A legacy of philanthropy
Alexandre de Rothschild Rothschild & Co Executive Chairman & Chair of R&Co4Generations
“In line with my family’s tradition for philanthropy, Rothschild & Co has for generations been active in supporting people and communities from less-advantaged backgrounds. The events over the past few years have clearly demonstrated the social and environmental risks that we face as a global society. We all have our part to play in addressing these risks and the next generation will be crucial in driving change for a more inclusive and sustainable planet.”
Environmental
Charles Rothschild (1877 - 1923) founded the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves (SPNR - now The Wildlife Trusts) in May 1912, with the objective of protecting special places for wildlife. Over the next three years, Charles coordinated a national survey of wildlife sites 'worthy of preservation' in Britain and Ireland.
Social welfare
Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934), together with his brothers Alphonse de Rothschild (1827-1905) and Gustave de Rothschild (1829-1911), founded the Compagnie du Logement - Fondation Rothschild in 1904; within a decade, they had provided over 1,100 affordable-housing flats in Paris, setting an example for similar social housing initiatives by private philanthropists and, ultimately, the French government.
Healthcare
Evelina de Rothschild (1839-1866) was the granddaughter of the founder of the London business, Nathan Mayer Rothschild. At 27, her life was tragically cut short after giving birth to her first child, a stillborn son. Her widower Ferdinand established a hospital for sick children in 1869, naming it after his late wife. The Rothschild family has supported the hospital for generations. Today, the Evelina London Children’s Hospital is the second largest provider of children’s services in London and are delivering ground-breaking care for children and young people from across southeast England and beyond.
As the family's wealth and influence grew, so did their commitment to philanthropy and their ability to apply it in more ambitious ways to this day.
Philanthropy today
Claire Kramme Executive Director, R&Co4Generations
“Our dedicated foundation brings The Group together in a shared strategy and offers tools to facilitate the engagement of all our employees. We are committed to implementing philanthropy that is relevant and responsive to the most pressing needs, and we have developed a rigorous methodology for selecting, monitoring and evaluating projects.”
Q1
What infrastructure is in place to ensure R&Co4Generations is set up for success?
R&Co4Generations is managed by a Management Committee co-led by Alexandre de Rothschild and Lionel Zinsou. This committee is responsible for steering and implementing the group's strategies as well as reflects the Group's geographical and business activities. Three non-executive members with specialized knowledge of the philanthropic sector also sit on the committee. Furthermore, to ensure the effective implementation of R&Co4Generations' strategies and priorities at the local level, we have established five regional committees. These committees work in the organization's best interest and choose as well as interact with local partners, oversee their own budget, as well as represent the program as ambassadors. Finally, our fund is housed in The King Baudouin Foundation, and we benefit from their support and expertise.
Our approach to driving change
We seek to engage with charities and social enterprises in ways that make the greatest possible impact, bringing together the combined resources and talents of the Rothschild & Co ecosystem to reach our goal.
Q2
Do R&Co4Generations fund projects in Switzerland?
We support projects worldwide, amongst them various in Switzerland.
Some examples of initiatives or organizations include Zerowaste, which is on a mission to work towards reducing the amount of waste produced; Sportegration, which promotes the integration of refugees and natives using sport as a tool for sustainable integration; and Jeunes@Work, dedicated to assisting young graduates in Switzerland as they embark on their journey to find their first job.
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Q3
How can our philanthropy experts help clients harness their philanthropic strategy?
In partnership with our various Private Banking teams, our philanthropy experts are available to support clients by exploring their motivations, strategy projects and time frame, proposing relevant organizations and provide guidance in the area of impact measurement of their philanthropic investments.
If you have enjoyed reading this article and wish to find out more about our philanthropic offering, please do not hesitate to contact your client adviser.