The artist and filmmaker Matto Barfuss is committed to the protection of cheetahs and biodiversity through his non-profit Matto Barfuss Stiftung, founded in 2025. At the Ascona Polo Cup, this commitment meets a tournament where respect for the animal and the spirit of charity are firmly anchored. The foundation collaborates with the Cheetah Conservation Fund with a focus on Botswana.
There are guests you don't just welcome – you look forward to seeing them. Matto Barfuss is one such guest. The artist and filmmaker, whose heart has beaten for Africa's cheetahs for decades, is one of those personalities who make the Ascona Polo Cup much more than just a sporting event. For where horse and rider trust each other unconditionally at full gallop, where respect for the animal is paramount, and where the spirit of charity is deeply anchored in the tournament's self-image, that is where a person like Matto Barfuss feels at home.
From association to foundation – an idea grows
The non-profit Matto Barfuss Stiftung was founded in 2025. It emerged from the association "Leben für Geparden e.V.", which was established by Matto Barfuss in 1998 and has worked for many years for the conservation of wild cheetahs. What started with the love for a single, fascinating species has matured into a much greater realization: A species only survives if the entire breadth of global biodiversity is protected and preserved. It is from this insight that the foundation has emerged – more broadly based, more forward-looking, and with the courage to plan for the future in the long term.
The cheetah remains the guiding animal here, the species that is particularly important to protect. But today, the view extends beyond it, for our planet is facing the greatest loss of species it has ever experienced. Preserving individual species in isolation is not sufficient. The foundation, which replaces the association, addresses exactly this – more effectively, more sustainably, and more future-oriented.
What moves the foundation
The Matto Barfuss Foundation promotes the protection of cheetahs in direct cooperation with the renowned Cheetah Conservation Fund. It supports educational initiatives that reduce conflicts between humans and animals, and pursues the goal of acquiring land in Africa in the future in accordance with "Biodiversity Credits" to expand and connect protected areas. Special emphasis is placed on the bridge between Europe and Africa with a focus on Botswana – for species conservation is a global concern that only succeeds through joint efforts.
Worldwide, there are fewer than 7,000 wild cheetahs today. A central concern of the foundation is also education: it brings schools from Europe and Botswana together and helps children understand how to interact with wild animals and perceive species conservation as a global issue.
Emotions move – the parallel to polo
And it is precisely here that perhaps the most beautiful parallel to polo reveals itself: It is the feeling and the enthusiasm that set people in motion. Matto Barfuss knows this like few others. With the power of his art, his films, and his presentations, he makes highly complex connections visible and tangible – factually grounded and at the same time deeply moving. That is why the foundation consciously supports creativity in art and film: because knowledge only unfolds its effect when it reaches the heart.
«With commitment, motivation, and respect, we can master the challenge of living in a species-rich and diverse world.»
Making a difference together
At Lake Maggiore, people meet who not only know about responsibility but live it. They celebrate sport, style, and togetherness – and at the same time give something back. The Matto Barfuss Stiftung invites you to become part of this movement and contribute to promoting, preserving, and expanding biodiversity.
As a non-profit foundation under German law, it issues donation receipts; according to German tax law, donations are tax-deductible.
«Let's make a difference together.» – The Board of the foundation
Matto Barfuss Foundation · matto-barfuss-stiftung.de
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Matto Barfuss?
Matto Barfuss is an artist and filmmaker who has been fighting for Africa's cheetahs for decades. Through his foundation, he is committed to the protection of biodiversity and is a guest at the Ascona Polo Cup.
What is the Matto Barfuss Stiftung?
A non-profit foundation established in 2025, which emerged from the association «Leben für Geparden e.V.», founded in 1998. It works for the protection of cheetahs and the preservation of global biodiversity.
What does the foundation work for?
For the protection of cheetahs as a species and for biodiversity in general. This includes educational initiatives, bringing schools from Europe and Botswana together, as well as the long-term goal of expanding and connecting protected areas in Africa via «Biodiversity Credits».
Who does the foundation collaborate with?
The Matto Barfuss Stiftung supports cheetah conservation in direct cooperation with the renowned Cheetah Conservation Fund, with a focus on Botswana.
How can one support the foundation?
Via a donation to the non-profit foundation. As a foundation under German law, it issues donation receipts; according to German tax law, donations are tax-deductible. Committed supporters are also sought, e.g., for educational projects in municipalities and schools.