Supports vulnerable communities through housing and economic empowerment.
The Hilti Foundation, established in 1996, is a charitable organization jointly funded by the Martin Hilti Family Trust and the Hilti Group. It focuses on three main areas: Music for Social Change, Affordable Housing & Technology, and Economic Empowerment. The foundation aims to support people from vulnerable backgrounds, offering opportunities for skill development and self-determination. The foundation receives 2% of the Hilti Group's annual profits, supplemented by additional donations from the Hilti family. This funding enables the foundation to pursue long-term initiatives aimed at systemic change in developing countries and emerging economies. One of the foundation's significant projects is the BASE Bahay Foundation, launched in 2014, which promotes bamboo as a sustainable building material in the Global South. Over 1,500 homes have been built using innovative bamboo technology in the Philippines and Nepal. Another notable initiative is the Basic Entrepreneur Training (BET) program, which has helped over 19,000 farmers escape extreme poverty in Kenya and Tanzania since 2017. The foundation also partnered with Habitat for Humanity on a $7.5 million project to support the MicroBuild Fund, providing affordable housing finance to low-income families. The Hilti Foundation collaborates with local partners and other organizations to implement its projects, emphasizing shared values and complementary skills in its partnerships.