Grand Orient de France

What Grand Orient de France does

The Grand Orient de France (GODF) is a French nonprofit association (loi 1901) and the country's oldest Masonic obedience, headquartered at the Hôtel Cadet, 16 rue Cadet, Paris. Founded in the 18th century and described as the first French Masonic obedience, the organization pursues the 'material and moral improvement and the intellectual and social perfectionment of Humanity,' defending Republican ideals including democracy, secularism (laïcité), solidarity, and human dignity. It operates as a community-led membership body, with prospective members joining through a nationwide network of local loges (lodges) where they undergo Masonic initiation and engage in ritual, philosophical, and civic activity. The target audience is individual adults seeking personal development, fraternity, and engagement with Enlightenment-derived philosophical and societal questions.

The GODF's core products and services are heritage-, education-, and advocacy-oriented rather than technology products. They include: the Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie (a Masonic museum established in 1889, holding the official 'Musée de France' label since 2003); the Bibliothèque du Grand Orient de France (a specialized library created in 1838 holding approximately 35,000 volumes and serving around 3,000 visitors annually); the Fondation du Grand Orient de France (recognized as being of public utility since 1987, funding humanitarian and associative initiatives); the 'Patrimoine numérique' digital heritage platform launched in 2024 for digitized Masonic documents; a weekly radio program 'Divers aspects de la pensée contemporaine' broadcast on France Culture since 2008; the 'La Voix du GODF' podcast and YouTube channel; and the 'Universités Populaires Maçonniques' public-conference circuit. Underlying technology is limited to standard web, audio/video streaming, and digitization infrastructure; there are no proprietary software products, mobile apps, or APIs.

The business model is a recurring membership-dues subscription under French association law, supplemented by museum/library activity, foundation grants, and likely donations. With 11–50 employees (per firmographic data) and no disclosed revenue, the organization operates a community-led go-to-market motion: prospective members are recruited through the website, public events, media programming, and partnerships with secularist coalitions such as the Collectif Laïque National. Governance is via elected officers led by a Grand Maître, with a multi-year succession cycle (most recently Pierre BERTINOTTI, elected August 21, 2025). International linkages include the Union Maçonnique Libérale Internationale and the Grand Orient Latino Américain, alongside a longstanding annual 'Dialogues Maçonniques' partnership with the Grande Loge de France.

Name

Grand Orient de France

Legal name

Grand Orient de France

Website

https://godf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1738

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Grand Orient de France is the oldest French Masonic obedience, operating as a nonprofit association that delivers philosophical and civic programming through local lodges, a national museum, a 35,000-volume specialized library, a France Culture radio program, and humanitarian initiatives for individual members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fraternal and Masonic Association Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Masonic organization
• Fraternal association
• Philosophical education
• Cultural heritage
• Nonprofit association

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: As a loi 1901 association, the organization likely operates primarily through member contributions, though specific dues are not publicly disclosed on the website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Grand Orient de France (GODF) is a French Masonic obedience and fraternal association that provides philosophical, ethical, and spiritual development to its members through lodge meetings, ritual work, and structured symbolic instruction. Beyond its core fraternal activities, it operates cultural and educational services including the Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie, a research library, popular universities, media productions, and a humanitarian foundation open to the broader public.

Product overview

The Grand Orient de France is a Masonic organization (association loi 1901), the oldest French Masonic obedience. Its product portfolio consists of digital and physical services centered around Freemasonry heritage, education, and advocacy. The core offerings include: the main website (godf.org) as the primary communication platform; multimedia content through the YouTube channel and podcast series 'La Voix du GODF'; the radio program 'Divers aspects de la pensée contemporaine' on France Culture; the Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie (museum with 'Musée de France' designation); the specialized Bibliothèque du Grand Orient de France (35,000+ volumes); the digital heritage platform 'Patrimoine numérique'; and the Fondation du Grand Orient de France for humanitarian actions. These services work together to fulfill the organization's mission of promoting Enlightenment values, republican ideals, secularism, and Masonic thought.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie
• Bibliothèque de la Franc-Maçonnerie
• Radio Program "Divers aspects de la pensée contemporaine"
• Podcast "La Voix du GODF"
• Chaîne YouTube GODF
• Patrimoine Numérique
• Fondation du Grand Orient de France
• Universités Populaires Maçonniques

