Beate Eckhardt, lic. phil. I, MScom General Manager Swissfoundations

Since 2005 Beate Eckhardt works as the general manager for SwissFoundations, an association that brings together 83 grant-making foundations. The combined grant-making volume of CHF 200 million of  member foundations equates to  20 per cent of all funds distributed in Switzerland by such means.

The foci of SwissFoundations include the dissemination of knowledge and experience, good governance, professionalism and an effective use of funds by foundations  Prior to accepting a leadership position at SwissFoundations Beate Ekhardt worked as an independent communications and project manager in areas such as education, culture and the built environment. Eckhardt studied linguistics and literature as well as social and economic history at the University of Zurich. In 2004 Eckhardt received a master´s  degree in science and communication at the University of Lugano

In an honorary capacity Eckhardt is president of the supporting association of the Photography Museum Winterthur, a board member at the Theater am Neumarkt and member of the Zurich Philanthropy Roundtable.