UBS Financial Services, Inc. announced today that the firm’s wealth
management clients in the U.S. are now able to make philanthropic
donations to the UBS Optimus Foundation (the Foundation). The Foundation
is 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.
“Our 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. “Through the UBS
Optimus Foundation, we can provide a unique giving experience that is
aligned with clients’ overall wealth management goals. We are proud that
our U.S. clients now have the opportunity to invest in established
programs that we believe will deliver tangible and measurable results.”
“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. “We
focus on aiding children in areas of the world that are impoverished or
isolated, which typically present a challenge for individual
philanthropists. Our mission is to eliminate those barriers and make
investments early in children’s lives in order to yield both social and
economic results.”
As one of the first banks to engage in philanthropy solutions for wealth
management clients around the world, UBS' commitment to giving has a
strong history and deep roots in the bank's culture. 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. Nicole
Sebastian, previously with the Robin Hood Foundation, UNICEF and
Heidrick & Struggles, will oversee this new philanthropic offering for
U.S. clients.
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.
About UBS
UBS draws on its 150-year heritage to serve private, institutional and
corporate clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland.
Its business strategy is centered on its pre-eminent global wealth
management businesses and its leading universal bank in Switzerland,
complemented by its Global Asset Management business and its Investment
Bank, with a focus on capital efficiency and businesses that offer a
superior structural growth and profitability outlook.
UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices
in more than 50 countries, with about 35% of its employees working in
the Americas, 36% in Switzerland, 17% in the rest of Europe, the Middle
East and Africa and 12% in Asia Pacific. UBS employs about 60,000 people
around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and
the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
About UBS Optimus Foundation
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. UBS covers all the Foundation's administrative costs so
that 100 percent of all donations go directly to the projects.
UBS Optimus Foundation – A better future for children.
About National Philanthropic Trust
National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) is a public charity dedicated to
providing philanthropic expertise to donors, foundations and financial
institutions, enabling them to realize their philanthropic aspirations.
NPT was founded in 1996, and since that time has raised $4 billion in
charitable contributions and currently manages over $2.1 billion in
charitable assets. NPT has made more than 100,000 grants totaling $2
billion to charities all over the world.
Copyright Business Wire 2015