Raoul Follereau Foundation

What Raoul Follereau Foundation does

The Raoul Follereau Foundation (Fondation Raoul Follereau), founded in 1953 in Paris, is a private charitable foundation recognized as being of public utility (fondation reconnue d'utilité publique) under French law. Its mission is the fight against leprosy and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) with cutaneous manifestations, including Buruli ulcer, yaws, and scabies, delivered through an integrated 360° model covering screening, medical treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, nutritional support, education and schooling, economic reintegration, and WASH (water, hygiene, sanitation) interventions. In 2024 the foundation supported 228 projects across 22 countries including France, with priority geographies in Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Chad, and Madagascar, and an explicit objective of zero leprosy in Côte d'Ivoire by 2030. Operations are led by Medical Director Dr. Christian Johnson, a former president of the International Leprosy Association, and the foundation partners with national health ministries, traditional healers, community health workers, and local NGOs.

The foundation's core service portfolio spans field-based healthcare delivery (treatment centers in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar, and Guinea), rehabilitation and social reintegration programs, WASH infrastructure projects, educational scholarships for children of patients, and public awareness initiatives including the traveling 'Regards sur la lèpre' photo exhibition and World Leprosy Day campaigns. Underlying technology is limited to a digital donation platform (don.raoul-follereau.org, managed by RGOODS on OVH hosting with AWS Paris data hosting), GDPR-compliant donor relationship management, email newsletters, and active social media channels — there is no proprietary AI/ML or software product.

The foundation's business model is donor-funded: 81% of resources come from individual French donors supported by tax-deductible giving schemes (75% income tax reduction up to €2,000 then 66% beyond; 75% IFI reduction up to €50,000), supplemented by corporate mécénat partnerships (notably Fondation d'Entreprise Groupe Renault for rural reintegration in Hauts-de-France), bequests, and the 'Fondations Abritées' hosted-foundation structure. Governance includes a Supervisory Council with state representative oversight and Don en Confiance certification since 2020, reinforcing donor trust and accountability. The foundation operates with 251–500 staff across headquarters in Paris (31 rue de Dantzig) and field operations in Africa and Asia.

Name

Raoul Follereau Foundation

Legal name

FONDATION RAOUL FOLLEREAU

Website

https://raoul-follereau.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Raoul Follereau Foundation is a French non-profit founded in 1953 that fights leprosy and neglected tropical diseases across 22 countries through screening, treatment, rehabilitation, education, and WASH programs, funded primarily by individual donors and supported by corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Healthcare Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Missions & Global Health NGOs (BPAGACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Global Initiatives (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAOAE), Disease-Specific Global Programs (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAKAF), Bilateral Development & Global Health Cooperation Programs (HLAJAOAB), Health, Population & WASH Aid Programs (BPADABAC)

Keywords

• Leprosy treatment
• Neglected tropical diseases
• Humanitarian healthcare
• Community health programs
• Medical charity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors provide the majority of funding at 81% of total resources. The foundation runs regular donation campaigns including tax-efficient giving options (75% income tax reduction up to €2,000, 66% beyond; 75% IFI reduction up to €50,000).
2. Corporate Partnerships and Mécénat: Corporate partners (mécénat d'entreprise) provide financial support and employee engagement programs. Partnership with Fondation d'Entreprise Groupe Renault supports rural reintegration projects in Hauts-de-France.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Fondation Raoul Follereau runs field-based humanitarian healthcare programs that screen, medically and surgically treat, rehabilitate, and socially and economically reintegrate people affected by leprosy and related neglected tropical diseases (Buruli ulcer, yaws, scabies) across 22 countries, primarily in Africa. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries through partnerships with national health ministries, community health workers, and traditional healers, complemented by educational scholarships for children, WASH infrastructure projects, and awareness campaigns in France.

