About the Foundation
Our purpose, pillars, and the way the Foundation operates.
Overview
The Fondation Orbis Pictus is a Swiss-based charity pursuing exclusively public-utility objectives across art and culture, development, ecology and environment, and humanitarian action.
Registered under UID CHE-460.546.339 and based in the Geneva area, the Foundation is supervised by the Département fédéral de l'intérieur (DFI). Its registered office is at Route de Pré-Bois 14, c/o Acris Management SA, 1216 Cointrin — a Geneva-based fiduciary firm specialising in corporate administration, foundations, estate planning and asset protection.
The Foundation represents the formalised, Swiss-registered continuation of philanthropic work previously conducted through the Orbis Pictus Trust. That trust has funded projects including a renewable-energy micro-hydro scheme in a remote part of Peru, bringing electricity to two extreme-poverty communities, a school, and a clinic. It also promoted health care and nutrition to the Esse Eja indigenous population deep in the Amazon rainforest, and the ecological education of children in Peru and Southern Peru as well as the seed funding support for ANIA so that our joint projects were later adopted by the Peruvian Government in schools across the country.
The name "Orbis Pictus" ("The World in Pictures") is drawn from the famous 1658 textbook by Czech educator Jan Amos Comenius — widely considered the first illustrated children's textbook. This title aligns with the Foundation's commitment to knowledge, beauty, and the belief that understanding emerges through clarity and care.
Our Three Pillars
The work of the Foundation is organised around three interconnected domains of purpose, as defined in our charter.
Ars et Cultura
Art & Culture
Preservation of cultural and architectural heritage, as well as the promotion of the pictorial and musical arts — through bursaries for emerging musicians, concerts and festivals as well as the donation of musical instruments, the support of opera companies and young singers in both the United Kingdom and Europe, and sponsorship for books and symposia.
View grants in this pillarAreas of Support
- Cultural and architectural heritage preservation
- Bursaries for emerging musicians
- Support of opera companies and young singers
- Promotion of the pictorial arts
Natura
Development, Ecology & Environment
Promotion of ecological projects and the education of children to respect and protect the environment. The Foundation supports initiatives that foster sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
View grants in this pillarAreas of Support
- Ecological project promotion
- Environmental education for children
- Sustainable development initiatives
- Environmental protection
- Conservation and habitat stewardship
Humanitas
Humanitarian Action
Emergency medical support and the relief of poverty. The Foundation provides support for communities in acute need, with a commitment to lasting solutions that preserve human dignity.
View grants in this pillarAreas of Support
- Emergency medical support
- Relief of poverty
- Healthcare access in underserved regions
- Community support and resilience
Ethos and Guiding Principles
The Foundation is guided by principles that transcend the immediate and the transactional. We believe that meaningful contribution to civilisation requires patience, restraint, and a commitment to values that endure beyond the present moment.
Permanence
We favour initiatives with lasting impact over those offering immediate but ephemeral results. Our support is directed toward endeavours that will continue to bear fruit for generations.
Discretion
We operate with measured visibility, preferring the substance of our work to speak for itself rather than seeking public attention or acclaim.
Rigour
Every decision is subject to careful analysis and deliberation. We apply scholarly standards to the assessment of proposals and the evaluation of outcomes.
Independence
The Foundation maintains operational independence from political, commercial, and ideological interests, ensuring that our work serves only the public good.
How We Operate
The Foundation fulfils its mission primarily through grants and other forms of support to institutions and, on occasion, individual practitioners whose work aligns with our three pillars. We do not operate programmes directly; we partner with established organisations that possess the expertise and operational capacity to implement initiatives effectively.
Our approach is characterised by long-term commitment, careful due diligence, and ongoing relationship with grant recipients. We favour sustained partnerships over one-time grants, believing that meaningful impact requires continuity of support and the trust that develops through extended collaboration. The Foundation values partnership over patronage.
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Initial contact is welcomed through established institutional channels or via the enquiry form on our Contact page.
Forms of Support
Institutional Support
Core support for institutions whose missions align closely with Foundation priorities. Such support may be unrestricted, allowing recipient organisations to deploy resources according to their own judgement.
Individual Awards
Bursaries that support individual achievement and development. Recipients are typically nominated through partner institutions rather than direct application.
Emergency Support
Rapid-response funding for urgent humanitarian needs and cultural heritage emergencies. Such support is deployed through established partner organisations with operational capacity.
Research Funding
Support for scholarly and scientific research, including publication costs, field research expenses, and doctoral stipends for projects of exceptional promise.
Swiss Base, International Scope
Switzerland's tradition of neutrality, stability, and excellence in governance provides an ideal foundation for our international activities. The Foundation benefits from Switzerland's robust legal framework for charitable organisations, its central European location, and its reputation for integrity in matters of finance and administration.
Our international activities are conducted in partnership with established institutions and through relationships built over years of collaboration. We engage with conservation bodies and humanitarian organisations — always with respect for local expertise and cultural context.
Our President
The Foundation's president, Patrick Matthiesen, is the founder and owner of the Matthiesen Gallery in London (7–8 Mason Yard, Duke Street, St James's) — one of the leading Old Master painting dealerships in the world, specialising in Italian, French and Spanish paintings from 1330–1870. The gallery has sold to over 110 international institutions and published 55 catalogues since 1981.
Patrick is the son of Francis Matthiesen, a German-Jewish art dealer who relocated from Berlin to London in the 1930s. This family heritage of cultural stewardship and international perspective informs the Foundation's commitment to art, education, and humanitarian endeavour.
Patrick also directs The Matthiesen Foundation, a UK-registered charity with complementary aims — relief of poverty, medical assistance, education, environmental conservation, and the fine arts. The Fondation Orbis Pictus represents the expansion of this philanthropic mission within a Swiss institutional framework.