Ernst Göhner was one of the Swiss economic pioneers of the 20th century. He developed from a craftsman to a general contractor (including Göhner Group, Bauwerk AG, EgoKiefer AG), inventor (Schindler-Göhner system) and investor (including Panalpina Welttransport AG, Auto Union GmbH, now Audi AG). With his companies, Ernst Göhner not only created thousands of jobs. As early as the early 1940s, he founded various welfare foundations for his employees, supported young artists and professionals, people in need and charitable institutions. Ernst Göhner was friends with the founder of Migros, Gottlieb Duttweiler, among others. Göhner and Duttweiler shared the basic idea of “social capital.”

The Ernst Göhner Foundation is one of the most important foundations in Switzerland. According to the foundation deed, the foundation must manage and develop the foundation's assets from an entrepreneurial perspective and with entrepreneurial initiative. Each year, the Ernst Göhner Foundation distributes a considerable portion of its profits for charitable purposes in the areas of cultural, environmental, social, education and science. It also fulfils the tasks of a family foundation.