Mission & Vision

​We connect and engage Swiss and American leaders through inspirational programs

to strengthen our shared values of liberty, the rule of law, and free enterprise.

To be the premier organization connecting and inspiring American and Swiss leaders.

For nearly 80 years, the American Swiss Foundation has cultivated the traditional friendship between the two countries through citizen-to-citizen diplomacy. This historic friendship reaches back over two centuries to the time when Switzerland and the United States were called the "Sister Republics," with shared democratic values, including liberty, the rule of law, and free enterprise.

 

The Foundation's programs focus on the promising young people of both nations who will shape public opinion and policy in the years to come. Our goal is to inspire them to preserve the centuries-long friendship through active engagement with one another and with the senior leaders in our extensive network. The main program of the American Swiss Foundation is the Young Leaders Conference, held annually in Switzerland since 1990. The conference provides a unique platform for shared experiences and respectful dialogue among leaders of diverse cultural, political, and professional backgrounds.

 

Alumni of the past 32 conferences now number more than 1,500 leaders who shape the future of the two countries by sharing insights, fostering constructive dialogue, and building bridges. Our network includes influential government officials, entrepreneurs and business executives, media professionals, academics, and public policy experts, all dedicated to promoting the shared values of the "Sister Republics." View a list of our most notable alumni.