What Salvation Army Foundation does

The Fondation de l'Armée du Salut is a French nonprofit foundation headquartered in Paris that delivers a comprehensive portfolio of humanitarian and social services to vulnerable populations across metropolitan France. It operates as the social-action arm of the international Salvation Army movement in France, distinct from but coordinated with the parallel Congrégation entity that handles spiritual programs. The Foundation's core offering spans emergency shelter, food aid (including the Soupes de Nuit program distributing more than 100,000 meals annually), professional insertion, child protection via Maisons d'Enfants à Caractère Social (MECS), disability care through Foyers d'Accueil Médicalisés (FAM), elderly care, and specialized support for women victims of violence and unaccompanied foreign minors. Services are delivered through a network of more than 200 establishments spanning 28 departments and 11 regions, supplemented by 24/7 emergency hotlines (Samu Social 115/SIAO), mobile street outreach (maraudes), and digital touchpoints.

The Foundation's revenue model is diversified across four streams: individual donations (eligible for 75% tax reduction up to €2,000 and 66% beyond, plus IFI eligibility), legacies and life-insurance gifts, corporate partnerships including Mécénat de compétences skills-based volunteering and partnerships with companies such as Doony's and AXA, and public funding that forms the largest share of total resources. All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, and the organization reports that approximately 92% of total resources are directed to field actions. Distribution is direct-to-beneficiary through owned physical establishments, street teams, and emergency coordination infrastructure; customer acquisition on the donor side is multi-channel including a website (armeedusalut.fr), an SSL-encrypted online donations platform (donner.armeedusalut.fr), a digital volunteer platform (Plateforme d'Action Bénévole), social media, email newsletters, and signature annual events such as Donut Day, Marmites de Noël (Christmas kettles in 26 cities), and the Nuit de la Philanthropie at Salle Gaveau. Recognized as a public utility since 2000 and holder of the IDEAS governance label, the Foundation operates within a tightly integrated ecosystem of departmental councils (ASE/PJJ placements), municipalities, healthcare providers, and peer NGOs.

Name

Salvation Army Foundation

Legal name

Fondation de l'Armée du Salut

Website

https://armeedusalut.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Fondation de l'Armée du Salut is a French nonprofit foundation that delivers humanitarian and social services — emergency shelter, food aid, child protection, disability care, and professional insertion — to vulnerable populations through 200+ establishments across France, funded by donations, legacies, corporate partnerships, and public funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (62421), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAG), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Personal Care & ADL Assistance (bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility) (HLADAGAA)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Emergency shelter programs
• Food assistance services
• Social reintegration programs
• Disability care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time and recurring donations. Tax deduction of 75% for social action donations (up to 2,000 euros), 66% beyond. IFI (Impôt sur la Fortune Immobilière) donations available.
2. Legacies and Life Insurance: Bequests, life insurance policies, and donations through succession services for long-term donor relationships.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors, skills-based volunteering (mécénat de compétences), and philanthropy programs. Doony's partnership for Donut Day providing donuts.
4. Public Funding: Approximately 92% of resources (private and public funds) are allocated to field actions. Recognized as public utility since 2000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Fondation de l'Armée du Salut delivers a portfolio of humanitarian and social services across more than 200 establishments in 28 French departments. Its core offerings span emergency shelter, food aid (night soup kitchens, food parcels, social restaurants), housing and long-term accommodation, professional insertion, child protection (MECS/foyers), disability care (FAM, MAS, ESAT), and support for women victims of violence, asylum seekers, and isolated elderly persons.

