Somaha Foundation

What Somaha Foundation does

Somaha Foundation is a Swiss charitable foundation established in 2021 in Zürich, founded on the initiative of a single Swiss donor and funded exclusively by private donors. Operating under the supervision of the Federal Department of Home Affairs and a member of SwissFoundations since inception, the foundation deploys grants and strategic accompaniment across three thematic areas: people in need, an open and diverse society, and nature protection. Its go-to-market operates through two complementary channels — multi-year institutional partnerships with established Swiss NGOs operating domestically and abroad, and individual project grants concentrated in nature protection with typical funding contributions of CHF 20,000 to CHF 80,000.

The foundation has built a portfolio of digital products and platforms around its grantmaking. Its signature internal asset is the proprietary Localization Assessment Tool, a methodological instrument that scores the local-responsibility profile of partner collaborations. Externally, it co-funds tools including the BioDivSchool WebApp (developed with Pädagogische Hochschule St.Gallen), the Bee-Finder web application for Swiss wild bee promotion, the LocalLink Hub open-access platform with Terre des hommes, and the Autonomous River Cleanup robotics project. Funding applications are managed through the Spheriq platform and stakeholder communications via Mailchimp, with hosting by Cyon. The foundation also convenes the annual SOMAHA RUNDE event for cross-partner knowledge exchange and publishes annual and impact reports.

The foundation does not generate commercial revenue. Its business model is grant-funded philanthropy with unlimited duration, scaling through three thematic pillars and a growing international footprint spanning Switzerland, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In 2025 the foundation mobilized a BioDivMeter multi-funder consortium coordinating close to CHF 7 million across eleven foundations, funded 24 projects across all thematic areas, and extended its first multi-year institutional partnership, signaling a maturing operational scale.

Name

Somaha Foundation

Legal name

Somaha Stiftung

Website

https://somaha-stiftung.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Somaha Foundation is a Swiss charitable foundation established in 2021 that funds projects and impact investments across three themes — people in need, open and diverse society, and nature protection — through multi-year institutional partnerships with Swiss NGOs and individual nature protection grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Humanitarian funding
• Nature conservation grants
• Biodiversity project funding
• Foundation grant programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grant Funding: Somaha Foundation is a charitable foundation established in 2021 on the initiative of a Swiss donor and funded by private donors. The foundation deploys its resources through professional expertise, cross-sector relationships, and financial means. As a charitable foundation, it does not generate commercial revenue but receives contributions from private donors to fund its philanthropic activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Somaha Foundation is a Swiss charitable foundation that provides multi-year institutional partnerships and individual project grants to Swiss and international partner organizations working in three thematic areas: people in need, an open and diverse society, and protection of nature. The foundation also develops and supports digital knowledge products such as the proprietary Localization Assessment Tool, the BioDivSchool WebApp, the Bee-Finder WebApp, and the LocalLink Hub platform. It does not sell products or services commercially; it deploys financial resources, professional expertise, and cross-sector relationships to enable partner-led impact.

Product overview

Somaha Foundation operates as a charitable foundation established in 2021, offering a portfolio of funding services and digital products across three thematic areas: People in Need, Open and Diverse Society, and Nature Protection. The foundation provides two primary funding mechanisms - multi-year institutional partnerships with Swiss organizations and individual project funding (primarily in nature protection). Key digital products include the BioDivSchool WebApp for educational biodiversity analysis, the Localization Assessment Tool for evaluating international-local organization cooperation, and LocalLink Hub (a platform for localization knowledge sharing). The foundation also produces impact reports, annual reports, and hosts the SOMAHA RUNDE networking event series. Funding applications are processed through the Spheriq platform with communication managed via Mailchimp.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Somaha Foundation Core Funding Services Charitable foundation funding services for Swiss and international organizations working on humanitarian aid, open/diverse society, and nature protection themes, delivered through multi-year institutional partnerships and individual project grants.
• Nature Protection Funding Funding program focused on protecting nature from exploitation and destruction, supporting practical conservation, scientific knowledge expansion, and economic incentive structures for nature protection in Switzerland and internationally.
• Localization Assessment Tool Proprietary instrument developed by Somaha Foundation that enables targeted positioning regarding cooperation between international and local organizations, supporting development of concrete change processes toward more local responsibility and self-determination.
• BioDivSchool WebApp Web-based educational tool developed by Pädagogische Hochschule St.Gallen with GLOBE Switzerland and Pusch Foundation, enabling students to analyze biodiversity potential and state on school campuses and develop local enhancement measures.
• LocalLink Hub Open-access platform by Terre des hommes providing e-learning materials on localization topics including fundraising, financial management, and governance, functioning as a forum connecting local and national actors from various countries.
• Bee-Finder WebApp
• Funding Request Submission System

