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Legal Structure
Created on 9 September 1999, Winds of Hope is recognized as a public interest foundation by decision of the Canton of Vaud, and is placed under the supervision of the Swiss Confederation.
It is exempt from cantonal and municipal taxes, as well as direct federal tax.
Foundation's Statutes
A Foundation created in 1999, whose main objective is to fight ignored or forgotten diseases and forms of suffering, particularly those affecting children.
The Foundation is strictly apolitical and non-denominational.
The Winds of Hope Foundation was formally established on 9 September 1999 at Chateau d'Oex by Bertrand Piccard, Brian Jones, Thierry Lombard, Managing Partner of Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie, Theodore Schneider, President of Breitling, and Stefano Albinati, Breitling’s aviation adviser. Its headquarters was then moved to Lausanne.
The Foundation's primary goal is to give financial support to campaigns, charities or projects that are providing real and lasting help to child victims of war, disaster, disease or conflict, whose sufferings are little-known or forgotten by the media and the general public. Within the constraints of its resources, the Foundation's secondary goal is to promote and publicize – in particular by seeking to educate the media, the public, and influential political and economic circles – any charities, campaigns, causes and projects, whether or not they are supported by the Foundation, which correspond to the letter and spirit of its objectives.
The Foundation gives priority to supporting simple and inexpensive projects, but ones that have a high multiplier effect, and are accessible and useful to the greatest number of people, particularly children.
The Foundation committed itself, as its first initiative, to the fight against noma.
The Foundation was endowed with an initial capital of one million Swiss francs, a sum that came from the Budweiser Prize money won for the round-the-world balloon flight, supplemented by a donation from Breitling. The assets of the Foundation come essentially from:
- Funds raised;
- Gifts, bequests, and grants;
- Regular or one-off contributions that may be granted by other institutions or foundations;
- Income from investments.
The members of the Board of Trustees are not paid. They exercise their functions entirely as volunteers.
Recognized public interest foundation
By virtue of this status, donations to Winds of Hope attract entitlement to a tax deduction.
Winds of Hope is recognized as a public interest foundation by decision of the Canton of Vaud, and is placed under the supervision of the Swiss Confederation.
It is exempt from cantonal and municipal taxes in Switzerland, as well as direct federal tax.
The Foundation’s accounts are certified annually as required by law, following scrutiny by an auditing body independent of the Foundation’s Board. The external auditor is responsible for preparing a report which is submitted to the Supervisory Authority for Foundations of the Swiss Confederation.
Donations to Winds of Hope may be eligible for a tax deduction under the laws of the country of the donor. For this purpose, a statement of your donations for the period concerned is sent to you, to be attached to your tax return.
For more information on the law in Switzerland governing federal direct tax (Art. 33 and 59 LIFD) and the Federal Law on the harmonization of direct taxes imposed by cantons and municipalities (Art. 9, LHID), see:
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/6/642.11.fr.pdf
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/6/642.14.fr.pdf