Start a foundation

At SEB, you have access to a team who can help you with everything from portfolio management and administration to legal expertise. All in one place.

What is a foundation?

The primary advantage of a foundation is that your money always benefits the causes in which you are engaged – even after your death. The unique thing about a foundation is that it has no owners or members: your money is managed as an independent fortune. 

The most common format is what is known as an endowment foundation, i.e. the returns on the amounts with which you endow the foundation benefit the causes you have chosen to support.

How does a foundation work?

Simply put, there are three steps involved in building a foundation: 

1. The foundation’s statutes are drawn up to produce what is known as a Charter of Foundation

   The Charter of Foundation establishes, amongst other things, the purpose and goals of the foundation and specifies the causes to be promoted and supported.

2. You choose a Board of Directors
   

   The Board of the Directors has an important function because the foundation has no owners or members. One of the most important of these tasks is managing the foundation’s capital. If you would rather not appoint natural persons to the Board, you can appoint a legal person to manage your foundation instead.
   
   

3. You transfer capital from yourself to the foundation

   Most commonly, the capital transferred to the foundation will comprise money and securities, but you can also transfer other types of asset, such as real estate and art. Once this process is completed, the foundation is registered with the County Administrative Board, after which you will be assigned an organisation number by the Swedish Tax Agency. And that’s it – your foundation has been established.

During our initial meeting, we will go through:

• What are the goals of your engagement? Where do you want to direct your efforts?
• How much capital do you want to invest?
• When do you want to build the foundation? Now, in the future, or after your death? 
• How much of your own time and engagement do you wish to invest?
• Once you have formulated your purpose and goals, we will work with you on drawing up a strategy so that your activities achieve the maximum impact.