Society of Members of the Legion of Honor

What Society of Members of the Legion of Honor does

The Société des Membres de la Légion d'Honneur (SMLH) is a French non-profit association founded in 1921 under the law of July 1, 1901, recognized as being of public utility, and headquartered at the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris. Its membership is composed exclusively of recipients of the Légion d'Honneur — France's highest order of merit — spanning military officers, civil servants, and distinguished citizens across all grades (Chevalier through Grand'Croix). The association federates over 100 departmental sections across metropolitan France, overseas departments (Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, Mayotte), and foreign countries, providing a national infrastructure for civic education, intergenerational solidarity, and youth engagement.

SMLH's core programming includes civic-education interventions in schools, the national apprenticeship prize (Prix National des Apprentis), the 'Honneur en Action' civic-engagement award (in a new formula from 2025), the 'Parole d'Honneur' eloquence competition for lycée students, youth-literature prizes, support for deserving young people (jeunes méritants), and naturalization-candidate assistance. Core media products include the 'Revue' magazine, the 'ORDINAIRE' podcast (Season 2 launched 2025-2026 featuring guests including Jean Todt), and an online member directory. Operational technology is a conventional member-management and communications platform developed and hosted by Eudonet, a third-party association-management vendor.

Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit model: recurring membership dues (cotisations) from sociétaires, donations and legacies processed via the iRaiser giving platform, life-insurance contributions, magazine subscriptions and single-issue sales, and Shopify-hosted boutique merchandise sales including the centenary publication '100 ans d'Honneur en action' (320 pages, 15 contributing authors). Project-specific partner funding supplements the base — notable supporters include Crédit Agricole Provence Côte d'Azur, CCCA-BTP, the Chambers of Trades, Agriculture, and Commerce, E. Leclerc Réunion, Grenoble École de Management, and the Département de l'Isère. The organization holds a formal mutual relationship with the Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d'Honneur and operates with a national president (currently Général d'armée aérienne Antoine Creux, appointed 2026) and a board of directors.

Name

Society of Members of the Legion of Honor

Legal name

Société des membres de la Légion d'honneur

Website

https://smlh.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Société des Membres de la Légion d'Honneur (SMLH) is a French public-utility non-profit founded in 1921 that federates recipients of France's Légion d'Honneur through 100+ departmental sections to deliver civic education, youth support, apprenticeship awards, and intergenerational solidarity programs nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic and Patriotic Association Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Civic education programs
• Youth apprenticeship awards
• Intergenerational solidarity services
• Honor association membership
• National civic recognition

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: The SMLH is funded primarily through membership dues (cotisations) from its sociétaires (members who are recipients of the Légion d'Honneur). Membership fees support the association's operations, events, and charitable activities.
2. Donations and legacies: The organization accepts donations, legacies (legs), and life insurance contributions (assurances-vie) from members and supporters to fund its activities.
3. Shop sales: The SMLH operates an online shop (smlhboutique.myshopify.com) selling merchandise including centenary books and potentially other items.
4. Review/subscription: The organization publishes a magazine (Revue) and offers subscriptions, as well as selling individual issues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The SMLH is a French non-profit association (loi 1901, recognized of public utility) founded in 1921 that brings together recipients of the Légion d'Honneur. It runs civic education interventions in schools, national apprenticeship and youth awards, intergenerational solidarity programs, and support for naturalization candidates, supported by a network of departmental and foreign sections, an official magazine (La Revue), the ORDINAIRE podcast, an online member directory, and an e-commerce boutique.

Product overview

The Société des Membres de la Légion d'Honneur (SMLH) operates as a unified association platform offering membership services, publications, youth engagement programs, and educational competitions. The core offering includes the official magazine 'La Revue', the 'ORDINAIRE' podcast, an online member directory, and a network of departmental sections across France. Youth engagement programs feature multiple award programs including the 'Honneur en Action' prize, national apprenticeship awards, youth literature prizes, and the 'Parole d'Honneur' eloquence competition. Administrative support services include online training for section leaders and an e-commerce boutique. The association recently celebrated its centennial with a commemorative book '100 ans d'Honneur en action'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Honneur en action®: The main award program of SMLH recognizing actions in service of society, created in 2010.
• Parole d'honneur
• Prix National des Apprentis

Products and services

• La Revue (SMLH Magazine) Official magazine of the SMLH featuring articles on Légion d'Honneur members, association news, and historical content, published periodically with dedicated issues such as 'La Cohorte' (April 2026 cohort edition). Available by subscription and individual purchase.
• ORDINAIRE Podcast Official SMLH podcast featuring interviews and testimonies from notable figures, with Season 2 available (episodes including Jean Todt, motorsport legend). Distributed via YouTube and the SMLH website.
• Concours d'éloquence 'Parole d'Honneur' Annual eloquence competition organized by SMLH sections for high school students (seconde and première grades) on societal and citizenship themes such as 'Being a responsible citizen today'.
• Prix 'Honneur en Action'

