A case: structuring a family commitment

Worked example. A Geneva family wishes to devote CHF 30 million to education in West Africa. Three options are examined with its adviser. The creation of its own foundation, endowed with CHF 30 million, distributing 4 per cent a year, or CHF 1.2 million, with a board of five members, an administration and annual costs of around CHF 150,000. A fund hosted within an umbrella foundation, with the same distributions, costs of around CHF 60,000 and delegated governance. A combination, with CHF 20 million in a hosted fund for current distributions and CHF 10 million invested in an impact fund devoted to education, whose expected return of 5 per cent is reinvested. The family chooses the third option, which preserves its decision-making capacity, limits costs and allows it to measure both a financial impact and a social impact. It thereby obtains the deductibility of its donations within the legal limits and the tax exemption of the hosted fund.

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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