Does SwissRelief have any job openings in Switzerland or abroad?
At the moment we do not have any job vacancies. If you are looking for job opportunities related to intercultural and relief and development work, we recommend you take a look at the job exchange www.cinfo.ch.
Does SwissRelief provide financial assistance for people in Switzerland?
No, as our efforts focus exclusively abroad in keeping with our governing documents.
Does SwissRelief receipt donations?
We provide receipts for donations of less than CHF 100 from individuals only upon request. Our usual practice is to send out a yearly receipt of all donations after our fiscal year ends. We view this as practical and efficient. This does not relate to major donors or partner organizations with which we are in permanent contact.
Are donations to SwissRelief tax deductable?
The tax authorities of the canton Bern recognize SwissRelief as a charitable organization. Thus in keeping with applicable municipal, federal, and canton tax laws, donations of at least CHF 100 per calendar year are tax deductable in the canton Bern. However, donations to SwissRelief are not yet tax deductable in other cantons (as of August 2009). Nevertheless, usually cantons recognize the tax exemption status of not-for-profit organizations from other cantons.
How can I get a copy of SwissRelief's financial statement?
We will be happy to send you a copy of our annual financial statement upon a written request.
What percentage is spent on administrative cost?
The deductions vary and depend on the administrative support required for major projects as requested by our partners. Intense administrative support (operational and/or financial reporting, field visits, external audits, etc.) may result in administrative costs greater than 10%. This is usually negotiated with project partners before the project is started. SwissRelief assumes that potential donors realize that overseeing a project to their satisfaction results in administrative costs. For designated smaller donations we charge a flat rate of 18% to provide professional supervision and to cover the administrative cost of a given project.
Why SwissRelief? Are there not already enough relief and development organizations?
Relief and development organizations like SwissRelief are greatly needed. According to nature, diversity increases efficiency. Based on the number of appeals for funds in Switzerland it is understandable that people get the impression that there are already enough relief organizations at work. However, from the perspective of our various national partners the need for actions is still great. A distinguishing mark of SwissRelief is the commitment to working in partnership with local groups. Networking makes it possible to respond quickly in times of need, supports flat organizational and decentralized structures, and keeps administrative costs moderate to the benefit of the various projects. Working on local solutions empowers long-term help, contributes to autonomy, and strengthens local partners. We are convinced that SwissRelief serves in an important segment of relief and development work that is not adequately covered by other organizations.
Can I submit a sponsorship request to SwissRelief?
In order to keep our costs low, we are not reviewing any unrequested sponsorship requests, relief or project proposals.
Is SwissRelief interested in doing any advertising?
Networking and personal referrals from existing partners with potential partners has worked well for us. To keep costs low, we are not doing any direct mail campaigns.