General criteria

The Givel Foundation encourages creation, daring, surpassing oneself and excellence. It is active in the Canton of Vaud in the fields of arts and health. It only supports individuals (no legal entity, association or foundation) through incentive grants which must enable the realization of a remarkable project, for the direct or indirect benefit of the community.

Applicants must be based in the Canton of Vaud or have a close connection with it. The projects submitted must be qualitative and unique, must not yet have been completed (at the deadline for submitting applications) and must demonstrate a financial need.

The amounts of project aid and incentive grants are between CHF 1’000.- and 10.-.

Specific criteria Arts

The Foundation's support is exercised exclusively in three specific areas: visual arts, music and dance, in all their forms of expression and research. The Foundation supports innovative projects, going off the beaten track and showing real originality in the approach. If the project ultimately leads to income (paid event, sale of works, etc.), the Foundation is only involved in the creative process (research, writing, creation, etc.). However, any information on the purpose of the project is desired. For individual projects with a small budget, the Foundation can arrange for the full financing of the project within the limits of the allocated amounts. 

The literary projects are welcome if they concern one of the three areas supported or have a link with the Canton of Vaud.

The research projects are welcome if they concern one of the three areas supported, or if they have a link with Vaudois art or heritage (in this case, researchers from all sources are welcome).

En Music courses, the Foundation supports recordings dedicated to Vaudois composers (performers from all sources welcome).

Be careful, the Foundation does not support:

  • Study grants

  • Recordings of non-Vaudois composers

Specific criteria Health

In the context of a health world facing numerous challenges including the next generation of doctors, the Foundation wishes to support projects aimed at innovation, development or the acquisition of knowledge transferable to medical practice.

The Foundation will ensure in particular to provide financial support during additional training stay abroad, aiming to acquire or perfect a technique. The applicant will then have to prove his planned return to the Canton of Vaud for the benefit of the local community.

Projects aimed at promoting community Health and the projects of public health, as well as those allowing the completion of a project of clinical research are welcome.

Finally, a special grant is distributed each year to support a project in the field of medical care, in honor of the co-founder of the Foundation, Anne-Claire Givel Fuchs.

Please note, the Foundation does not support:

  • Fondamental research
  • Study grants
  • Irrelevant Community Health Projects
  • Public or community health projects abroad
  • Acquisition of medical equipment
  • Events

Deadlines and schedule

Applications for financial support are examined during two annual sessions: the spring session and the fall session.

Spring session 2025

Requests filed until 1er March 2025

Days
Hours
Minutes
The spring session is closed

Response from June 15, 2025

Fall 2025 session

Requests filed until 1er September 2025

Days
Hours
Minutes
The spring session is closed

Response from December 15, 2025

To make a request

The Foundation points out that it only supports individuals; and not legal entities (associations, foundations, etc.).

The request for support can only be made electronically via the Foundation website. No postal items will be taken into account.

The request must be sent to the Foundation in French only and in full:

  • Foundation Form
  • Cover letter
  • Presentation file (if useful in addition to the letter)
  • Detailed budget with expenses and financing plan


No winner can receive more than one support per year (12 months between two supports).

A new request cannot be sent to the Foundation if the winner has not yet used, partially or in full, previous support granted by the Foundation.

A request that has been refused by the Foundation Board cannot be presented again.

Processing the application

The Secretariat examines whether the application corresponds to the award rules, whether it was submitted on time and whether the documentation is complete. On the basis of an initial selection of projects carried out by two competent Commissions, the Foundation Board issues the final list of projects/individuals supported during each session, with the final support amounts.

Decision on the application

The refusal decision is not motivated and cannot be appealed.

The Foundation does not enter into the matter and issues a direct refusal on a request if:

  • It is contrary to the Foundation's award criteria.
  • The applicant did not meet the criteria for requesting support

Duties of the winner

By accepting financial support, the winner undertakes to:

  • Use the support granted for the purpose that justified its allocation
  • Inform the Foundation immediately and in writing of any modification made to the project
  • Inform the Foundation of the status of the project each time it requests it
  • Appropriately publicize the support granted by the Foundation; its logo (provided by the Foundation) must be visible as part of the supported project
  • Prove the use of the support by means of supporting documents and, if necessary, accounting

Return of support

The winner is obliged to return the financial support:

  • When he does not respect his duties
  • When support was granted unfoundedly on the basis of inaccurate or incomplete facts
  • When the project is canceled or postponed for more than a year

The designation of people, titles and functions are in the masculine form and apply equally to women and men.