Stefan Schöbi becomes CEO of StiftungSchweiz

StiftungSchweiz, the largest philanthropy platform in Switzerland, is committed to digital and forward-looking philanthropy. "We are delighted to be able to engage Stefan Schöbi, a strong entrepreneurial personality and a proven expert in the foundation and philanthropy sector," says Christoph Weber, Chairman of the Board of StiftungSchweiz. "Stefan Schöbi brings a lot of experience in building multi-stakeholder platforms and digital business models. He is the ideal person to shape the next stage of StiftungSchweiz." Stefan Schöbi will take up his post as CEO of StiftungSchweiz on November 1, 2022. "I am extremely pleased that we have been able to attract Stefan Schöbi, an experienced and high-profile personality," says Peter Buss. "Together with our dedicated team, he will successfully further develop StiftungSchweiz as a broad-based and leading eco-system of philanthropy."

For the past nine years, Schöbi has built up and managed the Migros Pioneer Fund. Since 2019, he has been a member of the Executive Board Society & Culture of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives and, since 2021, Head of National Social Engagement of the Migros Group. From 2008 to 2012, he was head of marketing at the Zurich University of the Arts. Schöbi studied literature in Zurich, Berlin and Vienna and earned his doctorate on Zurich's economic history. He holds an MBA in marketing and certificates from INSEAD and Stanford University. Born in 1977 in Switzerland, he is the father of two boys.

Consortium with nine Funding Foundations

At the same time as the CEO change, a consortium of foundations acquires a minority stake in StiftungSchweiz. The consortium complements Zürcher Kantonalbank, which became an important shareholder in the platform four years ago. "The philanthropy sector is becoming more digital and interconnected. StiftungSchweiz is helping to make it more visible, accessible and effective. With our entry, we want to send a strong signal of the sector's commitment to future-oriented development," says Dr. Pascale Vonmont, Director of the Gebert Rüf Foundation. The consortium includes the following funding foundations: Age Foundation, Arcanum Foundation, Ernst Göhner Foundation, Gebert Rüf Foundation, Green Leaves Foundation, Minerva Foundation, Mercator Switzerland Foundation and Velux Foundation. Fondation Botnar will support the consortium as a technology partner. The consortium is coordinated by SwissFoundations, the association of Swiss funding foundations. "StiftungSchweiz and Zürcher Kantonalbank are linked by a long-standing successful collaboration. The participation of the foundation consortium will strengthen StiftungSchweiz as an important platform in the philanthropy sector and at the same time provide important impulses for future development," says Martin Scholl, CEO of Zürcher Kantonalbank.