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Committed to sustainable development

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted in 2015 by all of the UN member states, structure the work of all countries in promoting prosperity and ending poverty, while preserving the planet. Active in all non-profit sectors, Fondation de France incorporates this approach in both its charitable activities and its organization.

Intergenerational transmission drives philanthropy, which is why Fondation de France and its donor-advised funds work for a better world, day after day. By supporting each year more than 10,000 projects in all nonprofit sectors, they contribute actively to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Combating poverty, reducing inequalities, protecting the environment, these are some of the interdependent areas for which Fondation de France has chosen to measure its contribution and that of its donor-advised funds.

Since 2019, it has been identifying the most relevant SDGs for each of the projects it supports. They represent a common point of reference with which to guide the work of Fondation de France and its donor-advised funds and to involve all project leaders in this positive momentum.

In 2020, three SDGs stood out in the work carried out by Fondation de France and its donor-advised funds, largely because of the pandemic.

SDG 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Medical research, improving mental health and supporting health workers and carers are all examples of how the Covid-19 pandemic made healthcare the number one priority.

SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION

Promoting quality education was another major issue in 2020. The pandemic exacerbated already existing inequalities and had a massive impact on the risk of early school leaving and the digital divide, among other issues. Education was one of our key priorities in 2020.

SDG 10: REDUCED INEQUALITIES

Most of the projects we support contribute to reducing inequalities over the short and long term, be they economic, environmental, or related to disability and gender.

SDG 1: NO POVERTY and SDG 13: CLIMATE ACTIONS are at third and fourth place respectively. The Covid-19 pandemic led to new forms of poverty. Throughout France, Fondation de France and its donor-advised funds supported projects for the most vulnerable. The pandemic also highlighted the urgent need to act for the planet and to prevent new climate change events, on a global scale. This is a battle Fondation de France has been engaged in for more than 50 years.

Promoting an ecological and inclusive approach

The 17 SDGs are interdependent. Whatever field project leaders operate in (education, healthcare, etc.), it is essential that environmental issues be taken into account. To that end, Fondation de France, the leading private organization supporting community nonprofits, offers additional help: the “e+” program. This takes the form of help with methodology, to assess the project’s environmental impact and identify the most sustainable solutions.

“This commitment follows on from the ecological encouragement launched more than 10 years to nudge nonprofits into improving the environmental impact of their work,” explains An-Gaëlle Bénédic, Head of Programs and Foundations, Ecological and Inclusive Transition.

Finance serving the public interest

Fondation de France makes a rigorous assessment of its investments, to ensure that the investment policy is fully aligned with its charitable activities. In 2019, in addition to socially responsible investments (SRIs), Fondation de France launched a social and environmental impact fund (also known as impact investing) France 2i . The aim is to invest directly in companies that are designing new tools to combat climate change, promote inclusion, improve vulnerable people’s living conditions, reduce inequalities, contribute to sustainable and shared growth and so on.

“With a capital of 100 million euros from its creation, the fund invested 32 million euros, supporting nine companies carrying out business projects in the fields of energy transition, agricultural transition, circular economy, social inclusion and ocean preservation”, says Fondation de France Financial Director Olivier Neumann.

Developing a sustainable development culture internally

Fondation de France, which has more than 200 staff and 500 volunteers, examined its own practices and internal operations. In order to measure its environmental impact, it launched a number of initiatives: measurement of carbon footprint, waste disposal and recycling, “plastic-free” projects and awareness raising, sustainable and responsible purchasing policy, collaboration with community caterers, mobility plan study, a bike parking facility, a webinar on SDGs and so on. A group of volunteer staff is raising awareness of a sustainable development culture and working on sharing it internally.

Fondation de France wants to meet the targets it has set itself fully, so that it can contribute to global efforts, as part of the 2030 Agenda.

“By adopting an approach that involves both staff and volunteers, we are developing a truly sustainable development culture internally,” says Thierry Ployart, Head of the Work Environment team.

A few examples

The 10,000 or so projects supported by Fondation de France all relate to one or several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Here are a few examples.

SDGs: some examples of actions

For the past 20 years, Fondation de France has been supporting the “compagnons bâtisseurs” (master builders) who assist, train and work with low-income households in housing rehabilitation.

In Mali, local nonprofit ICD helps mini-dairies to grow, by raising farmers’ income and making it easier for residents to access local dairy products.

In Le Havre, La Compagnie des Voyageurs Imaginaires (a story-telling theater company) organizes interactive meetings with carers of elderly relatives with neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis). A theater show was produced, changing people’s perception and honoring the work of carers.

A nonprofit that promotes empowerment through sport uses physical activity as a platform for the inclusion of young women who are experiencing personal and social problems. They become more confident and start to engage in community life.

Bou’sol is an inclusive and responsible bakery which sources its fair trade organic wheat locally. It provides school canteens with whole-grain, nutritious bread of high quality. It also trains people seeking to enter the labor market and offers lower prices to food banks

In Avignon, a research group focusing on organic agriculture opened an experimental farm (la Durette) in 2015. The site provides a testing ground, in actual economic conditions, for agroecological production. This consists in combining vegetable crops, fruit trees and small livestock operations, while optimizing biodiversity.

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