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 young people engaged at major intergenerational events (e.g., SMLH 38 soirée with 400+ participants)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• EudonetcoreTechnology or IntegrationEudonet provides website development, hosting, and platform maintenance for the SMLH website (smlh.fr). Located at 11 Avenue Dubonnet, 92400 Courbevoie. Contact: 01 47 37 60 30.
• Fondation d'Entreprise Crédit Agricole Provence Côte d'AzurmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial partner supporting the apprenticeship awards in the Var department (SMLH 83). Provides funding for prizes and ceremony organization.
• CCCA-BTPmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting BTP (construction) sector apprenticeship awards in the Var department.
• Chambre des Métiers et de l'ArtisanatmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Trades partner supporting apprenticeship recognition programs across multiple departments.
• Chambre d'Agriculture (Var)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural chamber partnering on agriculture, horticulture, and landscape apprenticeship awards in the Var.
• Comité Départemental Olympique et Sportif (CDOS) de l'AveyronmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartmental Olympic committee partnered for the 'Sport après cancer' Honneur en Action project, providing training for sports educators on working with cancer survivors.
• Centre National pour le Développement du Sport (CNDS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRequested co-funding of 2000€ for the 'Sport après cancer' project.
• CAMI (Cancer Arts martiaux et Informations)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssociation providing the certified sports educator with a university diploma 'Sport et Cancer' for the cancer survivor training program.
• Ligue contre le Cancer (Aveyron)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCancer league providing expert speakers for the 'Sport après cancer' awareness sessions for volunteer sports educators.
• Editions du PatrimoinemajorOthersPublisher of the centenary book '100 ans d'Honneur en action' (320 pages, 390 illustrations), created by 15 specialist authors.
• Grenoble École de ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the SMLH 38 intergenerational evening event in their grand auditorium. Directed by Fouziya Bouzerda.
• Département de l'IsèremajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDepartmental council supporting the SMLH 38 intergenerational evening event with over 400 youth participants.
• Télé GrenobleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional television partner supporting the SMLH 38 intergenerational evening event.
• La Descente des alpagesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting the SMLH 38 intergenerational evening event.
• Etablissements E. Leclerc RéunionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor funding the Prix de la Légion d'Honneur de l'Enseignement Supérieur at Université de La Réunion.
• Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie (CCI Var)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCI partner for apprenticeship awards in the Var department.
• Cité internationale universitaire de ParismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized the centenary commemoration of Paul Appell (first SMLH president 1921-1925) on November 14, 2025.
• Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d'HonneurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial relationship with France's highest order of chancellery. The SMLH supports digitization of archives and receives recognition from the Grand Chancelier.
• Gouverneur Militaire de ParismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the centenary exhibition at the Invalides moats in 2021.
• Service d'Incendie et de Secours de la Vendée (SDIS 85)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvention signed in June 2023 between SMLH 85 and SDIS 85 to recognize deserving firefighters through medal ceremonies.
• CCI de VauclusemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the AI conference organized by SMLH 84 in Avignon.
• Human IAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization founded by Jérôme Ribeiro focused on educating about artificial intelligence; partnered for SMLH 84 conference.
• Mairie d'Arrens-MarsousminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal municipality supporting young athlete Antoine Lanne with 1,000€ grant toward Olympic goals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Secours Catholique – Caritas France: Major French non-profit with a national volunteer-led network, donation-funded model, and programs for vulnerable populations — broadly comparable scale and operational footprint to SMLH.
• Fondation de France: France's leading philanthropic umbrella foundation, distributing grants and administering member-managed endowments — comparable to SMLH's grant-and-award distribution model, though operating at significantly greater scale and breadth.
• Croix-Rouge française: Large French civic non-profit operating nationwide with departmental committees, donation-based revenue, and volunteer-led humanitarian programs; broader scope and scale than SMLH but structurally similar in mission and reach.

Regional players

• Royal British Legion: UK's leading military-honour and veterans' charity; comparable as a membership-based British counterpart that supports decorated service members through welfare, education, and remembrance programs, though serving a different national context.

Direct peers

• Société des Membres de l'Ordre National du Mérite: Membership society of France's second-highest national order, mirroring the SMLH's structure of sectioned membership, civic-education initiatives, and recognition of distinguished citizens.
• Association des Membres de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques (AMOPA): French non-profit association of recipients of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques, the closest structural analog: a national honorary order's member society running civic, educational, and youth-recognition programs across departmental sections.
• Association des Auditeurs et Anciens Auditeurs de l'IHEDN: Member association of alumni of France's Institute for Higher National Defence Studies; a directly comparable French elite/decorated-member association running regional sections, conferences (e.g., the AI conference with SMLH 84), and citizenship-oriented publications.
• Congressional Medal of Honor Society: U.S. association of Medal of Honor recipients — the most direct international structural analog to SMLH: a fellowship of a nation's highest decoration holders engaged in education, outreach, and values-based programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@societedesmembresdelalegiondh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/societe-des-membres-de-la-legion-d-honneur
• Xx.com/smlhnational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Society of Members of the Legion of Honor