The Covid-19 crisis mobilized emergency actions around the world. Through its Inventing the Future program, Fondation de France uses its experience and networks to offer long-term support for associations developing ambitious, game-changing projects, especially those that address issues on a regional level.
The program in a nutshell
The Covid-19 crisis has made living conditions considerably worse for millions of people who were already at-risk, threatening their economic, social and phycological well-being. Financial insecurity, isolation, mental distress and early school leaving are just some of the critical situations facing these vulnerable populations. The crisis has shown a spotlight on the underlying fragility of entire sectors of our society.
And more crises are to come. It is becoming increasingly clear that we need to think beyond emergency measures; we need to consider the long term. We must foster the development of lifestyles, production methods, housing, education, healthcare and social structures that are more resistant to crises and adapted to an environment that is undergoing profound change.
The crisis also highlighted the need to act on a local level, close to those in need, and where joint projects between public, private and civil society stakeholders generate and develop. Experiments are in progress all over France. How can we help them scale up, expand and have more visibility?
The Inventing the Future program is by nature multifaceted: education, health, jobs, environment, and so on. Experimental and innovative, this program does not presume to have solutions beforehand, it develops them with stakeholders, actors of change, based on cross-disciplinary criteria (see interview with Jean-Marie Bergère, committee president).
Inventing the Future draws on Fondation de France’s 50 years of experience, knowledge and networks assisting the nonprofit sector. Through its support of thousands of projects, which has led to strong bonds with hundreds of stakeholders, Fondation de France has accumulated an unprecedented wealth of experience in fighting against all forms of vulnerability. It has developed a unique expertise in identifying innovative projects, and progressively built a network of actors committed to nonprofits: associations and local support groups, foundations and donors, volunteer experts, public agencies, private enterprises and socially responsible businesses, among others.
With six regionally based foundations in the French provinces, Fondation de France understands the diversity of the various territories and the complexity of each. Familiar with their most pressing needs, Fondation de France also knows the actors who can address those needs most effectively.
Inventing the Future aims to mobilize this capital of experience, practices and networking to accelerate the transition towards a model that is more resilient, more just and more sustainable. Aside from financial support, Fondation de France wishes to reinforce its role as both a facilitator and catalyzer of transformation.
The Inventing the Future program functions both on a national scale and at the level of each of Fondation de France’s regional foundations. Given its goal, the program is committed to supporting projects for however long it takes them to develop and deploy. Fondation de France’s donor-assisted funds can join together to participate in funding, depending on the projects and subjects concerned. All donors can also support the program.
