BNP Paribas Swiss Foundation
20 years of cultural and societal engagement
Local commitment and tangible impact
BNP Paribas Swiss Foundation is dedicated to supporting meaningful projects that make a real difference across Switzerland. Since 2002, it fosters local initiatives and promotes dialogue between the bank and its society. Beyond financial support, the Foundation creates long-lasting partnerships with key actors in culture, social and environmental areas.
Our fields of action
Culture
BNP Paribas Swiss Foundation supports key actors of the cultural field, and particularly holds a valuable partnership with Haus Konstruktiv Museum in Zurich. It also nurtures emerging Swiss young artists by purchasing artworks, encouraging their recognition in the global art scene.
Social
Since its creation, the Foundation promotes social inclusion by supporting minorities and encouraging equal opportunities for all. A particular focus is drawn towards the refugee cause through partnerships with associations favouring the professional integration of people with migrant backgrounds.
Environment
BNP Paribas Group places environmental responsibility as a core element of its strategy. The Swiss Foundation is aligned with this vision and collaborates with stakeholders working for a sustainable and viable future. The Foundation particularly aims at supporting research and awareness-raising actions on climate change.
What's new
Governance
The art collection
The Art Collection was created in the 1960s and enhanced in the 1980s by a significant acquisition phase that continues today.
The Collection is articulated around Modern European Art (Max Ernst, Joan Miró, Niki de Saint Phalle, Arman, etc.) and Swiss art specifically (Max Bill, Le Corbusier, Louis Soutter, etc.).
Works from the Collection are presented mostly in the entrance halls and client’s reception lounges of BNP Paribas sites in Switzerland. The Collection
is the reflection of the bank’s identity, not only for its employees, but also for its clients and visitors, thanks to the quality and diversity of the works that compose it.
The Foundation’s interest in art and the cultural sphere is also reflected in its partnerships with institutional players, especially leading Swiss museums. Works of art are lent for exhibitions, for example, showcasing the collection outside the bank’s walls. The Foundation is also a member of the International Association of Corporate Collections of Contemporary Art (IACCCA), allowing it to interact with and gain a reputation among other large corporate collections, and consolidating its active presence in the world of culture.
Staff engagement
Help2Help
BNP Paribas Swiss Foundation is part of the BNP Paribas Group Help2Help program which allocates financial support to associative projects in which staff members are actively involved. The Foundation sponsors initiatives with a local impact in the cultural, social and environmental fields. Since its creation in 2002, Help2Help in Switzerland supported more than 40 associations and 100 projects.
Rescue & Recovery Fund
BNP Paribas Swiss Foundation is a founding member of BNP Paribas Group Rescue & Recovery Fund. Created in 2012, it brings together the Group’s employees in a shared spirit of generosity. This pioneering structure is able to collect donations wherever BNP Paribas is present in the world and respond to emergencies. Its mission is to support the rapid dispatch of relief and emergency aid to affected areas all over the world as soon as disaster hits, via our humanitarian partners.
The BNP Paribas Group Foundations’ network
The BNP Paribas Foundation of the Group leads and coordinates the international development of the BNP Paribas Group’s philanthropy wherever the Bank is present. BNP Paribas Swiss Foundation is one of the 9 BNP Paribas Foundations abroad.