The Jacobs Foundation surpasses CHF 1 billion in philanthropic giving 

In its 36th year, the Jacobs Foundation has reached a milestone that reflects both its history and its future: more than CHF 1 billion has been invested since its founding to advance children’s learning and development around the world. 

This landmark achievement underscores the Foundation’s long-term commitment to evidence-based philanthropy and to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Over three decades, the Foundation has worked with researchers, governments, the private sector, and practitioners to generate and apply rigorous evidence, foster collaboration, and strengthen education systems to respond to the needs of children and youth. 

We are proud of what this milestone represents: decades of purposeful philanthropic commitment to improving education systems and outcomes for children. Surpassing CHF 1 billion in philanthropic giving reflects not only the scale of our commitment, but also the strength of the partnerships we’ve built over time. We remain focused on translating evidence into action and on helping education systems respond to the needs of children around the world.

Lavinia Jacobs, Chair of the Jacobs Foundation’s Board of Trustees

Lavinia Jacobs, Chair of the Jacobs Foundation’s Board of Trustees

The CHF 1 billion in funding to date has enabled sustained work in areas such as early learning, learning variability, and systems-level reform. Flagship initiatives include the Jacobs Research Fellowship, the Learning Variability Network Exchange (LEVANTE), the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development at the University of Zurich, and the national System Change Architecture for Learning Excellence (SCALE) program in Ghana. 

With our mission-driven investment strategy, we are in a strong position to invest strategically and respond with agility. We remain focused on what drives impact: rigorous research, co-financing partnerships at the country level, and flagship initiatives like the Jacobs Research Fellowship and LEVANTE.

Fabio Segura, Co-CEO of the Jacobs Foundation

Fabio Segura, Co-CEO of the Jacobs Foundation

This milestone comes at an important moment. With international education financing under increasing pressure and official development assistance in decline, the role of strategic and flexible philanthropy is more important than ever. The Jacobs Foundation continues to be guided by evidence, entrepreneurial excellence, and social responsibility, with a clear focus on long-term impact. 

In 2025, the Foundation introduced a new structure to its investment portfolio to secure its capacity to deliver on its mission well beyond 2030. This new structure will allow the Foundation to expand its philanthropic commitments in the coming decades, continuing to translate evidence into action and drive systems change worldwide. 

This milestone is a moment of reflection and renewal. It affirms what can be achieved through long-term commitment, strong partnerships, and a shared belief in the power of education to transform lives. Our founder’s vision—that every child should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential—remains at the heart of our work as we continue to learn, adapt, and drive change across education systems.

Simon Sommer, Co-CEO of the Jacobs Foundation

Simon Sommer, Co-CEO of the Jacobs Foundation

At the Jacobs Foundation, surpassing CHF 1 billion in philanthropic giving is both a celebration of what has been achieved and a renewed commitment to building the evidence, partnerships, and systems that will shape the future of education.