SETTING UP A CHARITY/SWISS FOUNDATION
The need for a Swiss Foundation
Starting in Switzerland aligns with our mission: the richest mountains in the world (the Swiss Alps) supporting the poorest (Nepal).
Switzerland also offers a high concentration of a large ski industry within a small territory, making it easier to launch the initiative and form partnerships with major actors and donors.
A foundation established under Swiss law (Articles 80–89 of the Swiss Civil Code) provides an independent legal entity with no owners and assets irrevocably dedicated to supporting underprivileged children in Nepal. This structure increases donor confidence by ensuring clear governance, transparency, and supervision. This ensures that funds are fully directed toward the charitable mission and not diverted. Switzerland’s strong international reputation for well-regulated foundations further supports fundraising efforts and builds trust with global donors.
If the foundation qualifies as charitable/public-utility, it may obtain tax-exempt status in Switzerland, making donations more attractive.
A Swiss foundation also guarantees the continuity of the mission beyond the involvement of individual founders.
SETTING UP A CHARITY/SWISS FOUNDATION
The set - up costs a Swiss Foundation
The minimum capital (endowment) required to establish a Swiss foundation is CHF 50,000 (approximately €54,000).
Foundation setup costs typically range between CHF 10,000 and 20,000, covering:
Legal drafting of statutes
Notary services and registration
Approvals from the supervisory authority
Initial compliance setup
In addition, we need further resources to successfully launch:
Website and platform development
Branding
Marketing and communications
Initial programme support
Partnerships in Nepal
Technical infrastructure
Travel and first-year operational expenses
Our initial goal is to raise CHF 150,000 to unlock a significantly larger long-term revenue stream
SETTING UP A CHARITY/SWISS FOUNDATION
Initial fundraising needs
We need CHF 150,000 to launch and build a solid foundation — but this is not our revenue goal. Our mission is long-term impact in Nepal, and we aim to generate CHF 5–10 million per year in our first years of operation.
Small contributions don’t require the foundation to be active yet — you can already support us through GoFundMe, and all funds raised will transfer to the foundation once it is established.
The foundation is essential for large donors and partners, like hotels in ski resorts. We will build a direct-booking platform that helps hotels escape the high commissions from OTAs like Booking.com or Expedia (up to 25%). When hotels save money, they win — and Nepal wins.
Example:
If our platform saves a hotel CHF 100,000 per year in commissions through direct bookings, the hotel can donate CHF 50,000 to the Ski4Nepal Foundation. The donation is 100% tax-deductible (FREE), so the hotel keeps its full savings, and guests get the best direct price. With just 100 hotels in Switzerland, we could generate CHF 5 million+ annually, and the model can scale internationally.
For small donations, you don’t need to wait.
You can already contribute to our GoFundMe campaign today.
