Vision

Whatever their background, all children should have access to a high-quality education. Yet all too often learning and teaching take a one-size-fits-all approach. This means that children are unable to make the most of their learning potential. The Foundation's goal is a world in which every child is given the quality learning opportunities they need to thrive.

The Strategy

To bring them closer to their vision, they’ve launched Strategy 2030, with a central focus on ensuring that evidence shapes how children learn – whether in schools or through technology.

They accomplish this by providing funding for research aimed at understanding how children learn and vary in their skills and behaviors. Additionally, they work to facilitate the incorporation of evidence in national policies and their implementation in several countries.

They have committed CHF 500 million to bring their ambitions to life, collaborating with world-renowned researchers, educators, and visionary policymakers in Switzerland, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Colombia to make this vision a reality for every child.

A New Chapter

Historically sustained by returns from Jacobs Holding, the Foundation entered a new era in 2025 by assuming full control over its assets and adopting an independent investment strategy. This transformation ensures that the Foundation’s financial management is fully aligned with its philanthropic goals and enables sustained long-term impact.

Their Work Today

Today, the Jacobs Foundation advances its mission by strengthening education systems, fostering the use of high-quality evidence in decision-making, and catalyzing global and country-level programs that aim to improve learning outcomes for children and youth.

Through strategic partnerships with governments, research institutions, and philanthropy, the Foundation drives systemic change — bridging research, policy, and practice to create lasting impact across Switzerland and around the world.