The Alfred Escher Foundation was established with charitable status in 2006. Various institutions and political bodies with close associations to Alfred Escher are involved in the foundation: Credit Suisse (set up by Escher as Schweizerische Kreditanstalt), Swiss Life (Schweizerische Rentenanstalt), and Swiss Re (Schweizerische Rückversicherungsgesellschaft), as well as the Canton and City of Zurich. Other cantons and the SBB Swiss Federal Railways (successor to Switzerland's Nordostbahn and Gotthard Railway Companies) also contribute significant sums to fund the Foundation's activities. In addition, private organizations provide funding for individual projects.

List of donors