Ashoka
What We Do
In a rapidly changing world, our societies are increasingly connected and facing common challenges. Social and environmental change is now necessary, more than ever before and it needs new mindsets and models to be effective.
Ashoka identifies and supports the world's leading social entrepreneurs, learns from the patterns in their innovations, and mobilizes a global community that embraces these new frameworks to build an "everyone a changemaker world."
Read about Ashoka's Key Ideas and Theory of Change for this historic moment, the new inequality, and the new framework that they require.
Ashoka's activities in Switzerland
Through Ashoka's presence in more than 90 countries, we are building and amplifying this global movement through three areas of activity. Discover who we are here.
See below the programs that are active in Switzerland, for programs active in other countries check the bottom of the page.
2. Accelerate the "Everyone a Changemaker" world
We mobilize a network of individuals and organizations, and build collective capacity to address global challenges by unlocking their potential to act as changemakers. We partner with a range of stakeholders: foundations, universities, corporations, civil society organizations, media and other.
Ashoka Support Network
It is a global community of committed leaders who share and advocate for Ashoka’s values and vision. ASN members finacially and strategically support Ashoka, while unleashing their own potential as changemakers.
It is a transformative journey, both on the collective and individual level. Collectively, ASN members are part of a community dedicated to fostering social change. Individually, they have the chance to reflect on how they want to make a difference in the world and – ultimately – are empowered to take action.
Working with companies
We support corporates to remain relevant during times of rapid change, by looking at new ways to create value, uncharted market opportunities, and build collaborative leadership models.
We bring together pioneer companies and social entrepreneurs who are convinced that combining social impact and business is a necessity as well as an opportunity to reinvent the business world.
3. Equip everyone to be a changemaker
We inspire and enable changemaking in the public-at-large, and work to give all individuals the confidence and tools to solve problems for the good of all.
Learning and Action Center
Our European think-tank leverages the insights and patterns of 3,600+ Ashoka Fellows to understand what the future needs, and makes this knowledge actionable for collective solutions to build a better world.
For instance, the Swiss Fellow Nicola Forster was featured in the study around the strategies adopted to foster democracy in Europe.
Ashoka Changemakers and the Visionary Program
We are building a global movement where anyone, anywhere, can take action to solve a social problem in in their community. For instance, we have partnered with C&A Foundation on the global initiative "Fabric of Change" to support innovators for a fair and sustainable apparel industry.
Our Partners in Switzerland
Swiss Re Foundation
Swiss Re pour Swiss Reinsurance Company, est une société d'assurance et de réassurance fondée à Zurich en 1863. Deuxième société mondiale de réassurance après Munich Re, Swiss Re soutient Ashoka dans les pays du sud pour construire des écosystèmes de santé innovants, notamment à travers la nutrition.
Swiss Re Foundation
Swiss Re pour Swiss Reinsurance Company, est une société d'assurance et de réassurance fondée à Zurich en 1863. Deuxième société mondiale de réassurance après Munich Re, Swiss Re soutient Ashoka dans les pays du sud pour construire des écosystèmes de santé innovants, notamment à travers la nutrition.
J. P. Morgan
J. P. Morgan works with community partners to create pathways to opportunity by supporting workforce development, financial capability, small business development and community development in the regions where they do business. They use their strength, global reach, expertise, relationships, and access to capital to make a positive impact in cities around the world. The foundation is supporting Ashoka Switzerland's Impact programme.
J. P. Morgan
J. P. Morgan works with community partners to create pathways to opportunity by supporting workforce development, financial capability, small business development and community development in the regions where they do business. They use their strength, global reach, expertise, relationships, and access to capital to make a positive impact in cities around the world. The foundation is supporting Ashoka Switzerland's Impact programme.
Nestlé
Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company, with 2000 brands and are present in 190 countries worldwide. Their purpose is to enhance the quality of life and contribute to a healthier future, inspiring people to live healthier lives.
Fondation Didier et Martine Primat
La Fondation Didier et Martine Primat sensibilise les populations et les pouvoirs publics aux enjeux planétaires liés aux activités humaines et contribue à façonner un monde plus responsable par le soutien de projets éducatifs et d'actions concrètes encourageant l'émergence de modes de vie conscients et durables.
Fondation Didier et Martine Primat
La Fondation Didier et Martine Primat sensibilise les populations et les pouvoirs publics aux enjeux planétaires liés aux activités humaines et contribue à façonner un monde plus responsable par le soutien de projets éducatifs et d'actions concrètes encourageant l'émergence de modes de vie conscients et durables.
Agence de Coopération Internationale de la Confédération Suisse (SDC)
En collaboration avec le cabinet de conseil Hystra et Ashoka, SDC soutient le développement de l'entrepreneuriat social en Amérique Latine dans le cadre de ses programmes de développement économique : soutien et accompagnement de 20 Fellows, programmes Globalizer et programme d'aide à l'accès au financement adapté pour les entrepreneurs sociaux.
Agence de Coopération Internationale de la Confédération Suisse (SDC)
En collaboration avec le cabinet de conseil Hystra et Ashoka, SDC soutient le développement de l'entrepreneuriat social en Amérique Latine dans le cadre de ses programmes de développement économique : soutien et accompagnement de 20 Fellows, programmes Globalizer et programme d'aide à l'accès au financement adapté pour les entrepreneurs sociaux.
Discover our programs around the world
Above you have explored Ashoka's programs active in Switzerland, many of them are also active worldwide. There are other programs though, that are either active in other specific countries or globally, but haven't yet found a local application in Switzerland. Browse them to discover the full Ashoka universe.
Our reports and legal information
Ashoka as a Global organization is registered as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization in the United States of America, and is registered as a foundation with no profit-making purposes in Switzerland.
Find out more about our legal information, our activities in Switzerland and our Annual and Partnership reports by clicking below.