Product overview

The Fondation de l'Armée du Salut operates as a multi-service charitable organization with two main branches — the Congregation (spiritual action) and the Foundation (social action). The core offering is a portfolio of interconnected social programs and humanitarian services organized around key verticals: food aid (Soupes de Nuit, restaurants sociaux, food parcels, food trucks), shelter and housing (emergency shelters, social residences, pensions de famille), professional insertion, child and youth protection (MECS/foyers, child-placement programs), disability care (FAM, MAS, ESAT), and support for women victims of violence. These programs are delivered through over 200 establishments across 28 French departments. Fundraising and volunteering are facilitated through the online Donations Platform, the volunteer engagement programs (Service Civique, Mécénat de Compétences), and the volunteer-facing Plateforme d'Action Bénévole (PAB). Seasonal campaigns such as Opération Chaleur Solidaire and Marmites de Noël amplify engagement. The flagship Palais de la Femme and the Samu Social 115 represent landmark service programs. The June 2025 launch of the 'L'Odyssée de Nour' communication campaign marked a new phase of public engagement tied to the Palais de la Femme's 2026 centenary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Action Sociale (Social Action Programs) A broad range of social support programs including emergency shelter, food assistance, professional insertion, and housing support for vulnerable populations across France.
• Action Spirituelle (Spiritual Programs) Spiritual support and religious ministry programs offered through the Congregation arm of the organization.
• Donations Platform Online donation platform enabling tax-deductible gifts for social action (75% tax reduction) and spiritual missions (66% tax reduction), with SSL-encrypted secure transactions.
• Service Civique (Civic Service Program) Solidarity service program for young people aged 16–25 (up to 30 for people with disabilities) committing to 6–12 month missions in areas such as food aid, social link, professional insertion, and literacy.
• Mécénat de Compétences (Skills Sponsorship) Corporate volunteering program allowing companies to mobilize employees through three formats: solidarity days, specific project missions, and long-term skills sponsorship for sustained social impact.
• Plateforme d'Action Bénévole (Volunteer Action Platform) Digital volunteer management platform enabling citizens to discover and sign up for volunteering missions across the organization's locations in France.
• Soupes de Nuit (Night Soups) Nighttime meal distribution program serving over 100,000 meals annually to homeless and precariously housed individuals, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
• Palais de la Femme Flagship shelter and support center in Paris accommodating over 400 people (including 50 children) annually through nine housing, insertion, and social support programs, including a shelter for women victims of violence.
• Samu Social 115 / SIAO 24/7 emergency hotline and mobile outreach service directing homeless and at-risk individuals to appropriate shelter and support, combining a telephone platform with street-level maraude teams.
• Aide Alimentaire (Food Aid Programs) Comprehensive food assistance including social restaurants, food parcels, social groceries, mobile kitchens, and food trucks serving people in precarity across France.
• Hébergement et Logement (Shelter and Housing) Emergency and long-term housing solutions including emergency shelters, social residences, family pensions, and accommodation for women victims of violence, covering over 200 establishments.
• Insertion Professionnelle (Professional Insertion) Employment support programs offering workshops, vocational training, job readiness pathways, and internship placements to help vulnerable individuals return to sustainable employment.
• Foyers d'Accueil Médicalisés (FAM) Medically supervised residential facilities for adults with disabilities requiring ongoing medical and social support, featuring multidisciplinary teams of caregivers, psychologists, and physiotherapists.
• Maisons d'Enfants à Caractère Social (MECS) / Foyers Child and youth care homes for children and adolescents aged 1–21 placed by child protective services, offering educational support, schooling, cultural activities, psychological support, and social accompaniment.
• Porteurs de Flambeau (Scout Movement) Salvationist scout movement including Étincelles (ages 6–7), Cadets (ages 8–12), and Aînés (ages 13–17), offering annual camps, social action, spiritual reflection, and inclusive youth development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ meals distributed annually through night soup kitchens
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, notable and core.

• Kansas City ChiefsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2025NFL team partnership for community gifting initiatives during holiday season. Part of Kingdom Christmas celebration including holiday pop-up bar experiences.
• Association Le MasnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2025Co-founded La Colline shelter in Lyon for isolated mothers and children. Joint project with Métropole de Lyon as the funder. Demonstrates collaborative approach to addressing housing precarity.
• Doony'snotableGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for Donut Day events. Doony's provides donuts distributed through Salvation Army establishments across France. Partnership enables annual fundraising events with tens of thousands of donuts distributed.
• AXAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner mentioned in context of Donut Day 4th edition, with employees volunteering at AXA headquarters to distribute donuts and promote Salvation Army actions.
• Local authorities and social servicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnerships with departmental councils for ASE (Aide Sociale à l'Enfance) placements, judges for PJJ placements, CCAS for social evaluations, and MDPH for disability accommodations.
• Healthcare and social sector partnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborations with healthcare providers, psychological services, medical-legal professionals for comprehensive victim support and social reintegration programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Restos du Cœur: Major French food-aid nonprofit distributing tens of millions of meals annually through a national network of centers—directly comparable in food-distribution program and donor-funded delivery model.
• Croix-Rouge française: French Red Cross operates emergency shelters, food aid, refugee programs, and elderly/disability care nationally as a recognized public-utility nonprofit—directly comparable in mission, scale, and funding model.
• Secours Catholique (Caritas France): Catholic charity delivering food aid, shelter, and integration services across France with comparable donor base, ecclesiastical heritage, and federal structure of local establishments.
• Fondation Abbé Pierre: Recognized French public-utility foundation focused on housing access and homelessness—directly comparable in serving vulnerable populations through shelter advocacy and emergency housing programs.
• Samusocial de Paris: Paris-based emergency homeless outreach and 115 hotline operator—comparable in emergency social-service mandate, street outreach (maraudes), and SIAO coordination.
• ATD Quart Monde: French anti-poverty organization providing family accompaniment, housing support, and social integration—comparable target population (extreme precarity) and program mix.
• Emmaüs France: National federation of community-based groups operating shelters, social insertion activities, and second-hand retail to fund programs—directly comparable as a French nonprofit addressing homelessness and precarity.

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) France: Large humanitarian-aid organization with French operations—comparable in nonprofit humanitarian mission, donor-funded model, and recognized public-utility status, though scope is international medical emergency relief.
• Fondation de France: Largest French philanthropic foundation operating as an incubator/network for hundreds of sub-foundations—comparable as a recognized public-utility foundation with significant private fundraising.

Emerging players

• Habitat et Humanisme: French nonprofit focused on housing access for vulnerable populations—comparable in shelter and transitional housing programs but with a narrower scope than Salvation Army's full social-services portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100064903023958
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondation-armee-du-salut
• Instagraminstagram.com/armeedusalutfrance/?hl=fr
• Xx.com/ArmeeduSalut

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Salvation Army Foundation