What DROSOS FOUNDATION does

DROSOS FOUNDATION is a Swiss private foundation constituted under Swiss law (CHE-110.295.010), established around 2003–2005 and headquartered in Zurich at Obstgartenstrasse 19. It is supervised by the Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations in Berne and operates as a non-profit grantmaker rather than a commercial enterprise. The foundation employs approximately 51 staff across a Zurich headquarters and regional offices in Cairo and Casablanca, and works in eight countries: Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland, and Tunisia. A single Director, Suba Umathevan, has led the foundation since November 1, 2020.

The foundation's core offering is project funding and co-creation support to locally led partner organizations. It organizes its work around three interconnected themes—skills development (digital literacy, critical thinking, creativity, vocational training), entrepreneurship (particularly social, environmental, and cultural ventures), and social and economic inclusion (equitable opportunities for marginalized youth). It accepts funding applications year-round, with funding decisions typically taking 6–12 months and project durations ranging from 18-month pilots to 3–5-year programs. Documented partner projects include JOSA's Techween in Jordan (2025–2029), UCASTI's e-Lancer in Palestine (since 2021), the VeryNile plastic-removal initiative in Egypt, ULEAP's photovoltaic training in Lebanon, permaculture micro-farms in Tunisia, the Ressourc'In recycling social enterprise in Morocco, and the Lokallabore makerspace in Germany. Quantitative outcomes include 748 photovoltaic panels installed in Lebanon, 55 tonnes of plastic removed from the Nile, and 56 tonnes of waste collected through Ressourc'In.

DROSOS is endowment-funded; it generates no commercial revenue, and financial figures are not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is direct relationship-based grantmaking, supported by a multilingual website (English, French, German, Arabic), LinkedIn presence, annual reports, and a published communication guide for partners. In October 2025 the foundation marked its 20th anniversary at the Landesmuseum Zurich and announced a renewed strategic orientation and refreshed visual identity to anchor its third decade.

Name

DROSOS FOUNDATION

Legal name

DROSOS FOUNDATION

Website

https://drosos.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Swiss private foundation that funds and co-creates youth-focused projects with locally led organizations across eight countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, focusing on skills development, entrepreneurship, and social and economic inclusion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Philanthropic foundation
• Grant funding programs
• Youth development grants
• Nonprofit foundation
• Social inclusion projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Zurich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment/Grant Funding: As a private foundation under Swiss law, DROSOS FOUNDATION operates as a non-profit organization. The foundation funds projects and initiatives through its endowment and does not generate revenue through commercial activities. It provides financial support to locally led organizations working with young people.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DROSOS FOUNDATION is a Swiss private foundation that funds and co-creates projects with locally led organizations to support young people across three interconnected focus areas: skills development, entrepreneurship, and social and economic inclusion. It operates in eight countries (Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland, and Tunisia) and provides multi-year grant funding, capacity building, and co-creation support to non-profits, associations, community organizations, and social enterprises working directly with youth.