Quantifiable outcome

• 24 projects funded in 2025 across all thematic areas
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Swiss Red Cross (SRK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Multi-year institutional partnership focused on National Society Development (NSD). The collaboration aimed to strengthen local Red Cross and Red Crescent societies as central humanitarian actors through thematic support and systematic framework development. Financial support and continuous exchange enabled deep engagement with partner strengthening, organizational development, and impact measurement.
• Terre des hommes (Tdh)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2024Partnership supporting the LocalLink Hub - an open-access platform providing training and information on localization approaches. The platform offers e-learning materials, forums connecting local and national actors, and introductory resources for localization. Somaha Foundation is a funder of LocalLink Hub and the Tdh localization approach.
• HelvetascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership supporting governance programs including the Moving Governance Programme with publications on Transparent Governance, Inclusive Governance, and Digital Governance. Somaha supports conceptual framework development and knowledge exchange between concrete projects with the goal of transparent and effective local governance.
• PeaceNexuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 'Cooperation for Organizational Strengthening' to empower local organizations, support reforms in international organizations, and pioneer approaches at the nexus of biodiversity, conflict, and peace. New methodologies for capturing impact stories are being developed.
• BrainforestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funding for the Biodiversity Lab initiative promoting biodiversity startups in early phases. Financial support and continuous exchange sharpened the Lab's strategic direction and enabled development of professional structures for impact measurement. Multistakeholder reports on nature-based solutions published.
• Aqua VivaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of Handbook for Regional Fundraising for nonprofit organizations, particularly for interest groups from the 'IG Lebendiger Fluss' project. Simplified access to regional funding sources through structured guidance on institutional fundraising.
• Code to InspirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership for development and implementation of an online coding school in and for conflict-affected regions. Supports economic independence and social empowerment through web-based learning platform providing digital education content.
• Wild & SchönminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerButterfly Corridor project around Lake Biel, aiming to transform 30-50 private gardens into nature gardens and sensitize population for garden biodiversity over a 10-year period.
• WWF SwitzerlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature Connects project for ecological enhancement of agricultural land through hedgerows, orchards, ponds, and small structures. Targets 250 deployments with 2,500 volunteers by June 2026.
• Social IncomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year institutional partnership supporting humanitarian and development activities.
• AsyLexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year institutional partnership providing legal assistance for refugees.
• PUSCH (Praktischer Umweltschutz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on flower meadow projects in settlements, aiming to create 35,000 m2 of diverse wildflower meadows in 50 municipalities by 2026.
• FAUNUSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWinter grazing project in Valais promoting biodiversity through extensive grazing with traditional ProSpecieRara breeds.
• Pro Natura BasellandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClass Pond project creating 50 ponds with associated habitats together with school classes for amphibian protection.
• Verein Lebendiger Boden-SeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrobiome formation project building healthy soil microbiomes through educational and pilot projects in the Lake Constance region.
• Pro Terra EngiadinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest dormouse and Co. project documenting dormouse occurrence across borders in Terra Raetica.
• Stiftung Natur & WirtschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMore Nature at Your Doorstep project supporting municipalities in nature-based upgrading of private gardens and public facilities.
• Centre Ecologique Albert Schweitzer (CEAS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProBio project promoting biodiversity in Madagascar through organizational, technical, and ecological support for agricultural cooperatives.
• Jurapark AargauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirefly promotion project mapping firefly occurrence in at least ten Jurapark municipalities.
• Pädagogische Hochschule St.Gallen (PHSG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioDivSchool-WebApp development enabling students to analyze biodiversity potential on school campuses and develop local enhancement measures.
• Verein Crowd ContainerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHazelnut biodiversity project funding scientific monitoring of biodiversity and soil development over years.
• Autonomous River Cleanup (ARC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of robotic sorting unit and River Monitoring System for plastic waste reduction in waters.
• IG Wilde BieneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBee-Finder project developing web application for location-specific wild bee promotion recommendations in Switzerland.
• SwissFoundationsminorOthersSomaha Foundation has been a member of SwissFoundations since 2021, the association of Swiss foundations.
• Wilde Weiden SchweizminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWild Pastures Switzerland project establishing pilot pastures in different habitats to promote biodiversity.
• J'aime ma PlanèteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEco-Schools Thematic Kit on Biodiversity providing teaching materials and practical activities for Swiss schools.
• FUNKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSplit in the Asphalt Action Days project focusing on urban biodiversity through audio walks, panel discussions, and workshops.
• Pro LutraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnderpass project for safe otter crossings.
• Conservation NationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support locally led conservation projects aimed at protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: One of the world's largest charitable foundations, supporting health, science, and climate themes with multi-year strategic grants. Not directly comparable in scale, but operates a similar multi-year partnership and impact-investing model that could increasingly overlap with Somaha's themes.
• Open Society Foundations: Global grantmaking foundation supporting human rights, governance, and open society themes across more than 100 countries. Substantially larger than Somaha but operates in the 'open and diverse society' theme, making it an indirect but relevant broad incumbent.

