Second meeting of the Cercle de la collecte internationale: working together to develop cross-border philanthropy
On 23 October, Fondation de France’s international network, Cross-border philanthropy, organised the second meeting of the Cercle de la collecte internationale, a forum for exchanges between peers and the development of best practices to succeed in and optimise international fundraising.
“The aim of this meeting is to share stories and experiences, but also to provide tools for international fundraising and create a collective impetus to develop cross-border philanthropy and build joint projects,” said Damien Bigot, head of international philanthropy at Fondation de France, in his introduction.
The event brought together around a hundred participants, including organisations registered with the European TGE (Transnational Giving Europe), Fondation de France Asia and Friends of Fondation de France , as well as representatives of associations in a range of fields, from culture and education to sport and medical research.
Anne Cornilleau, head of research at Fondation de France's Philanthropy & Society Observatory, and Meriem Trabelsi, head of research and institutional projects, then presented the results of the World Giving Index 2025 , an annual study that measures and compares generosity in 101 countries around the world. This was a highlight of the morning, giving participants the opportunity to explore the major trends in international philanthropy and the specific characteristics of each region of the world, particularly those relating to the way in which not-for-profit organisations make themselves known to donors.
At a workshop on tools for international fundraising, two project leaders spoke about their experience in the United States. “The work involved in writing calls for projects in France and the USA is very different. The narrative is reversed. In France, associations tend to play down their results, whereas in the United States, this must absolutely be avoided. On the contrary, you really have to sell yourself,” explained Héloïse Onumba-Bessonnet, director of the LOBA association , a finalist in a call for projects from the Melinda French Gates Foundation. “The support of Friends of Fondation de France has been invaluable, both in understanding the specifics of the USA and in drafting the call for projects,” she added.
Led by Domitille Marchal-Lemoine, Executive Director of Friends of Fondation de France, and Julien-Loïc Garin, Executive Director of Fondation de France Asia, the workshop also provided an opportunity to answer more precisely the questions that arise when fundraising internationally. How do you identify potential donors? How do you approach them? How do you adapt your association’s presentation documents? And so on.
The day was also marked by Fondation de France’s announcement that it would be strengthening its presence in Asia. “We are about to support the creation of a partner organisation in Japan based on the same model as Friends of Fondation de France. This partner organisation will enable our members to go and collect from donors, whether companies or individuals, in Japan,” explained Damien Bigot.
This annual meeting of members of the Cross-border philanthropy service is part of the international fundraising support programme offered by Fondation de France. Small-group workshops and themed conferences are then organised throughout the year to provide public-interest bodies with the latest updates and trends in international philanthropy.