SKKG

What SKKG does

SKKG (Stiftung für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte) is a Swiss non-profit foundation headquartered in Winterthur, established on 24 December 1980 by Bruno Stefanini to manage his growing art and historical collection. Following Stefanini's death in 2018, his entire estate — including the collection and real estate portfolio — passed to the foundation. SKKG now stewards an art and historical collection of approximately 100,000 objects spanning prehistoric times to the present, with a concentration in 19th and early 20th century Swiss painting, alongside holdings that include unique items such as Nuremberg Trial documents. The foundation funds participatory cultural heritage projects across Switzerland through three programs — Wagnis (risk-funded project development), Skalierung (scaling proven approaches) and Struktur (structural support for sector organizations) — and operates additional initiatives including the participatory Kultur Komitee Winterthur (CHF 400,000 in citizen-led grantmaking) and the Artothek Winterthur lending partnership with the city library system.

SKKG's products and services span collection access, loans, research and engagement. The Sammlung digital platform, launched in March 2025, provides public online access to the collection for the first time. Leihverkehr (loan services) places collection objects in Swiss and international museum exhibitions (117 loans in 2025, of which 114 in Switzerland and 3 abroad; no loan fees are charged beyond packaging, transport and insurance). Provenienzforschung, led by Lange & Schmutz, systematically reviews object provenance with results published on Sammlung digital and adjudicated by an independent commission — the first case concluded with restitution of a Ferdinand Hodler painting to heirs in May 2026. Distribution reaches Switzerland through museum partnerships, the Artothek Winterthur (10 works available for 3-month library-member loans), the Kunst und Bau art-in-construction program that integrates artworks into Terresta real estate projects, and digital channels (website, newsletter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Vimeo, podcast 'Wohin damit?'). Foundations using Microsoft Forms, Zoom and the Fundament App for grant applications and events.

The foundation's business model is unique among cultural institutions: SKKG is self-financed through rental income from its wholly-owned subsidiary Terresta AG, which manages approximately 2,200 apartments and 200 commercial properties (about 1,300 apartments in Winterthur). In 2025, rental income totaled approximately CHF 44 million, allocated as roughly CHF 14 million for collection and grant expenses, CHF 27 million for real estate operations and CHF 9 million for taxes and depreciation, with an additional CHF 46 million invested in renovations and new construction. SKKG employs 134 staff as of 2025 and operates under a governance structure in which the Stefanini descendants retain hereditary appointment rights to the Foundation Board, upheld by the Swiss Federal Court. Leadership includes Thomas D. Meier (Board President since July 2023), Bettina Stefanini (Director and daughter of the founder), and a four-person executive board covering Culture, Services/CFO, Real Estate/Terresta and the newly created Vermittlung und Kommunikation function. SKKG operates exclusively within Switzerland, with planned relocation to the new CAMPO headquarters in Oberwinterthur in 2030.

Name

SKKG

Legal name

Stiftung für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte

Website

https://skkg.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SKKG is a Swiss non-profit foundation managing a cultural heritage collection of approximately 100,000 objects and funding participatory museum projects across Switzerland. It self-finances through rental income from approximately 2,200 apartments managed by subsidiary Terresta AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799), Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Cultural heritage preservation
• Art collection management
• Museum grant programs
• Participatory cultural projects
• Nonprofit foundation operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterthur

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Rental Income: SKKG finances its activities through rental income from approximately 2,200 apartments and 200 commercial properties inherited from Bruno Stefanini. Approximately 70% of rental revenue comes from residential apartments and 30% from commercial properties, totaling around CHF 44 million annually. Terresta AG, a 100% subsidiary, manages and develops the portfolio, pays taxes like other companies, and distributes profits to SKKG.
2. Foundation Grant-making: As a nonprofit foundation, SKKG provides financial support to Swiss museums and institutions for participation projects in cultural heritage. The foundation does not charge fees for loans from its collection; borrowers only cover packaging, transport, and insurance costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SKKG is a Swiss nonprofit foundation that preserves and provides public access to an art and cultural heritage collection of approximately 100,000 objects collected by founder Bruno Stefanini. It offers free loans of collection objects to museums, funds participatory cultural heritage projects at Swiss museums through three grant programs (Wagnis, Skalierung, Struktur), conducts provenance research on collection items, and operates the publicly accessible Sammlung digital platform. The foundation is financially self-sustained through rental income from approximately 2,200 apartments and 200 commercial properties managed by its wholly owned subsidiary Terresta AG.

Product overview

SKKG (Stiftung für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte) is a charitable cultural foundation managing approximately 100,000 cultural heritage objects collected by Bruno Stefanini between 1960 and 2015. The foundation operates several interconnected products and services: the core Sammlung (Collection) of art and historical objects, accessible digitally through Sammlung digital (launched March 2025); Leihverkehr (loan services) for museum exhibitions; Provenienzforschung (provenance research) with an independent commission; and Förderung (funding programs) including Wagnis, Skalierung, and Struktur supporting Swiss museums' participation initiatives, alongside the participatory Kultur Komitee Winterthur. Major projects include CAMPO (new headquarters opening 2030) and Kunst und Bau (art integration in real estate). The foundation also supports cultural participation through workshops, educational programs, and partnerships with Swiss cultural institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sammlung (Collection) A cultural heritage collection of approximately 100,000 objects spanning from the Stone Age to the present, including Swiss paintings from the 19th and early 20th century, historical artifacts, and cultural objects. Used as the foundation's core asset for exhibitions, research, and loans to museums.
• Sammlung digital Digital platform providing public online access to the SKKG collection, enabling exploration, research, mediation, and creative use of approximately 100,000 cultural objects. Serves researchers, cultural professionals, and the general public.
• Leihverkehr (Loan Services)