Product overview

DROSOS FOUNDATION is a Swiss private foundation that functions as a grant-making organization rather than a technology product company. The foundation's core offering is project funding and grants in three interconnected focus areas: skills development (digital literacy, critical thinking, creativity, vocational training), entrepreneurship (support for young entrepreneurs addressing social, environmental, or cultural challenges), and social and economic inclusion (equitable opportunities for marginalized youth). The foundation operates through a collaborative partnership model, providing funding and co-creation support to locally led organizations across eight countries (Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland, Tunisia). Supplementary services include a structured funding request process for prospective grantees and a communication guide resource for existing project partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 748 photovoltaic panels installed, generating up to 1,622 kWh of green energy daily and reducing CO2 emissions by 412 tonnes annually (ULEAP project, Lebanon)
• +5 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• JOSA (Jordan Open Source Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025JOSA implements the Techween project in Jordan, which trains young people in technology skills, helps them build networks, and exposes them to the industry to improve employability and foster innovation. The project runs for 4 years (March 2025 - February 2029) and includes technology guilds, mentorship, workshops, competitions, and internship programs.
• UCASTI (University College of Applied Sciences Technology Incubator)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021UCASTI implements the e-Lancer project supporting online freelancing as a sustainable income source for young people in Palestine. After a successful pilot in the West Bank, the project expanded to Gaza. UCASTI provides training, coaching, university outreach, and an online platform for freelancers.
• Association Tunisienne de PermaculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplements the 'Plante ta ferme' (Plant Your Farm) project creating 50 permaculture micro-farms managed by unemployed youth in Tunisia, promoting sustainable agriculture and rural employment.
• Ana Masry for Training and DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEgyptian partner implementing the Arts for All project in Upper Egypt, using mobile theater and creative activities to raise environmental awareness among children and youth in remote communities.
• I Learn JocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJordanian program helping precariously situated youth develop life skills in a positive environment, including sessions on environmental issues, climate change, and recycling.
• Ressourc'In (Social Enterprise)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise in Casablanca, Morocco creating employment opportunities for out-of-school youth through recycling and upcycling economy. Project placed 13 young people (80% of trained youth) in employment and collected 56 tonnes of waste.
• Fabmobil e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman organization implementing Lokallabore project with young people in Löbau, East Germany, establishing a self-managed makerspace enabling youth to use modern technologies regardless of background.
• Bassita (Social Enterprise)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEgyptian social enterprise that created the Sustainability Innovation Lab, from which the youth-led VeryNile initiative emerged. VeryNile works with fishermen to remove plastic from the Nile.
• IECD LebanoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplements ULEAP, a social enterprise training electro technicians and installing photovoltaic systems, combining youth economic empowerment with environmental impact through green energy.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• IKEA Foundation: Large private foundation supporting youth skills, employment, and inclusion across multiple geographies. Comparable to DROSOS in grantmaking model, partnership with local implementers, and focus on disadvantaged youth transitioning to economic participation.
• Fondation de France: A leading French grantmaking foundation supporting diverse causes including youth, social inclusion, and education across France and internationally. Comparable to DROSOS in multi-theme grantmaking model and partnership-based project delivery.
• Jacobs Foundation: A Swiss-based grantmaking foundation focused on child and youth development globally. Highly comparable to DROSOS as a fellow Swiss private foundation with similar focus on youth skills and learning, with a larger endowment scale and broader geographic reach.
• King Baudouin Foundation: Belgian public-interest foundation supporting social inclusion, education, and civil society across Europe and beyond. Comparable to DROSOS in its role as a multi-theme grantmaking foundation with European roots and a focus on vulnerable populations.
• Open Society Foundations: Large international grantmaking foundation supporting youth, civil society, and inclusion across MENA, Europe, and globally. Comparable to DROSOS in its foundation structure, multi-country grantmaking, and focus on marginalised youth populations.
• Aga Khan Foundation: Operates extensive development programs across MENA, South Asia, and East Africa, including youth skills, entrepreneurship, and rural development. Highly comparable to DROSOS in MENA focus, partnership model, and integrated social/economic outcomes for youth.

Direct peers

• European Cultural Foundation: European grantmaking foundation supporting cultural and social initiatives across Europe and the MENA region. Comparable to DROSOS in combining grantmaking with cross-border partnership development and a focus on youth agency and inclusion.
• Bernard van Leer Foundation: A Dutch foundation focused on early childhood development and youth inclusion. Comparable to DROSOS given its private-foundation structure, grantmaking model, and focus on disadvantaged children's and youth's transition to economic participation. Operates across multiple geographies with locally-led partners.
• Anna Lindh Foundation: A Euro-Mediterranean foundation supporting civil society and youth across the EU and MENA. Comparable to DROSOS in cross-region MENA-Europe focus and youth-support programming with locally-led partner organizations.

Emerging players

• Swisscontact: Swiss non-profit foundation for development cooperation supporting skills, entrepreneurship, and economic inclusion across emerging markets. Comparable to DROSOS as a Swiss-based foundation with overlapping thematic focus (skills, entrepreneurship, inclusion) and active MENA programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drosos-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DROSOS FOUNDATION