Philanthropy at Pictet
The Pictet group’s tradition of philanthropy is rooted in Geneva’s long history of social and humanitarian engagement. “The Spirit of Geneva” was in fact defined at the beginning of the 20th century as the blending of three fundamental values: independence, social justice and humanitarianism, embodied respectively by Jean Calvin (1509-1564), Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) and Henry Dunant (1828-1910).
The philanthropic legacy of the Pictet family
Inspired by these values of independence, social justice and humanitarianism, Marc-Auguste Pictet (1752-1825), a professor at the University of Geneva, sponsored a benevolent society (1798-1799) in Geneva. The purpose of the society was to provide food and warmth at low cost for those in need, by making use of “economical soups” and “economical stoves” – the forerunners of soup kitchens.
Suspecting that the Industrial Revolution was disrupting the social balance and creating a mass of destitute people, Marc-Auguste Pictet continued working for philanthropic causes by pushing for the creation of a “European society for the amelioration of the labouring classes”, although unfortunately this never came to fruition.
From an early age, Edmond Pictet (1835-1901), the brother of Ernest Pictet (a partner from 1856 to 1909), took an interest in the problem of how to distribute food to the population as a whole. In 1868 he became chairman of the management committee of the newly created consumer cooperative society in Geneva. He was also a member of the Geneva public utility society, from which most of Geneva’s charitable organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), later stemmed.
Other members of the family also supported cultural or humanitarian institutions, both local and international. Maurice Pictet de Rochemont (1870-1948), a great music lover and patron, was a key supporter of the Swiss conductor Ernest Ansermet (1883-1969), founder of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR) and president of the Geneva Conservatory.
Jean Pictet (1914-2002)
Jean Pictet (1914-2002) was another family member who undertook humanitarian work, serving as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), of which he was Vice President from 1971 to 1979.
Not only was Jean Pictet the main author of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, but in 1955 he also wrote “The Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross”, long regarded as the movement’s charter.
The philanthropic commitment of the Pictet Group partners
Ever since the Bank's foundation in 1805, various Pictet group partners have maintained this significant philanthropic tradition.
During the 19th century, most such actions on the part of partners were individual ones. We could mention, among others, Paul Martin, a limited partner in the bank when it was established in 1805, who devoted himself to the benevolent society responsible for administering Geneva General Hospital from 1798 onwards. Emile Pictet, a partner from 1875 to 1909, son of Edouard (the first Pictet to become a partner, in 1841), was active in many philanthropic endeavours, including the Geneva society of arts; an organisation which sent aid to Armenians; the friends of the Geneva Museum of Art and History; and an institute for the study of cancerous diseases.
In the first half of the 20th century, Charles Gautier, a partner from 1919 to 1948, supported the construction of social and cooperative housing in Geneva. He married Hélène Pictet, at that time a campaigner for women’s suffrage – which was only granted at cantonal level in 1960. Their son Jean-Jacques Gautier, a partner from 1955 to 1973, was the founder of the Swiss Committee against Torture in 1977 (later renamed the Association for the Prevention of Torture). His efforts eventually resulted in the General Assembly of the United Nations adopting the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in 2002; it entered into force in 2006.
Humanitarian bankers do exist, as part of a Genevan tradition to which I myself belong.
When you inherit a philanthropic tradition as notable as our bank’s, you don’t sit and make calculations. The whole point is to do good.
The Pictet Group’s philanthropy becomes professionalised
In the late 1990s, the rapidly expanding Bank felt the need to organise its philanthropic activities more efficiently. It set up a Support Committee to supervise the Group's donations and patronage. At the time, Pictet divided its gifts between several areas: the arts, social action, research and training, youth and education.
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The Pictet Group Foundation
In 2009, Pictet and its partners gave their long tradition of philanthropy a more professional framework by setting up the Charitable Foundation, in order to formalise the approach derived from the Bank’s philanthropic legacy. The foundation, which is collectively governed, is tasked with making a careful selection of where to direct Pictet's charitable giving, welfare activities and patronage, both in Switzerland and abroad, in keeping with an overall vision.
Many sectors have benefited from its support: medical research and assistance, social welfare, the arts, education, underprivileged youth, and a number of historic institutions of Geneva and Switzerland.
In 2020, the Charitable Foundation became the Pictet Group Foundation, at which point it redefined the scope of its philanthropic activity. Today, it focuses on projects related to water and nutrition.
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The Prix Pictet
In order to highlight issues connected with protecting the environment, in 2008 Pictet launched the Prix Pictet, an international photography award dedicated to sustainable development – a venture which indicates the growing interest that the world of finance shows in sustainability and its challenges.
The aim of the Prix Pictet is to use the evocative power of photography to raise awareness of sustainability issues.
So far, the Prix Pictet has had eleven editions (Water, Earth, Growth, Power, Consumption, Disorder, Space, Hope, Fire, Human and Storm), and has become one of the world’s biggest international photography awards with a focus on sustainable development.
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The Pictet Collection
Preserving and promoting art and artists is part of the long tradition of patronage that the Pictet partners have cultivated right from the Group’s beginnings in 1805. Pictet's attachment to its roots in Geneva and Switzerland made it wish to remain close to its Swiss heritage when building the collection, so the artists included all have a strong cultural link with Switzerland, irrespective of their place of origin.
Just like asset management, however, acquiring, showcasing and managing works of art is not something which can be improvised. Taking the view that art serves as an important landmark in an ever-changing world, the partners decided to bring these works together in a unique collection of art dating back to the year the bank was founded.
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Philanthropic advice to clients
Pictet Wealth Management formalised the philanthropy-related services it offers, in order to help its clients define their philanthropic commitment. The latter may take different forms: gifts or social financing.
First and foremost, however, what counts is the wish to make use of private wealth for the purpose of creating a more sustainable, fairer world.
Personalised advice is offered in support of individuals and families wishing to use their financial resources to make a real difference. We help them structure their philanthropic activities and invest in products aligned with their objectives.
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