Global Challenges Fund

We want to find answers to the most pressing questions of our time. Because, how we as a society deal with the major challenges of our time will have a significant impact on how the world develops in the coming decades.

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This is how you can contribute to solving the most important global challenges

In five areas, we see a particular urgency for modern research at the highest level:

  • Achieving a sustainable economy
  • Reducing poverty and inequality
  • Overcoming the globalization crisis
  • Developing effective public policies
  • Managing the digital revolution

For us to make progress even faster in these fields and to advance into new areas, we depend on your support – together we can create an impact and make a difference.

Factsheet Global Challenges Fund

Use of funds

All donations to the Global Challenges Fund go to four areas:

Promote and support young talents

Attract and retain world-class researchers and professors

Provide grants for outstanding projects

Enable dialog and knowledge exchange

By supporting projects, professorships, young talents, and an active exchange on the five major challenges, you are making a significant contribution to ensure that the most urgent challenges in our world can be tackled with scientifically sound knowledge. Be it climate change, pandemics, wars, or inequality – only with sound knowledge can connections be understood and solutions found. Our allocation committee ensures the proper use of all funds.

Allocation committee

Prof. Ernst Fehr

Prof. Ernst Fehr

President of the Board of Trustees of the Excellence Foundation Zurich
Walter B. Kielholz

Walter B. Kielholz

Advisory Board Chairman of the Department of Economics, University of Zurich
Prof. Ralph Ossa

Prof. Ralph Ossa

Member of the Board of Trustees and WTO Chief Economist

Impact: the potential of your donation

Every contribution is valuable. To give you a better idea of the impact of your donation, you will find some target figures below.

1,000 to 5,000 Swiss francs
With a contribution between CHF 1,000 and 5,000 you can promote dialog with the public – e.g., in the form of events or webinars with world-leading experts.

5,000 bis 10,000 Swiss francs
With a donation of CHF 5,000 to 10,000, you enable one young talent to realize an ambitious research project within the doctoral program.

From 10,000 Swiss francs
From CHF 10,000 on, for example, you support the department in creating new innovative research positions and enable the expansion of the PhD program in the form of scholarships.

But even with a donation of only CHF 20, you contribute to the big picture. Every contribution is valuable and makes a difference. Thank you very much.

Your support counts

Do you have questions about the Global Challenges Fund or would you like some advice? We are happy to assist you.

Katrin Polzer

Katrin Polzer
Managing Director