At the UBS Optimus Foundation, we’re taking a leading role in driving impactful philanthropy that delivers breakthrough solutions for social and environmental issues. Established 25 years ago, we connect philanthropists and impact investors with innovative organizations and social entrepreneurs globally and in the US.

The UBS Optimus Foundation is a global network of separately organized and regulated, tax-exempt, charitable organizations, founded and managed by UBS, that make grants and other financial contributions to implementing partner organizations aligned with their values and objectives.

Why work with us

We take an evidence-based approach and focus on programs in health, education and the environment that have the potential to be transformative, scalable and sustainable. We have developed partnerships with organizations in the US that are spearheading real, meaningful improvements in the following key areas:

Group of young people meeting

Education

Providing career readiness and integrated support to students in public schools

Young people in a room doing activity as a group using string phone

Health

Expanding youth mental health services and suicide prevention programs, including free and confidential text-based support

Two kids looking up at redwood trees

Environment

Coordinating conservation projects and supporting the future of our national parks

World Kitchen trucks in garage

Emergency response

Promoting resilience and empowering communities to overcome disasters

In addition, you benefit from:

  • The ability to delegate implementation—choose from our carefully vetted programs or create a tailored onefor which we can provide strategy development, due diligence, contracting and reporting.
  • Knowing that 100% of your donations go to the program—UBS covers all the administration and management costs.
  • A wide range of tools to support not-for-profit organizations and impactful businesses—pure grants, outcomes-based financing and blended-finance solutions.
  • Increased impact—UBS will match your donations
  • Our proven track record - 25 years of experience and in-house impact experts

Create greater impact through our year-end giving campaign

We invite you to join us in our year-end giving campaign to support our partners in the US who serve children, families and communities.

When you donate by December 31, UBS will match your gift 100% up to USD 25,000, amplifying your impact alongside fellow donors.

UBS will match 100%* of donations up to USD 25,000 made to US-based partners for their US-based programming or as an unrestricted gift to the UBS Optimus Foundation US portfolio. All other donations will be matched at 10%.*

  • UBS Optimus Foundation US is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 33-1712876), so your donation is eligible for tax benefits.
  • All charitable donations to UBS Optimus Foundation or our partners can be made through a UBS Financial Advisor.
  • Giving options you may want to consider include:
    • Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) through your IRA as Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) 
    • Stocks, bonds, and cash are all accepted

Your choice of US programs driving positive change

Education

Make opportunity possible

Help build strong learning foundations from a child’s early years all the way through adolescence and transitioning to employment in the US.

Lift logo

Helping families break the cycle of poverty through strategic partnerships, targeted support, and shared accountability.

Year up united logo

Bridging the Opportunity Divide by equipping young adults with in-demand skills and real-world experience.

Communities in school logo

Placing caring adults inside high-poverty public schools to help students overcome barriers, stay in school, and achieve success in life.

Health

Make well-being possible

Donate to US organizations that provide access to quality health intervention services for children and young people, with a strong focus on mental health.

JED logo

Protects youth mental health and prevents suicide by equipping individuals with life skills, strengthening schools, and mobilizing communities to foster caring cultures.

Crisis text line logo

A pioneer in the digital mental health and crisis response space, providing free, 24/7, anonymous, non-judgmental text-based crisis response and mental health support in English and Spanish to people in moments of crisis across every state and county in the US.

Project echo logo

Provides training, mentorship, and support to midwives and other perinatal health providers in rural and underserved communities with the goal of high-quality, best-practice care to patients, increased access to maternal health care, and reduced maternal health disparities.

Environment

Make sustainability possible

Contribute to organizations that build the resilience of our land and coastal ecosystems while supporting vulnerable communities and sustaining biodiversity.

National fish and wildlife foundation logo

Provides direct financial support to local programs focused on stewardship and restoration of coastal, wetland and riparian ecosystems while engaging community youth and leaders to implement and sustain the work.

The nature conservancy logo

Conserves a network of lands and waters in the Southern High Plains, spanning 71 million acres at the intersection of five states, that boosts climate resilience, preserves biodiversity, and supports sustainable communities.

save the redwoods logo

Through land acquisition the Redwood Land Fund allows Save the Redwoods League to protect redwood forests, removing them from threat of development or industrial harvest. This promotes biodiversity and ecosystem services, restoring these ecosystems’ unparalleled carbon storage ability.

National park conservation association logo

Securing the future of national parks using science-based solutions to tackle biodiversity and climate crises and leverage public support to expand protections and build resilient landscapes.

Emergency response

Make hope possible

Support organizations responding to today’s urgent emergency relief efforts while investing in proactive disaster preparedness to build resilient communities for tomorrow.

Americares logo

Partners with more than 1,000 local health centers to advance various initiatives, including mental and behavioral health programming and building Free and Charitable Clinic operational and clinical capacity to support equity and outcomes.

Team Rubicon logo

A Veteran-led humanitarian organization that provides relief to communities before, during, and after disasters and crises.

World central kitchen logo

Delivers warm meals and food support to populations facing acute hunger due to crises, providing comfort, hope, and dignity.

Give directly logo

Provides support for those living in poverty by providing direct cash transfers.

Start making more possible today

To learn more about all that is available to you through the UBS Optimus Foundation and to receive a 100% match for your donation up to USD 25,000, please reach out to a UBS Financial Advisor or UBS contact.