Product overview

The Raoul Follereau Foundation operates as a charitable organization (fondation reconnue d'utilité publique) focused on eliminating leprosy and neglected tropical diseases. Rather than a technology platform, the foundation offers a portfolio of humanitarian programs including: online donation processing, community-based leprosy screening campaigns, medical treatment center support across Africa (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar, Guinea, Chad), rehabilitation and social reintegration services, integrated water/hygiene/sanitation (WASH) projects, educational scholarships, and public awareness initiatives including a traveling photo exhibition. These services are delivered through partnerships with local health ministries, community health workers, and international medical professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leprosy Screening and Detection Programs
• Medical Treatment Centers Supported medical treatment facilities providing medical care, surgery, and rehabilitation for leprosy and NTD patients in Benin (Pobè, Davougon), Côte d'Ivoire (Manikro), Madagascar (Ampasy, Marana), and Guinea (Kindia, Kankan).
• Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration Programs Vocational training, income-generating activities, and psychosocial support for former leprosy patients to combat stigma and facilitate reintegration into community life.
• Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) Projects Integrated WASH projects in endemic communities including borehole construction and water system installations, combined with disease screening and prevention activities.
• Educational Support Programs School scholarships, educational materials, and school access support for children of former leprosy patients and other vulnerable community members in endemic areas, designed to break cycles of poverty and exclusion.
• Online Donation Platform Secure online donation platform allowing individual donors to contribute to the foundation's leprosy and NTD programs, including standard donations, IFI (Impôt sur la Fortune Immobilière) donations, and bequest options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 228 projects supported annually across 22 countries including France (2024)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fondation d'Entreprise Groupe RenaultminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership supporting rural action (Action Rurale) to help vulnerable populations in rural areas, particularly in Hauts-de-France. 20 project holders receive support to create income-generating activities. The partnership originated from an open call for projects in 2018.
• Ministry of Health (various countries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation works in close collaboration with national health ministries across its 22 countries of intervention, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Chad, Madagascar, and Guinea. It supports government health programs including the Programme National de Lutte contre la Lèpre (PNLL) and Programme National de Lutte contre les Maladies Tropicales Négligées (PNLMTN).
• REMAPSEN (Réseau de Médias Africains pour la Promotion de la Santé et de l'Environnement)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAfrican media network partnering with the foundation to raise awareness about neglected tropical diseases across the continent. Hosted a forum in Cotonou bringing together African journalists. Generated 250+ media mentions across several African countries. Alice Toussaint represents the foundation in Benin.
• Fondation FATOM (Côte d'Ivoire)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Ivorian foundation collaborating on 360° integrated projects in the 10 most leprosy-endemic districts of Côte d'Ivoire, including the district of Daloa.
• Don en ConfiancecoreOthersIndependent certification body that controls the proper use of donations. The foundation has been a 'Fondation Don en Confiance' since 2020, demonstrating adherence to a code of ethics and transparent governance.
• Traditional healers and community health workerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn regions like Benin (Kouffo region since 2021) and Côte d'Ivoire, traditional healers are trained to identify symptoms and refer patients to medical centres. Community health workers live in villages and are trusted by local populations to detect suspected cases. This cooperation bridges traditional and modern medicine.
• Fondation ANAK-Tnk (Philippines)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilippine foundation helping vulnerable children in Manila's slums and streets. The foundation's Drop In Center Girls is named 'Madeleine et Raoul Follereau' in homage to Raoul Follereau. The Philippines project addresses child welfare rather than leprosy directly.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Large international medical-humanitarian organization with broad mandate beyond leprosy/NTDs. Overlaps with the foundation in medical service delivery, francophone Africa operations and individual-donor funding, but operates at much larger scale and across many more disease areas.
• Partners in Health: Global health equity organization delivering integrated care in low-income countries. Comparable in combining clinical care with social and economic support, but with a broader disease portfolio and a different funding structure.

Direct peers

• The Leprosy Mission International: Global Christian organization dedicated to leprosy elimination, treatment, rehabilitation and research. Direct functional peer with comparable field programs, donor base and integrated care model across multiple endemic countries.
• American Leprosy Missions: US-based Christian organization fighting leprosy and related diseases through research, training and field programs. Directly comparable disease focus, donor-driven funding model and global field footprint.
• Action contre la Faim: Major French humanitarian NGO active in nutrition, health and WASH across multiple African countries. Comparable French-headquartered global health NGO with similar donor mix, field delivery model and partnerships with local health authorities.
• AIFO (Associazione Italiana Amici di Raoul Follereau): Italian NGO historically linked to Raoul Follereau's legacy, working on leprosy, NTDs and community-based rehabilitation. Shares the same founder heritage, mission framing and integrated socio-medical approach.
• effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada): Canadian NTD and leprosy organization running field programs, advocacy and research. Similar integrated model addressing leprosy and NTDs in low-income countries with a donor-supported funding structure.
• Fondation Mérieux: Independent French foundation fighting infectious diseases in low-income countries through laboratory capacity, field programs and training. Highly comparable as a French-recognized public-utility foundation operating in global health in francophone Africa.

Others

• Fondation de France: French umbrella foundation that channels funds to many sub-foundations, including those in health. Provides a relevant reference point on French foundation governance, mécénat tax framework and donor-trust certification, rather than competing for the same donors directly.

Emerging players

• CBM International (Christoffel-Blindenmission): International disability and NTD-focused NGO. Overlaps with the foundation on NTDs with cutaneous manifestations (Buruli ulcer, yaws) and inclusive health, but its primary brand is around disability prevention rather than leprosy specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RaoulFollereau
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FondationRaoulFollereau
• Facebookfacebook.com/followers
• LinkedInfr.linkedin.com/company/fondation-raoul-follereau
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondationraoulfollereau

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Raoul Follereau Foundation