This very French love of Foundations, is it a modern expression of the French art of living in the 21st Century?
While gastronomy and the arts have long been ambassadors of the French art de vivre, another, quieter yet powerful and meaningful pillar is increasingly emerging as a true reflection of our culture: foundations.
According to a recent article by Célia Szymczak in CarenewsInfo, nearly 6,000 foundations and endowment funds are currently active in France, and this number continues to rise, up 4% between 2023 and 2024, according to the Philanthropy Barometer published by the Fondation de France.
But beyond the numbers, it’s the values carried by these institutions that make them a modern expression of the French way of life: values of commitment, transmission, collective responsibility, humanism, bold ambition, and a thoughtful approach to time in action. Like many aspects of the art de vivre, a foundation is envisioned with an eye toward immediate impact, a phased rollout, and long-term sustainability. This requires both boldness and flair, as foundations often embody visions that run counter to short-term urgency, their central goal being to provide structured responses to deep, long-term issues, whether social, environmental, cultural, or educational.
This attention to meaning, the pursuit of purposeful action, the balance of impact and discretion, all of this echoes a very French conception of engagement.
The Barometer also highlights a generational shift, and this is particularly noteworthy. In the past 20 years, the proportion of foundation founders under the age of 35 has nearly tripled. Young philanthropists tend to focus on environmental and humanist causes, while more experienced founders continue to champion cultural, social, and health-related issues. Each generation, in its own way, is shaping a form of philanthropy in its image. And in all cases, the same high standards apply: combining effectiveness, long-term impact, purpose, and boldness.
Foundations are, therefore, much more than legal or fiscal tools. They are the reflection of enlightened commitment and thus, a reflection of our art de vivre.
And you, what cause would you choose if you were to create a foundation?