Welcome to the Foundation of the Pontifical Swiss Guard

• Financial support of the guardsmen with family and children
• Promotion of education and training, also with a view to returning to working life after completing guard service (e.g. security and surveillance specialist with Swiss Federal Certificate of Competence - VSSU)
• Support in the public relations work of the Guard and recruitment activities
• Up-to-date improvement of working methods, equipment and infrastructure
• Preservation and restoration of historical assets of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.

To help to achieve these goals, the Board of the Foundation is composed of personalities from the Church, science, politics, business and the military. The presidency is incumbent on the former Federal Councilor Ruth Metzler-Arnold. The Chairman of the Swiss Bishops' Conference and the Commander of the Swiss Guard are members of the Board of the Foundation by virtue of their office. The management of the Foundation works closely with the command of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. It is the task of the Board of Foundation to examine and approve the financial viability of the individual applications for contributions from the Guard Command. In order to procure the necessary financial means, the Foundation carries out general and special fundraising campaigns. The Foundation is subject to the supervisory authorities of the Swiss Confederation and the Canton of Fribourg. The status of a foundation of public interest has been officially recognized.

The Foundation supports the Pontifical Swiss Guard with an annual contribution of around CHF 700,000.00 for the funding of selected projects and monitors their implementation.

Encouraged by the Guard Foundation, another foundation for the Pontifical Swiss Guard was established in Solothurn in autumn 2016. The purpose of this additional foundation is the structural renewal and extension of the barracks as well as the creation of a modern infrastructure. The name of this second foundation is «Foundation for the Renovation of the Barracks of the Pontifical Swiss Guard in the Vatican».