mediterranean.
• Verein Tanzhaus Basel Non-profit association dedicated to creating a platform for art and culture with a particular focus on dance, movement, and digital developments, fostering inclusion and encounters between generations and cultures in Basel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two million people worldwide benefit from Viva con Agua water projects
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canton of Basel-StadtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2024Public-private partnership through BaselCircular initiative. Supports Basel-based companies in transitioning to circular business models. Funding agreement of CHF 8 million with annual payments of CHF 1 million (2024-2031). Goal is long-term embedding of circular economy in Basel region.
• University of BaselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for UKBB - Eckenstein-Geigy Professorship and Research Center for Pediatric Pharmacology. Foundation provided CHF 15 million (2014-2023) to develop medicines for newborns, infants, toddlers, and adolescents.
• University Children's Hospital Basel (UKBB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of pediatric pharmacology research center. Focuses on optimizing dosage forms and age-appropriate drug dosing for children.
• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Eckenstein-Geigy Professorship in Epidemiology and Household Economics. Foundation provided CHF 14 million (2015-2025) to strengthen health systems in Africa and Switzerland through quantitative models linking epidemiology with economics and social sciences.
• BiovisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of CHF 200,000 (2020-2022) for beekeeping and mangrove conservation project in Zanzibar. Project links modern beekeeping income generation with use of multifunctional trees to protect threatened mangroves.
• Child's Dream FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of CHF 290,000 (2014-2025) for interventions improving well-being of children and young adults in Mekong region (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand). Focus on healthcare, education, responsible leaders, and environmental sustainability aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• CirclegminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of CHF 300,000 (2022-2024) for Kenyan-Swiss social enterprise developing appropriate prosthetic systems for lower limbs. Circleg produces innovative plastic prostheses locally in Kenya, contributing to inclusion and circular economy.
• Viva con AguaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of CHF 825,000 plus loan EUR 800,000 (2017-2025) for water projects in Nepal, Guatemala, Mozambique, Uganda, and Switzerland. Organization uses art, music, and sports to raise awareness and funds for global water projects.
• Educa SwissminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoan of CHF 900,000 for Swiss foundation supporting motivated individuals with educational projects through free planning assistance and low-interest educational loans.
• Aluna MóvilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of CHF 150,000 (2021-2023) for early remedial education for children with disabilities in poverty-stricken neighborhoods of Cartagena, Colombia. Provides home-based curative education and family counseling.
• Haus KoMeT, NiebüllminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of EUR 200,000 plus loan EUR 600,000 (since 2018) for conductive residential and living community for young people with multiple disabilities. Provides optimal support tailored to individual needs in Niebüll, Germany.
• Wohnheim NGG, GänserndorfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of EUR 4.9 million plus loan EUR 200,000 (since 2015) for integrative residential home near Vienna for severely and mildly disabled people with therapy animal farm. vegetables from own production, training for mildly disabled students as animal caretakers.
• EcoalfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of CHF 90,000 for sustainable fashion initiative promoting plastic-free waters and circular economy through fishermen network expansion in Mediterranean region.
• CQ - Association for Circular IntelligencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of CHF 750,000 (payments made up to 31.12.2024) for Basel-based systemic enabler and incubator for circular economy. Brings together actors from business, science, public administration, and civil society to develop circular solutions (2023-2032).
• Verein Tanzhaus BaselminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding (amount to be determined, 2023-2030) for non-profit association creating platform for art and culture with focus on dance, movement, and digital developments. Promotes inclusion, equal opportunities, and intergenerational cultural exchange.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: One of the world's largest charitable foundations, funding health research, mental health, and global health initiatives. Highly comparable to Eckenstein-Geigy's UKBB pediatric pharmacology and Swiss TPH epidemiology commitments in mission and structure, though vastly larger in endowment.
• Novo Nordisk Foundation: Denmark-based enterprise foundation funding diabetes treatment, scientific research, and sustainability. Comparable in funding scientific research (analogous to UKBB/Swiss TPH chairs) and in operating as a private, non-state grantmaking foundation.
• Robert Bosch Stiftung: German family-linked foundation funding health, education, and international relations. Comparable as a European private foundation with multi-thematic international grantmaking and long-horizon commitments.
• VolkswagenStiftung: German foundation funding science, technology, and humanities research with multi-year grants. Comparable in funding academic research chairs and professorship-style commitments similar to Eckenstein-Geigy's UKBB and Swiss TPH partnerships.
• Fondation de France: French umbrella foundation supporting thousands of sub-foundations across disability, environment, culture, and health. Comparable in operating as a private French-speaking European grantmaking foundation with thematic breadth.
• King Baudouin Foundation: Belgian public utility foundation funding social justice, health, culture, and education across Europe. Comparable as a European private grantmaking institution with similar thematic breadth and multi-country grantmaking model.

Direct peers

• Fondation Botnar: Swiss family foundation based in Basel funding child and adolescent health, education, and digital innovation. Closely comparable in domicile, family-foundation structure, and thematic overlap with Eckenstein-Geigy's pediatric and inclusion focus.
• Oak Foundation: International family foundation funding human rights, education, environment, and disability inclusion. Comparable in family-foundation DNA, multi-thematic international grantmaking, and significant disability-program commitments analogous to Wohnheim NGG and Haus KoMeT.
• Jacobs Foundation: Swiss-based family foundation focused on child and youth development, education, and research. Comparable in Swiss domicile, family-foundation governance, and thematic focus on youth, education, and pediatric development similar to Eckenstein-Geigy's changemaker and inclusion programs.
• Porticus Foundation: International family foundation funding education, social justice, and ecology across Europe, Latin America, and Africa. Comparable in family ownership, multi-region grantmaking, and thematic portfolio overlap (inclusion, sustainability, youth empowerment).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments7 records

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Frequently asked questions about Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung