Isabelle Delaplace
Managing Director of the FDJ UNITED Foundation
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[Edito] A corporate foundation’s role is not (just) to provide funding
People are often confused about the exact role of a corporate foundation: is it just a way to boost an organisation’s visibility or does it genuinely support associations? Is its action limited to endowments or does it get involved on the ground? Eight years coordinating the actions of the FDJ UNITED Foundation have taught me a thing or two.
The funding aspect is essential, there can be no doubt about that. This is particularly true now, at a time when public funding is dwindling. Local associations all across France are working to meet very real needs in terms of inclusion, accessibility, education and more.
However, without funding, even the worthiest of ideas will never get off the ground. Financial sponsorship is therefore central to the FDJ UNITED Foundation’s actions. Projects need to be able to grow and become long term, which is why 85% of the projects we select receive funding over several years.
We support a wide variety of projects, with one overriding priority: to promote equal opportunities. We have been concentrating our efforts on education and social inclusion since 2017, as these are fundamental issues that have an impact on people at all stages of their life.
Alongside funding, we also provide specific support to help organisations structure their actions. Our teams are also on hand to lend their expertise to projects, in various fields: communication, digital or marketing, for example. This approach is making a difference, as shown by our latest impact study: 97% of the associations we support say they are satisfied with our collaboration.
However, a corporate foundation is also a driver of social connection. Our “Tremplin Détaillants Solidaires” programme is a good example of this. It enables our retailers to support social impact initiatives in their local areas, in conjunction with our regional branches. More than 200 initiatives are being financed each year, all of them with a strong local link.
Our teams also provide concrete evidence of our commitments: 20% of our staff sign up each year to help with a good cause, such as collecting items for food banks or becoming a mentor. Sometimes, these simple acts can make a huge difference to people’s lives: someone who had sought help through the Rêv’Elles association recently said that her meeting with a legal advisor from FDJ UNITED eight years ago had inspired her to register for a college course in international law.
A corporate foundation takes action that goes far beyond simply writing out a cheque. It is, above all, a driver of social innovation and a bridge between worlds that would otherwise barely collide. At FDJ UNITED, we believe that we must use our performance to give back to society and promote equal opportunities. We work to ensure that every pledge given, every euro invested and every minute spent by our teams go towards building a fairer, more supportive and more inclusive society.
Because, ultimately, a corporate foundation is not just there to give. It is there to transform.
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