UBS Financial Services wealth management clients in the U.S. are now able to make philanthropic donations to the UBS Optimus Foundation, dedicated to the health, education and protection of children around the world. Investors with an interest in improving the lives and potential of children will now have the opportunity to join UBS clients in other parts of the world in accessing the Foundation’s verified and focused network of community-based partner organizations as part of their own philanthropic giving and wealth management planning, via the recently-established Friends of UBS Optimus Foundation Fund.
Established in 1999, the Foundation is a charitable grant-making vehicle dedicated to ensuring children are healthy, safe and ready for their future. To date, it has received over 20,000 donations, totaling more than USD 250 million. The Foundation currently funds projects in 40 countries reaching 1.8 million children, and offers UBS clients a range of options to support causes and charities that are important to them without the burden of doing their own research, vetting and monitoring. The Foundation works with experienced partner organizations around the world to identify, track, and supervise the programs, and provides regular updates to clients to ensure that they remain properly informed of the impact of their support. Because UBS bears all administrative costs of the Foundation, 100% of client donations go directly to the intended service organizations.
“Clients are increasingly looking for advice regarding their philanthropic giving — both in directing and executing their social investments, as well as ensuring they are achieving their desired impact,” said Bob McCann, CEO of UBS Group Americas.
“By choosing to work with only the best-in-class partners — including the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) in South Asia, a regional office of J-PAL Global based at the Economics Department at MIT— we are providing clients with a turnkey offering that will deploy their resources in ways that create meaningful and lasting impact,” said Phyllis Costanza, CEO of the UBS Optimus Foundation.
UBS was voted the Best Private Bank for Philanthropic Services by Euromoney 2014 based on the strength of its Client Philanthropy Services, which covers the complete value chain in philanthropy, providing giving, investing and networking resources to align clients’ wealth with their values.
This new philanthropy offering is being made available in the U.S. as the Friends of UBS Optimus Foundation Fund, through a collaboration with National Philanthropic Trust, which manages one of the largest donor-advised funds in the world.
The UBS Optimus Foundation is an established grant-making foundation created by UBS AG in 1999. The Foundation works to break down barriers that prevent children from reaching their potential by funding leading organizations to improve the health, education and protection of children. The UBS Optimus Foundation supports projects in places where children face adversity.