The Swiss Sponsorship for Mountain Communities, founded in 1940, aims to help ensure that our mountain regions remain habitable, managed and cared for. Every year, the Swiss Sponsorship organisation examines over 300 applications from municipalities and other collective communities with the help of experts on site. Specifically, it helps to renovate drinking water and wastewater facilities, alpine buildings and paths, develop forests and pastures, build or renovate kindergartens and schools, construct avalanche and torrent defences and maintain jobs in mountain regions.