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Since they work for business boards, would they be an opportunity for European foundations too? Should a time-limited quota be introduced in relation to gender diversity on foundations’ boards? The matter is complex and needs unpacking, but ultimately, yes.

Christine Robichon is the President of “Solidarity with Turkey and Syria” Committee. Volunteer experts created this committee in the very first days following the earthquakes, enabling it to set out priorities, create partnerships and examine requests for funding. She tells us of her active involvement with Fondation de France.

In a world and society that are disrupted, damaged, dismayed, philanthropy cannot cure everything ... but it is more relevant and necessary than ever.

Fondation de France supports more than 50 projects across the two countries, by responding to the emergency. Priority aid is brought to the most vulnerable: children, women, people who are elderly or disabled and those from isolated or minority areas.

 Examining in depth the relationships between philanthropy and democracy was the object of a study, commissioned by the Fondation de France Philanthropy Observatory.

In the first few weeks following the disaster, emergency assistance was deployed straight away in the many areas affected. Nonprofits on the ground, such as Migrations & Développement – a Fondation de France partner, are backed by a significant network of local village associations.

On September 19, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive against the Nagorna-Karabakh enclave – with a population largely made up of Armenians – causing the mass exodus of around 100,000 people into Armenia. In order to help people who are already very vulnerable after months of blockades, Fondation de France launched a call for funds, in partnership with France Télévision on October 3. To date, 400,000 euros has been raised.

In 2020, the momentum in creating new funds was kept up, despite the pandemic. A total of 42 funds, created by companies, individuals and families, joined France’s leading philanthropy network.

In 2017, there were almost 2,500 foundations and over 1,650 endowment funds in operation in France. Over a third of the foundations were set up after 2010, while the endowment funds, a more recent phenomenon, were all created after 2009. For the most part, foundations are being launched by increasingly younger individuals. 

How can philanthropy help defend the fundamental rights that are liberty, equality and fraternity? From 22 to 24 May 2019, over 600 philanthropy professionals from all over Europe got together to debate this question at the European Foundation Centre (EFC) annual conference, which the Fondation de France was involved in organising.