Trends 2026: Impact is Becoming The New Currency in Foundation Fundraising

With the Stiftungsreport 2026, SwissFoundations, the Centre for Foundation Law at the University of Zurich and the Centre for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS) at the University of Basel present a comprehensive analysis of the Swiss foundation sector. One topic is of particular interest to NPOs: the increasing focus on impact among grant-making foundations.

The following four trends identified in the Stiftungsreport 2026, some of which are particularly well documented internationally, are increasingly shaping the collaboration between foundations and NPOs.

Systemic change rather than individual projects

Many societal challenges cannot be solved by individual projects. Systemic change in areas such as poverty alleviation, education or climate change requires an understanding of complex interrelationships. Grant-making foundations are responding to this by shifting their perspective. They are increasingly asking themselves how entire systems can be transformed. They are taking on new roles as networkers and process facilitators – 'collective action' is taking centre stage.

• NPOs are finding it increasingly difficult to establish their position solely through individual projects – particularly when compared to organisations that can clearly demonstrate their role within a broader context. Those that can clearly demonstrate the contribution their work makes beyond the scope of individual projects improve their chances of being of interest to impact-focused foundations.

Evidence-based approaches are gaining in importance

The Stiftungsreport also describes a fundamental development in the field of impact measurement. Advances in data collection and scientific impact research now make it possible to analyse the effectiveness of interventions much more precisely than was the case just a few years ago. An increasing number of foundations are basing their funding decisions on scientific evidence and existing research findings.

• A clear logic of impact is therefore becoming increasingly important. This does not have to be complicated. For example, demonstrate which activities lead to which changes through which steps, and draw on existing research findings wherever possible. NPOs that can present their impact clearly and plausibly are often perceived as more convincing in selection processes – even without complex evaluation systems. Smaller organisations can, for instance, focus more on clarity and compatibility than on a complex measurement system.
  

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Greater trust and shared learning

With the increased focus on impact, the nature of collaboration between foundations and funding partners is also changing. Pure performance monitoring is being replaced by a shared learning process in which challenges and course corrections are also communicated openly. This means that trust is becoming increasingly important and transparency plays a major role.

• Success stories alone are increasingly insufficient for building trust. Reports from NPOs that acknowledge challenges alongside successes, and show how the organisation has dealt with them, come across as more credible than accounts that focus solely on successes. Foundations are paying increasing attention to whether organisations deal with challenges in a reflective manner and learn from them. In this way, NPOs also demonstrate that they are learning and making adjustments where necessary.

Entrepreneurial support is on the rise

The Stiftungsreport also shows that entrepreneurial support approaches such as matching funds, repayable loans and hybrid financing models are becoming increasingly accepted within the Swiss foundation sector.

Several cantons have already authorised such funding models or adapted their practices accordingly. At the same time, according to a survey conducted by CEPS on behalf of UBS Social Impact and Philanthropy, around half of the Swiss grant-making foundations surveyed are actively engaged with the issue.

• It is therefore worthwhile for NPOs to find out more about new funding models. Matching funds are particularly attractive: they reward diversified fundraising and can specifically leverage the volume of donations. Such instruments can provide additional leverage for some NPOs – particularly if they already have access to multiple sources of funding. However, before you opt for such funding models, ask yourself the following questions: Do you have the resources to actually mobilise additional funds? Does the model fit with your funding structure and your risk profile? Does it offer a genuine benefit – or just create additional work?

To summarise: demonstrable impact, strategic partnerships, the quality of collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking are becoming increasingly important in foundation fundraising. However, these developments are unlikely to affect all NPOs in the same way.

Organisations that clearly demonstrate their impact and are strategically adaptable stand to benefit particularly from this. At the same time, it could become more challenging for others to differentiate themselves sufficiently. NPOs that position themselves as partners who are willing to learn, transparent and impact-driven create an ideal foundation for sustainable funding relationships – whilst also benefiting from foundations that want to be more than just financial backers. The factors that remain unchanged are: your organisation's credibility, its ability to deliver, and its compatibility with the foundation.

Don’t have a clear fundraising strategy yet? We offer consultancy services and in-house workshops on this topic. Please feel free to contact us by telephone or email for further information.