French-American Foundation United States

What French-American Foundation United States does

The French-American Foundation United States is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1976 and headquartered at 28 West 44th Street, New York. It is the only organization dedicated solely to sustaining and strengthening the French-American relationship at the highest levels of leadership, operating as the U.S. counterpart to a sister organization in Paris that shares a common mission but operates independently. Its core programs include the Young Leaders Program (a selective two-year fellowship established in 1981 with nearly 700 alumni worldwide), the annual Cyber Security Conference in Washington, D.C. (since 2014), the invitation-only Transatlantic Forum, the Translation Prize (since 1986, funded by the Florence Gould Foundation), Policy Breakfasts, the Media Practices Program, and an Annual Gala. Engagement cuts vertically across business, government, military, media, academia and the non-profit sectors on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Foundation is supported by individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Lazard is the Lead Sponsor; other named supporters include Greenberg Traurig, JPMorgan Chase, Cravath, Paul Weiss, BNP Paribas, A&O Shearman, L'Oréal, Pfizer, Baker McKenzie, Bloomberg, and Debevoise), planned giving, Transatlantic Forum membership dues ($500/year), and Gala ticket and sponsorship revenue (individual tickets $2,000; Silver $15,000 to Lead $100,000 tiers; journal ads $1,500-$10,000). The Translation Prize awards $10,000 in each of fiction and nonfiction annually. The organization runs with a small staff of 1-10 employees under Co-Executive Directors Margaret Fahey and Jennifer Walden Weprin, with no proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or app/digital product surface; its underlying "technology" is a curated convening and alumni network model that has produced over 500 programs and more than 4,000 participants since 1976.

Name

French-American Foundation United States

Legal name

French-American Foundation

Website

https://frenchamerican.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The French-American Foundation United States is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1976 that convenes French and American leaders from business, government, military, media, academia, and the non-profit sector through programs including the Young Leaders fellowship, Cyber Security Conference, Transatlantic Forum, Translation Prize, and Policy Breakfasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Exchange and Leadership Development

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses (THAHAJAO)

Keywords

• Cultural exchange programs
• Leadership development fellowships
• Transatlantic dialogue initiatives
• Cyber security conferences
• Literary translation prizes

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Giving and Donations: The Foundation receives contributions from individuals committed to strengthening the French-American relationship. Donors are recognized in the Annual Report and at events throughout the year.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate support is a critical part of the Foundation's annual operating budget. Sponsors receive brand visibility, program-related promotional opportunities, access to the Foundation's network of leaders, and recognition in Foundation materials and events.
3. Gala Events: Annual Gala events with individual tickets ($2,000), table sponsorships ($15,000-$100,000), and journal advertisements ($1,500-$10,000) provide significant revenue while celebrating the French-American relationship.
4. Transatlantic Forum Membership Dues: Annual membership fee of $500 for the Transatlantic Forum invitation-only membership group. Covers participation in dinners, cocktail receptions, and special Foundation events.
5. Planned Giving: The Foundation accepts planned gifts including bequests, retirement funds, insurance policies, and life income gifts such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The French-American Foundation operates leadership, policy, and cultural exchange programs that convene French and American leaders from business, government, military, media, academia, and non-profit sectors. Core offerings include the Young Leaders Program (two-year selective fellowship), the Transatlantic Forum (invitation-only membership), the annual Cyber Security Conference, Policy Breakfasts, the Translation Prize, the Annual Gala, and the Media Practices Program. The Foundation is supported by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, gala revenues, and membership dues.

Product overview

The French-American Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining and strengthening the French-American relationship through multiple interconnected programs. Its portfolio includes the flagship Young Leaders Program (a two-year fellowship established in 1981), the annual Cyber Security Conference (convening defense and technology leaders since 2014), the Transatlantic Forum (an invitation-only membership group), the Translation Prize (awarding excellence in French-to-English literary translation since 1986), Policy Breakfasts (exclusive thought leadership discussions), and an Annual Gala. These programs construct a vertical path through diverse constituents, convening leaders from business, government, military, media, academia, and the not-for-profit sectors to advance solutions to shared transatlantic concerns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 700 alumni of Young Leaders Program across the globe
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• French-American Foundation FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization in Paris sharing common name, parallel legal structure, and common mission but operating independently. Collaborates closely on programs including the annual Cyber Security Conference, Transatlantic Forum, and Young Leaders exchange. The dual structure enables addressing specific interests and needs of constituents on both sides of the Atlantic.
• Greenberg TraurigcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost sponsor of the annual Cyber Security Conference in Washington D.C. offices. Edward C. Wallace serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig's New York office.
• HistoveryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted Transatlantic Forum event featuring Notre Dame Cathedral Exhibition, demonstrating collaboration on cultural programming between France and the U.S.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Council on Germany: Non-profit, non-partisan policy and exchange organization that fosters transatlantic dialogue between the U.S. and Germany. Directly comparable to FAF as a bilateral relationship foundation running leadership programs, policy convenings, and exchange initiatives between the two countries.
• The Japan Foundation: Government-affiliated but operationally independent bilateral cultural and intellectual exchange foundation fostering U.S.–Japan relations. Directly comparable as a dedicated bilateral relationship foundation with fellowship programs, cultural prizes, arts exchange, and recurring convening functions.
• British-American Business (BAB): Transatlantic membership-based business organization connecting U.S. and U.K. business leaders. Comparable to FAF's Transatlantic Forum model: paid membership tiers, exclusive networking events, and corporate sponsorships to sustain programs on bilateral relations.
• The German Marshall Fund of the United States: Washington-based nonpartisan policy institute dedicated to strengthening transatlantic cooperation between the U.S. and Europe. Directly comparable as a private foundation that convenes leaders, runs fellowship-style leadership programs, and convenes policy events across the Atlantic — the closest analog to FAF but broader in European scope.
• French-American Chamber of Commerce: Bilateral business-promotion non-profit connecting French and American companies and professionals through networking events, panels, and sponsorship tiers. Directly comparable as a U.S.–France-focused non-profit with overlapping sponsor pool and constituency (law firms, finance, life sciences), but oriented toward commercial activity rather than leadership convening.

Broad incumbents

• Asia Society: Larger non-profit organization based in New York dedicated to fostering connections between U.S. and Asian leaders through policy programs, arts, and education. Comparable in mission profile — leadership convening, cultural exchange, high-profile galas, and policy dialogue — but operating at much greater scale and broader geographic scope.
• Atlantic Council: Major Washington-based nonpartisan think tank on international affairs with deep transatlantic focus, including programs, fellowships, and high-profile convenings (e.g., Global Citizen Awards). Broader policy orientation than FAF but directly comparable in running recurring transatlantic convenings on issues like cybersecurity and policy breakfasts.
• Council on Foreign Relations: Prestigious New York-based nonpartisan membership organization and think tank dedicated to foreign policy and international affairs. Comparable for its member-driven model (~$500 annual dues), exclusive convenings of government, business, and academic leaders, and policy breakfasts — directly mirrors the Transatlantic Forum's structure and pricing.
• American Academy of Arts and Sciences: Prestigious honorary society and policy research center convening elected leaders across business, academia, and government. Comparable in its selective membership model, intellectual convening role, and high-prestige non-partisan convening functions that mirror FAF's policy forums and Translation Prize dimensions.

Emerging players

• Robert Bosch Foundation (Americas) / Cultural Vistas: Operates the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program and similar transatlantic leadership exchanges for young professionals. Closely aligned with FAF's Young Leaders Program in target demographic (ages 30-40), selection rigor, and bilateral fellowship structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/french-american-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about French-American Foundation United States