Quantifiable outcome

• CHF 4.34 million distributed to 84 projects in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Burri Kuster Geschichte, BaselcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Historical research partnership to investigate the connections between Bruno Stefanini's real estate business and collection building, how both were intertwined, and what challenges his legacy presents for SKKG and Terresta today. Funded with support from the Swiss Society for History (SGG).
• Lange & SchmutzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal project leadership for SKKG's provenance research. Dr. Carolin Lange and Dr. Thomas Schmutz lead the provenance research team including Nora Rub (coordination), Dr. Nina Blum de Almeida, Dr. Ylva Meyer, Laura Studer, Christian Vedani, and Colette Mathis.
• Theater BaselminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKKG supports the 'Dritte Orte' (Third Places) conference organized by Theater Basel in May 2026. The conference brings together perspectives from theaters, museums, libraries, and sociocultural centers with voices from administration, urban planning, architecture, and civil society.
• VMS (Verband der Museen der Schweiz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKKG supports the Swiss Museum Association through its Struktur funding program to create necessary structures and public attention for more participation in cultural heritage.
• Netzwerk Kulturerbe SchweizminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Cultural Heritage Network supported through SKKG's Struktur funding program.
• Kulturvermittlung SchweizminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss cultural mediation organization supported through SKKG's Struktur funding program.
• Various Swiss MuseumscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKKG partners with museums across Switzerland including Ortsmuseum Schlieren, Toggenburger Museum, Neues Museum Biel, Museumsquartier Bern, Plateforme 10 Lausanne, and Regionalmuseum Gantrisch through its Wagnis funding program for participatory projects.
• Winterthurer BibliothekencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArtothek partnership where Winterthur library members can borrow art works from the city's art inventory and SKKG collection. 10 SKKG works available alongside city collection for 3-month loans.
• Terresta AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner100% subsidiary of SKKG that manages and develops the real estate portfolio of approximately 2,200 apartments and 200 commercial properties. Terresta pays taxes like other companies and distributes profits to SKKG to fund cultural activities.
• Swiss Foundation CodeminorOthersSKKG aligns its funding evaluations with the Swiss Foundation Code, following its current version as a benchmark for foundation practices.
• Center for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS), University of BaselminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKKG collaborates with CEPS for systematic partner surveys to better understand how partners experience the application and funding process.
• socialdesignminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBern-based consulting firm engaged to evaluate SKKG's funding strategy 2022-2026.
• educult, ViennaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVienna-based research institute engaged to evaluate the joint project 'Das relevante Museum' with Nordmetall Foundation, Hamburg.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stiftung Sammlung E.G. Bührle: Zurich-based foundation that managed the E.G. Bührle art collection and is now part of Kunsthaus Zürich. Closely comparable to SKKG as a Swiss private collection foundation that underwent provenance scrutiny and now operates inside a larger museum framework.
• Fondation Beyeler: Renowned Swiss private art museum foundation near Basel founded by collectors Ernst and Hildy Beyeler. Closely comparable to SKKG in managing a major private art collection, running an active loan/exhibition program, and operating a museum-grade cultural destination in Switzerland.
• Pro Helvetia – Schweizer Kulturstiftung: Swiss federal arts council that funds Swiss cultural projects, museums and participation initiatives domestically and abroad. Comparable to SKKG in running multi-tier Swiss grantmaking programs (Wagnis/Skalierung/Struktur mirror Pro Helvetia's funding architecture) and supporting participatory cultural-heritage practice.
• Nordmetall Foundation: German employer-association foundation funding cultural and educational projects, with whom SKKG co-funded the 'Das relevante Museum' joint project. Directly comparable in running multi-year cultural-heritage participation programs alongside SKKG.
• Migros Kulturprozent: Voluntary cultural commitment of the Migros Group funding Swiss museums, cultural participation and heritage projects nationwide. Comparable to SKKG in scale and Switzerland-wide cultural-grantmaking footprint, though funded by a retailer rather than real estate.
• Christoph Merian Stiftung: Large Basel-based Swiss private foundation combining a major cultural and social program portfolio with its own agricultural and real estate holdings (Merian Gärten, MERIAN ISLER). Highly comparable to SKKG in operating a private foundation that funds cultural/social initiatives while running significant real estate.
• Gottfried Keller-Stiftung: Swiss federal foundation supporting Swiss visual art and historic monuments, including acquisitions for public collections. Directly comparable to SKKG's arts and cultural-heritage grantmaking mandate and its focus on 19th/early 20th century Swiss painting.
• Fondation de l'Hermitage: Private Lausanne-based art museum foundation hosting major exhibitions from private collections. Comparable to SKKG in operating a museum-grade exhibition program derived from private collections and lending Swiss cultural objects to a broad public.

Broad incumbents

• The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation: One of the largest US philanthropic foundations focused on arts, culture, and higher education, with deep museum and humanities grantmaking programs. Comparable to SKKG at the broad grantmaking-strategy and museum-partnership level, though at materially larger scale and US-focused.

Emerging players

• Fondation Jan Michalski: Swiss private foundation supporting literature, libraries and cultural initiatives, including residency and reading programs. Comparable to SKKG in operating a Swiss private foundation that combines cultural collection/program activities with grantmaking for participation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skkg
• Instagraminstagram.com/skkg_winterthur

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SKKG