Survey finds solidarity remains deeply rooted in Switzerland

95% of people in Switzerland say solidarity matters for social cohesion, according to a new Swiss Solidarity survey released on September 25, 2026. The finding places mutual aid among the country’s most widely shared civic values, across generations and demographic groups.

The survey also records a more qualified view of daily life. 68% of respondents said Swiss society as a whole is characterised by solidarity. The gap between the two figures points to a clear public perception: people strongly endorse solidarity as an ideal, while fewer see it consistently reflected in society around them.

Swiss Solidarity published the results for its 80th anniversary. The organisation traces its origins to a Radio Sottens broadcast on September 26, 1946, before the station became part of Swiss public broadcaster RTS. Over eight decades, its campaigns have linked broadcasters, donors and aid organisations in response to emergencies at home and abroad.

The results arrive as wars, natural disasters, displacement and economic pressure compete for public attention. Swiss Solidarity’s findings suggest that support for collective responsibility remains broad, even as people assess individual appeals more carefully.

76% of respondents said donors should check whether people really deserve support before giving. That figure reflects a more deliberate approach to charity as multiple crises place competing demands on household budgets and public attention.

A further 42% said aid should be limited to people who had fallen on hard times through no fault of their own. The survey does not identify which crises or groups respondents had in mind, but the result shows that solidarity is increasingly being discussed alongside responsibility, eligibility and proof of need.

Donation willingness itself remains relatively stable. 60% of respondents said their willingness to donate had not changed. 28% reported an increase, while 8% reported a decline. The figures, provided by Swiss Solidarity, indicate that caution has not translated into a broad retreat from giving.

The distinction matters for charities operating in Switzerland. Donors may continue to contribute, while asking more questions about how money is allocated, who receives assistance and whether a campaign can demonstrate results. Swiss Solidarity’s survey records this scrutiny without presenting it as a rejection of aid. It shows a public that continues to value solidarity while applying tighter conditions to charitable decisions.

CHF 2.2 billion has been raised through 275 Swiss Solidarity campaigns since the organisation’s first broadcast appeal in 1946. The money has supported aid projects in 124 countries, as well as programmes in Switzerland.

The organisation’s fundraising history shows how a media appeal can mobilise donations across linguistic and regional boundaries. Swiss Solidarity developed from a radio initiative into a long-running humanitarian institution associated with emergency appeals and public broadcasting. Its 80th anniversary offers a rare opportunity to measure both the organisation’s financial reach and the public’s continuing attachment to its mission.

The largest amount raised for a single response followed the 2004 tsunami in South-East Asia, when donations reached CHF 227.7 million. That campaign remains a benchmark for the scale of Swiss public giving after a major international disaster.

The historical totals also provide context for the 2026 survey. Solidarity in Switzerland is expressed through everyday assistance, local organisations and formal donations, but Swiss Solidarity’s campaigns have made the response visible on a national scale. The organisation’s record covers changing crises and changing media habits, while the survey suggests that the underlying expectation of helping others remains widely shared.

1,618 adults took part in the representative survey between June 4 and July 1, 2026. Gfs.bern conducted the study with the Centre for Philanthropy Studies at the University of Basel, giving Swiss Solidarity’s anniversary a current measure of public attitudes rather than relying solely on its fundraising history.

The findings offer charities, broadcasters and civil society groups a practical signal. A large majority supports solidarity as a principle, but a smaller share sees it as a defining feature of society in everyday life. Organisations seeking donations will need to explain their priorities clearly and show how funds reach people in need.

The survey also suggests that the language of solidarity carries different expectations. For some respondents, it means broad assistance during crises. For others, it requires evidence of hardship and careful limits on eligibility. These views can coexist within the same national conversation, particularly when household finances and the number of visible emergencies are under pressure.

Swiss Solidarity enters its ninth decade with a durable fundraising network and a public that remains willing to give. The 2026 results point toward a future in which that willingness will depend increasingly on transparency, credible assessments of need and clear evidence of impact.