In total, there are 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland, with the World Heritage Experience Switzerland (WHES) acting as their national umbrella organisation. The association is concerned with all challenges related to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland, including preservation and appreciation. Being a non-profit organisation, the financial aspect of their business is always a vital part of their operations.

Currently, the WHES is searching for new financing possibilities. This bachelor thesis aims to elaborate on those new funding opportunities with special consideration of institutional support and patronage contributions. The main questions about whether there are funding opportunities supported by the government, which are focused on financing the overall operations and not just single projects of a non-profit organisation, and how the WHES will be able to attract more patrons in the future through their website, social media platforms, and other channels are considered.

The primary research consists out of various interviews with players from the World Heritage environment and a representative from the canton of Graubünden. The secondary research consists of an investigation of the legal basis of government-supported funding mechanisms, a literature review, which focuses on best practices for non-profit organisations to acquire funding, and a stakeholder analysis of the WHES. During the research and analysis process of this bachelor thesis, the authors found that governmental funding programs are mainly focused on financing single projects rather than the overall day-to-day operations of a non-profit organisation. If the WHES would want their daily business to be financed, they may need to consider creating a legal basis for that support. An established legal basis could place the WHES as the official umbrella organisation for the UNESCO sites in Switzerland, in which all sites have to partner with the association. To attract new patrons and private members, the authors recommend undertaking steps to change the website to a more user-friendly donation process. Furthermore, more diverse payment methods for donations should be considered.