Direct peers

• King Baudouin Foundation: Belgium-based public benefit foundation operating across social justice, health, and environment themes with multi-year partnership grants and impact reporting. Comparable in structure, thematic breadth, and emphasis on multi-year institutional partnerships.
• Gebert Rüf Stiftung: Swiss grantmaking foundation funding innovation, science, and social impact projects through multi-year engagements and impact orientation. Comparable to Somaha in size, Swiss base, and emphasis on effect-oriented grantmaking rather than traditional charity.
• Bernard van Leer Foundation: International grantmaking foundation supporting vulnerable children and families, with strong focus on impact measurement and multi-year partnerships. Comparable to Somaha's humanitarian theme and effect-oriented funding approach, though with a narrower thematic focus.
• Stiftung Mercator Schweiz: Swiss grantmaking foundation operating across climate, education, and integration themes with multi-year partnerships and international reach. Closest structural analog to Somaha in the Swiss foundation ecosystem, with a comparable thematic mix (climate, social cohesion) and similar reliance on Swiss partner organizations.
• Oak Foundation: Switzerland-registered international grantmaking foundation with thematic areas including environment, child protection, and social justice. Highly comparable in structure (private foundation, multi-region grantmaking, similar thematic pillars) though with materially larger endowment and global footprint.
• ClimateWorks Foundation: International grantmaking foundation focused on climate change and biodiversity, deploying pooled philanthropic capital across multiple sub-funders. Directly comparable to Somaha's nature-protection and BioDivMeter work, though at a substantially larger scale and global remit.
• Sophie und Karl Binding-Stiftung: Swiss family foundation funding environmental protection, social welfare, and cultural projects, with a strong focus on biodiversity and conservation. Closely comparable to Somaha's nature-protection thematic area and Swiss grantmaking model.
• Vontobel-Stiftung: Swiss corporate-affiliated foundation supporting social, environmental, and cultural projects through project-based grantmaking. Comparable in size, Swiss base, and project-funding mechanism, though with a stronger corporate-funder orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/somaha-stiftung

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Somaha Foundation