Switzerland for UNHCR

Name

Switzerland for UNHCR

Legal name

Fondation Switzerland for UNHCR

Website

https://unrefugees.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Switzerland for UNHCR raises funds from individual Swiss donors, corporations, and institutional supporters. Donations are made via the online donation portal, Twint, PayPal, credit card, direct debit (LSV+/DD), bank transfer, and QR payment slips. Unearmarked donations are preferred as they allow UNHCR maximum flexibility in responding to crises.
2. Legacy and Planned Giving: The organization promotes legacy giving, allowing donors to include Switzerland for UNHCR in their wills. A free legacy guide, will calculator, and dedicated Legacy Manager (Yasmine Lamot) support this stream. Switzerland for UNHCR is recognized as a public-benefit organization exempt from Swiss inheritance tax.
3. Development Funds from UNHCR: In 2025, Switzerland for UNHCR leveraged CHF 4.8 million in development funds from UNHCR, demonstrating a co-funding model where UNHCR provides seed funding that Switzerland for UNHCR multiplies through private sector mobilization in Switzerland.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Switzerland for UNHCR is a Swiss charitable foundation that raises private donations in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to support UNHCR's global refugee protection, emergency response, and durable solutions programs. It operates a multilingual donation platform (donate.unrefugees.ch) supporting one-time, monthly, and legacy giving, alongside emergency fundraising campaigns tied to specific crises such as the Sudan conflict and Venezuela earthquakes. Donations are passed through to UNHCR's operations serving refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and returnees across 127 countries.

Product overview

Switzerland for UNHCR is a Swiss charitable foundation established in 2020 that serves as the national partner organization raising funds and awareness in Switzerland to support UNHCR's global refugee protection efforts. The organization operates primarily as a fundraising and advocacy entity rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include emergency response fundraising for humanitarian crises worldwide, a monthly giving program for sustained donor support, legacy and will planning services with free educational tools including a will calculator and legacy guide brochure, the DAFI scholarship program supporting refugee higher education access, and a free refugee cookbook sharing cultural culinary traditions. The foundation connects Swiss donors with UNHCR's protection, assistance, and durable solutions programs serving refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and returnees across 127 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donation and Fundraising Services Online and offline donation collection services enabling supporters to contribute financially to UNHCR's refugee protection and assistance programs. Supports one-time donations, monthly giving, and earmarked contributions for specific emergencies. Available in French, English, and German with multiple payment methods.
• Emergency Response Fundraising Programs Humanitarian emergency response fundraising operations supporting refugees and displaced persons in crisis situations worldwide, including shelter, food, water, and protection services. Time-sensitive donation appeals for specific crises such as the Sudan conflict and Venezuela earthquakes.
• Monthly Giving Program Regular monthly donation option allowing donors to provide sustained support through methods including TWINT, PayPal, direct debit (LSV+), credit card, and standing order. Provides predictable revenue for UNHCR operations.
• Legacy and Will Planning Services Planned giving services helping individuals include Switzerland for UNHCR in their wills. Provides a dedicated Legacy Manager, free estate distribution calculator, and a legacy guide brochure. The foundation is exempt from Swiss inheritance tax as a recognized public-benefit organization.

Quantifiable outcome

• CHF 77.5 million mobilized since 2020; 85.6% directed to UNHCR operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwitzerland for UNHCR is the official Swiss national partner organization of UNHCR. UNHCR provides the programmatic framework and, in some cases, development funds that Switzerland for UNHCR leverages to mobilize private sector contributions in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Switzerland for UNHCR channels donations to support UNHCR's global operations across 127 countries.
• RaisenowcoreTechnology or IntegrationRaisenow provides the online fundraising and donation processing platform (donate.unrefugees.ch). The platform supports multiple payment methods including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PostFinanceCard, TWINT, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and direct bank transfers. Payment data is encrypted and transmitted directly to PCI DSS-certified external payment partners.
• European UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Union co-funds UNHCR operations in Chad, including irrigation infrastructure projects that benefit both refugee and host communities. These joint investments support sustainable agricultural development near refugee camps.
• Government of SwitzerlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss government co-funds UNHCR operations, including agricultural infrastructure and sustainable solutions for refugees in Chad. Switzerland's support enables UNHCR to maintain its humanitarian operations.
• Chadian Hospitals and Medical InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNHCR partners with Chadian hospitals and medical institutions to support economic integration programs for Sudanese refugees, enabling nursing students to complete their training and contribute to healthcare for both refugees and host communities.
• Chadian Bar AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNHCR partners with the Chadian Bar Association for a legal studies program where Sudanese refugee law students acquire fundamental competencies in refugee rights protection and registration, addressing urgent needs in the displacement context.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Japan for UNHCR: Japan for UNHCR is the Japanese national fundraising partner of UNHCR, performing the same role in Japan. It is functionally identical to Switzerland for UNHCR with a different language and donor market.
• Germany for UNHCR (UNHCR DACH): Germany for UNHCR is the national partner raising funds in Germany, Austria, and surrounding DACH markets. Shares Switzerland for UNHCR's DACH cultural context, multilingual requirements, and proximity to UNHCR's Geneva HQ.
• UK for UNHCR: UK for UNHCR is the British national fundraising partner of UNHCR, performing the identical function in the UK market. Operates with the same parent brand, mission, and donor acquisition playbook.
• Swiss Solidarity (Glückskette): Swiss Solidarity is the umbrella humanitarian fundraising foundation of Swiss private media and relief organizations. It competes directly with Switzerland for UNHCR for emergency-driven Swiss donations and operates under a similar tax-deductible charitable foundation model.
• USA for UNHCR: USA for UNHCR is the US national fundraising partner for UNHCR, performing the same role as Switzerland for UNHCR but in the US market. It is the closest functional peer — same parent mandate, same fundraising model, different geography.
• Spain for UNHCR (ACNUR): The Spanish national partner of UNHCR raises funds and advocates in Spain. Same parent body, same model, different national market with similar humanitarian tradition and donor base profile.
• UNICEF Switzerland: UNICEF Switzerland is the Swiss national fundraising partner for UNICEF, another UN agency. Operates in the same Swiss donor market, same charitable fundraising model, and competes with Switzerland for UNHCR for the same donor wallet.

Regional players

• Swiss Red Cross: The Swiss Red Cross is a major Swiss humanitarian fundraising and operating organization. Although not focused solely on refugees, it competes for Swiss humanitarian donors and benefits from similar tax-deductible donation infrastructure in the same market.
• Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland: MSF Switzerland is the Swiss section of Doctors Without Borders, raising funds from Swiss donors for global humanitarian operations. While focused on medical humanitarian work, it competes for the same Swiss donor pool and uses similar tax-deductible fundraising infrastructure.
• Caritas Switzerland: Caritas Switzerland is one of Switzerland's largest humanitarian fundraising organizations, serving poverty, migration, and refugee-related causes. Directly competes for Swiss humanitarian donors and runs legacy giving programs similar to Switzerland for UNHCR's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/UNHCRSwitzerland
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9-1RAI-4kQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SwitzerlandforUNHCR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/switzerland-for-unhcr
• Instagraminstagram.com/switzerlandforunhcr

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Switzerland for UNHCR