The Roger Federer Foundation

The Roger Federer Foundation is a Swiss charitable organisation established in 2003 by former professional tennis player Roger Federer as a vehicle for his philanthropic work. Its central purpose is to improve children's access to quality early learning and basic education, with a particular focus on disadvantaged communities in Southern Africa and selected projects in Switzerland. The Foundation operates through partner organisations rather than functioning primarily as a direct service provider. Its programmes have included education initiatives, teacher-training activities and efforts intended to strengthen the quality and reach of early-years and basic education. The countries identified as part of its African operating focus are Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Foundation's approach places emphasis on locally grounded implementation, collaboration with partner organisations, capacity-building and evidence-informed planning. A defining feature of its model is the preference for sustained partnerships over isolated, one-time grants. The organisation seeks to support systems and local capabilities that can continue producing educational benefits over time, while encouraging local ownership of projects. This long-term orientation distinguishes its work from short-term charitable distribution and aligns its activities with improving educational outcomes at community level. By the end of 2024, the Foundation reported that its partner-supported work had reached approximately 3.1 million children and supported more than 59,000 teachers. These figures are reported programme totals rather than commercial sales or financial performance measures. In addition to its continuing education portfolio, the Foundation responded to the education emergency caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by donating $500,000 to War Child Holland to help preserve Ukrainian children's access to education. Roger Federer remains associated with the Foundation as a trustee and its President. The organisation underwent a senior leadership transition in 2025, when Maya Ziswiler became Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Dr Janine Händel, who had led the Foundation since 2010. Its current identity is therefore shaped by both Federer's public role and an institutional operating model centred on education, partnerships and sustainable development in the communities it serves.

The Roger Federer Foundation was established in Switzerland in 2003 by Roger Federer to organise and advance his charitable activities. From its beginning, the Foundation developed an education-centred mission rather than a broad, unrestricted relief mandate. Its stated objective is to improve access to quality early learning and basic education for children who face disadvantage, especially in Southern Africa and Switzerland. Over time, the Foundation's work has been implemented through partner organisations in six Southern African countries: Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Its activities have included financing education programmes and supporting teacher-training initiatives. The Foundation's operating philosophy gives importance to the quality of education as well as enrolment and access. It therefore supports work intended to strengthen teachers, local institutions and the wider conditions in which children learn. The organisation's grant-making approach favours multi-year relationships and local ownership. Rather than concentrating exclusively on one-off interventions, it works with partners to build capabilities and support improvements that can be sustained after individual grants or projects end. Its strategy also stresses collaboration and evidence-based planning, indicating an effort to connect funding decisions with educational needs and measurable outcomes. The Foundation has also undertaken work in Switzerland, alongside its continuing African portfolio. Its geographic scope reflects a combination of Federer's Swiss origins and the Foundation's long-standing focus on educational disadvantage in Southern Africa. By the end of 2024, it reported that its programmes, delivered with partner organisations, had reached about 3.1 million children and supported more than 59,000 teachers. The Foundation responded beyond its regular geographic focus during the education emergency arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, it donated $500,000 to War Child Holland to support access to education for Ukrainian children. This intervention complemented, rather than replaced, the Foundation's established emphasis on early learning, basic education and local partnerships. Leadership has included Roger Federer as trustee and President. Dr Janine Händel served as Chief Executive Officer from 2010 until 2025, when Maya Ziswiler was appointed to succeed her. The leadership change marked a new phase for an organisation that had evolved from a founder's philanthropic vehicle into an established international foundation with long-term education partnerships and a reported reach across millions of children.

• 2025

  Maya Ziswiler appointed chief executive officer

  [1]The Roger Federer Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Maya Ziswiler succeeded Dr Janine Händel as Chief Executive Officer.

• 2024

  Reported programme reach exceeds three million children

  [1]The Roger Federer Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  By the end of 2024, the Foundation reported reaching approximately 3.1 million children and supporting more than 59,000 teachers through partner organisations.

• 2022

  Support for Ukrainian children's education

  [1]The Roger Federer Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The Foundation donated $500,000 to War Child Holland after Russia's invasion of Ukraine to help protect children's access to education.

• 2010

  Janine Händel begins chief executive tenure

  [1]The Roger Federer Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Dr Janine Händel became Chief Executive Officer, a role she held until the 2025 leadership transition.

• 2003

  Foundation established in Switzerland

  [1]The Roger Federer Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Roger Federer established the Foundation as a vehicle for his philanthropic activities, with education as its central area of concern.

A founder-led international education foundation focused on long-term, locally owned improvements to early learning and basic education.

• 2025

  Chief executive successionStrategy

  Background

  Dr Janine Händel's tenure as Chief Executive Officer, which began in 2010, came to an end.

  Action taken

  The Foundation appointed Maya Ziswiler as Chief Executive Officer.

  Aftermath

  Maya Ziswiler became the Foundation's chief executive while Roger Federer continued as trustee and President.

  Source

• 2022

  Emergency education donation for UkraineOther

  Background

  Russia's invasion of Ukraine created an urgent threat to children's access to schooling and other education services.

  Action taken

  The Foundation donated $500,000 to War Child Holland to support educational access for Ukrainian children.

  Aftermath

  The donation extended the Foundation's education-focused humanitarian activity beyond its established programme countries in Southern Africa and Switzerland.

  Donation. $500,000 (2022)

  Source

1. 1The Roger Federer Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Roger Federer Foundation official websiterogerfedererfoundation.org