DEPARTURE STATION: ORIGIN AND CONTEXT
The Fondation de Lille is recognised as the first community foundation in France, pioneering this model since 2008. That year also marked the first significant interest in community foundations within the country. Since then, the Fondation de Lille has collaborated with the Centre Français des Fondations (CFF), a key support organisation in the French philanthropic sector, to explore and develop the concept.
In 2013, the CFF published “Philanthropie à la Française,” the first major study on territorial foundations in France. This publication was the result of a five-year research process, during which multiple foundations engaged in a study circle to examine different community foundation models, with a particular focus on the Canadian approach.
A unique aspect of the French context is that community foundations cannot be formally called “community foundations” due to cultural and legal reasons. Instead, they are referred to as “Fondations Territoriales” (Territorial Foundations).
Key Developments
In 2021, the “Fondation des Territoires,” sheltered by the Fondation de Lille, was launched in partnership with Le Rameau and the Fondation de Lille. This initiative aimed to revive interest in community foundation models and led to the “Diptic Report,” which highlighted the stagnation of the model due to cultural factors.
By late 2022 and early 2023, the Fondation de Lille joined the C2C project in collaboration with Porticus, ECFI, and AEF, aiming to further develop territorial foundations in France and Spain. In France, the foundation initiated a working group with existing FTs to establish a national network of territorial foundations.
HOW FRENCH COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OPERATE: ENGINEERING THE SYSTEM
- Estimated 15-20 Territorial Foundations in France
- No legal status for territorial foundations, meaning they lack formal legal recognition
- Approximately 3,000 foundations exist in France
- Many French foundations operate under the structure of an “abritée” (sheltered
foundation), meaning they are hosted by an umbrella foundation - Three key umbrella foundations: Fondation de France, FACE Foundation, Fondation de
Lille
Development Models for Territorial Foundations
The Fondation de Lille functions as:
- A community foundation
- An umbrella organisation
- A leading actor in developing a French community foundation network
The models of territorial foundations in France are diverse, reflecting the country’s regional variations. For instance, in Loire Atlantique, a local foundation was established in 2023 ago as a citizen-led initiative with approximately 40 stakeholders (citizens, businesses, local authorities). Prior to its official launch, the foundation underwent a 1.5-year co-creation process.
Activities of a Territorial Foundation:
- Fundraising for social and environmental projects
- Supporting associations in mobilising resources
- Providing training on sponsorship and fundraising
- Establishing local observatories to monitor inequalities
- Facilitating connections between different societal actors
- Supporting the ecosystem: for example, in Nantes, a foundation assists 270 local associations through funding, sponsorship, and in-kind contributions
- Acting as a trusted intermediary in areas where existing support structures are lacking
FUTURE CHALLENGES AND STATIONS AHEAD
When setting up new foundations, the Fondation de Lille, in its role as an umbrella foundation, encourages working groups to undertake a “foreshadowing” phase. This includes conducting territorial diagnoses to assess the local needs and define strategic intervention areas before establishing a new FT.
Despite the growing interest in territorial foundations, challenges persist, particularly in terms of socio-economic sustainability. France’s philanthropic landscape is dominated by state funding and public donations, creating a competitive environment where territorial foundations struggle for recognition.
Moving forward, potential efforts should focus on:
- Advancing recognition of territorial foundations at the national level
- Defining clear characteristics of CFs and their roles
- Strengthening the financial sustainability of territorial foundations
- Capacity-building for existing CFs
- Creating a national coalition of key actors, including Fondation de France, CFF, FACE Foundation, and Fondation de Lille
Additionally, specialised organisations are examining alternative socio-economic models to enhance the resilience of FTs. Some crucial questions and points remain:
- What role can local authorities play in amplifying citizen engagement and addressing regional challenges?
- Developing a robust framework for funding territorial foundations is essential to ensuring their long-term impact and sustainability.
Find more about the French community philanthropy field here
https://www.fondationdelille.org/
