VP Bank’s social engagement

As an international bank group with regional roots, we recognise our social and environmental responsibility in the places we do business, mainly Liechtenstein but also selectively in other regions where we are represented. Since 2014 VP Bank has focused its charitable donations on recreational sporting associations and cultural institutions serving the general public. VP Bank Group employees who actively participate in a charitable institution also receive a supporting contribution. Numerous initiatives and projects have benefited from this commitment over many years. 

Since 2012, VP Bank has also had a charitable giving agreement with the Swiss Climate Foundation. As a partner of this foundation, VP Bank provides financial support for the energy efficiency and climate protection projects of small and medium-sized companies in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Under this arrangement, VP Bank provides financing based on the net rebate of the CO2-incentive tax on fossil fuels. 

Since 2017, VP Bank has actively focused on sports and cultural sponsorships with a long-term focus.

In golf, we sponsor the “VP Bank Ladies Open”, the only ladies pro golf tournament in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. In classical music, VP Bank is a Pre­senting Partner of the “VP Bank Classic Festival” in Switzerland, whose purpose is to provide an international springboard for young classical artists to develop their musical talent. 

The VP Bank Art Foundation was established in 1996 and collects works of contemporary artists. Its purpose is to foster art appreciation in a targeted manner within and outside VP Bank as well as to promote visual arts by means of acquisitions and art-related publications. The purchased works are displayed in the rooms of VP Bank as well as at art exhibitions. They are also loaned to third parties for showings at other venues. 

Hans Brunhart is Chairman of the foundation’s Board of Trustees. The other board members are Fredy Vogt, ­Chairman of the Board of VP Bank Group, and Dr Uwe Wieczorek, curator of the Hilti Art Foundation. Annett Höland was appointed curator of the Foundation in 2019.

In 2018, a total of six acquisitions were made as part of the long-term collection policy, thus complementing the collection and consolidating its focus on “painting”. 

At the new VP Bank office in Zurich, a concept for exhib­iting works from all collection periods was developed and implemented.

The VP Bank Art Foundation receives an annual financial contribution from VP Bank. 

VP Bank Foundation was initiated in 2006 and established in 2007 to mark the 50th anniversary of VP Bank. The Foundation supports projects, individuals and institutions that have made outsized contributions on behalf of the environment, art, education, science or culture. Charitable activities on behalf of the general public are also supported. This patronage is intended to be connected with Liechtenstein and consistent with VP Bank’s corporate values. Donations can also be made for welfare and social purposes. VP Bank Foundation has earned a well-regarded position among Liechtenstein foundations and helped to shape the philanthropic sector. 

The Board of Trustees comprises Hans Brunhart and Fredy Vogt. During the year under review, VP Bank Foundation distributed around CHF 250,000 to worthy causes. 

Promoting science and education has been a major part of VP Bank Foundation’s activities from the outset. The Foundation supports scientific institutions and their projects, publications, training facilities and private initiatives.

In the cultural sphere, the foundation supports not just larger institutions but also diverse projects in the areas of music, theatre and dance.

In the environmental area, the Foundation supported the “Stiftung pro natura – pro ski” foundation initiated by VP Bank as part of a long-term commitment toward environmentally responsible development in alpine areas, the “Waterfootprint Liechtenstein” initiative of the Drink and Donate association and a climate protection project of the myclimate foundation. 

In connection with the “Lichtblick” campaign, VP Bank Foundation made grants totalling around CHF 70,000 to some 30 social institutions in Liechtenstein in 2018. 

The foundation’s effectiveness can be improved by focusing more closely on sustainability criteria when investing the foundation’s resources. Both the foundation’s contri­butions and its investments have an impact consistent with the foundation’s Articles of Association. The Board of ­Trustees therefore invests the assets in keeping with a sustainable administrative mandate.

Last year, a portion of the Foundation’s resources was again invested in the EMF Microfinance Fund AGmvK as well as in VP Bank “Balanced (CHF) Strategy Fund class C” units. Via returns from the latter exposure, the relief organisation “SolidarMed” again received earmarked financial aid in 2018.

VP Bank Foundation is a member of the Liechtenstein Association of Non-profit Foundations (Vereinigung liechtensteinischer gemeinnütziger Stiftungen e.V. – VLGS) and the “SwissFoundations” association. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees actively participates in the management and development of the Liechtenstein association and makes use of valuable sharing of experiences in both associations.