Being an independent foundation, they are able to take a long-term view and give support in areas neglected by the public sector, commercial sponsors or charitable organisations that collect money from the public. In order to be able to do their work better, they promote innovative approaches and enter into partnerships with long-term potential.

Their Foundation is subject to the supervisory authority of the Swiss Federal Department of the Interior and is a member of SwissFoundations, the Swiss association of charitable grant-making foundations. 

SUPPORT SECTORS

Culture

The Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation supports professionals in the fields of theatre, dance, music and visual arts and also across these disciplines. They promote outstanding projects that are of relevance to society and unusual in terms of aesthetics or form, make an impact beyond their own region and have an educational effect. Cultural participation matters to them.

Conflict and violence

The Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation supports people affected by war and armed conflict. Their aim is to protect the lives, safety, dignity and physical and mental well-being of these people. The projects they back deal primarily with the causes, attendant circumstances and consequences of violence, and include:

• - protection for civilians, especially displaced persons and refugees
• - psychosocial assistance and rehabilitation of the victims of war and conflict
• - projects to prevent and resolve conflicts for people affected by war

Medical research

Educational grants

The Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation provides educational support to residents of the Canton of Berne and so fosters equal opportunity in education. This support is financial in nature and provided on the basis of subsidiarity. This means that they make these grants where the applicants, the canton, the municipalities or other potential sources of funding cannot cover all the costs and additional costs of educational projects. The grants benefit a wide range of educational projects at all levels and stages, e.g.: 

• - Completion of training courses
• - Participation in educational programmes
• - Short- to longer-term attendance at courses

School projects

The Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation supports projects in schools in the Canton of Berne that foster pupils’ awareness of society, health, ethics, social policy and culture. Projects should also aim to build pupils’ public spirit, social skills and practical skills during their pre-school and school years, at vocational schools and high schools, as well as awakening and developing their creativity in the areas of art, design, music, literature and the performing arts. They support school projects by means of subsidiary grants, i.e. when the schools applying for support, the canton, the municipalities or other potential sources of funding are unable to cover the costs involved. They normally cover only part of any project’s costs and therefore recommend that financial assistance always be sought from other bodies too.