When Walter J. Baer (1895–1970) founded the Julius Baer Foundation in 1965, marking the Bank’s 75th anniversary, his intentions were both simple and profound: to share the Bank’s success with society. Culture, arts, and science lay at the heart of the family’s commitment to society, shaping their early philanthropic engagement. Over the decades, their charitable giving has evolved into a strategic philanthropic endeavour, guided by a deep sense of responsibility and commitment. Today, the Foundation focuses its strategic efforts on reducing wealth inequality, enhancing its impact worldwide.
Sixty years ago, the Julius Baer Foundation became one of the first charitable organisations associated with a Swiss bank. While Julius Baer (1857–1922), the Bank's founder, regularly supported charitable causes, it was his son Walter who institutionalised the family's commitment to sharing their success with the public.
A word from Raymond J. Baer, Honorary Chairman, Julius Baer Group
"Looking back over the last 60 years of the Foundation, I'm most proud that it evolved over the decades and the chapters of the Bank's evolution, and that the various generations of managers and employees actually found their cause and live it with passion. That's the best thing you can have, because if it's just a job, it's not alive. This Foundation is alive and ready for the future."
In the initial decades, the Foundation focused on three principal domains: science, art, and culture within Switzerland. Among its notable endeavours, the Foundation funded libraries, facilitated art therapy studios and sessions for young people, provided academic scholarships, awarded research projects, and procured instruments for gifted musicians.
Youth remained a key focus when the Foundation further supported Caritas in crime prevention in the early 2000s. Other major contributions went to the Gustav Mahler youth orchestra, the Tonhalle Zurich, and the Museum of Communication in Bern, among others, while smaller grants backed many additional projects.
Building to grow: Explore the story
One story we are especially pleased to share in the report is that of TAWAH in Tanzania, brought to life through an illustrated narrative. TAWAH educates women in construction skills and techniques to build shelters in marginalised communities. The programme not only enables women to earn a certificate that opens doors for employment but also empowers them to support and uplift their communities. With the support from the Julius Baer Foundation and its network, TAWAH was able to develop its budding initiative during the first four years. Today, it is able to attract funding from additional sources and is expanding its impact through professionalised business planning and partnerships enabled by the Foundation’s client engagement. It is a story of trust, learning, and bridging worlds.
To access the story directly, explore the report.
- Julius Baer Foundation Annual Report 2024 (pdf, 10 MB)
As the Baer family's ownership of the group evolved, the Foundation's governance transitioned as well. Family members on the Foundation Board stepped down in 2006, passing leadership to senior employees of the Bank while retaining one family representative. Later, external subject matter experts also joined the Board.
As the Bank expanded globally, the Foundation professionalised its grant-making and extended its global reach. By 2017, reducing wealth inequality had emerged as one of three focus areas, evolving to become its sole focus by 2023. Today, the Foundation takes a leading role in raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and driving meaningful action across the wealth spectrum to create equal opportunities in the most unequal countries of the world. To read more insights, get the full guide now.