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Collectif Laïque NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of over 20 organizations including GODF, Grande Loge Féminine de France, Ligue du Droit International des Femmes, Ligue Internationale Contre le Racisme et l'Antisémitisme (LICRA), and various secularist associations. Collaborates on joint press releases and public positions defending secularism, Republican values, and freedom of conscience in French public life.
• Grande Loge de FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual 'Dialogues Maçonniques' joint conference series. Published collaborative conference proceedings including 'À quelle humanité travaillent les francs-maçons?' (2019). Major French Masonic obedience with shared Enlightenment heritage.
• Musée de la Franc-MaçonneriecoreOthersMuseum established in 1889, restored post-WWII, reopened in 1973. Holds 'Musée de France' official designation since 2003. Located at GODF headquarters. Current exhibition: 'Lumières dans la ville. Paris et les Francs-Maçons' (April-December 2026).
• Bibliothèque du Grand Orient de FrancecoreOthersSpecialized library created in 1838, holding 35,000 volumes on Freemasonry history with 3,000 annual visitors (students, academics, Freemasons). Digital heritage platform also maintained.
• Fondation du Grand Orient de FrancecoreOthersFoundation recognized as being of public utility since 1987. Promotes universal solidarity through humanitarian actions, supports associations nationally and internationally through grants.
• Union Maçonnique Libérale Internationale (UMLI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation of liberal and adogmatic Masonic obediences. GODF participates in joint communications and initiatives.
• Grand Orient Latino AméricainmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatin American Masonic organization. Collaborates with GODF on secularist initiatives, particularly within the Collectif Laïque National.
• France CulturemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench public radio station. Weekly broadcast of 'Divers aspects de la pensée contemporaine' since 2008, every Sunday at 9h40. Features intellectual guests discussing contemporary philosophical and societal issues.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Le Droit Humain: International mixed Masonic order founded in France in 1893. Operates lodges in France and globally, appealing to similar philosophical and humanist audiences, and represents a distinct alternative to GODF's traditional obedience structure.
• Grande Loge de France: Major French Masonic obedience sharing Enlightenment heritage with GODF. Engages in the annual Dialogues Maçonniques joint conference series and competes for the same pool of French Masonic membership, making it the closest direct comparable.
• Grand Orient Latino Américain: Latin American Masonic organization headquartered in France and explicitly partnered with GODF. Shares the Grand Orient structure and liberal Masonic orientation while serving as a bridge for GODF's international and secularist outreach beyond Europe.
• Grande Loge Féminine de France: French women's Masonic obedience and fellow member of the Collectif Laïque National. Operates a parallel lodge network in France with a similar formation, ritual, and advocacy model, directly comparable to GODF's structure and mission.
• Grande Loge Nationale Française: One of the principal French Masonic obediences operating in France alongside GODF and GLDF. Competes for the same French member base and offers a regular-orientation alternative to GODF's liberal model, making it a directly comparable peer.

Broad incumbents

• United Grand Lodge of England: The premier Masonic grand lodge globally, dating to 1717, and the historical parent body of the broader Masonic movement. Operates a far larger and more globally distributed lodge network but represents an established incumbent whose traditional ('regular') orientation differs from GODF's liberal ('irregular') stance.

Regional players

• Grand Orient d'Italie: Italian Masonic obedience (Grande Oriente d'Italia) with direct historical and ideological parallels to GODF, including engagement with secular and republican values. Operates in the Italian market as a comparable liberal Masonic body.
• Loge Nationale Française (Fédération Française de l'Ordre Maçonnique Mixte International - Le Droit Humain): French national federation of the international mixed Masonic order Le Droit Humain. Operates lodges throughout France and represents a co-equal French Masonic obedience with comparable membership, formation, and advocacy models.
• Grand Orient de Belgique: Belgian Masonic obedience with the same 'Grand Orient' structure as GODF and shared adherence to liberal and adogmatic Masonic principles. Operates in the neighboring French-speaking market and shares the European liberal Masonic tradition.
• Grand Orient de Suisse: Swiss Masonic obedience sharing the Grand Orient naming convention and liberal Masonic orientation. Operates in the French-speaking Swiss canton, with similar philosophical and secular advocacy positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/godfofficiel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GrandOrientdeFranceOfficiel
• Facebookfacebook.com/G.O.de.France
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grand-orient-de-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/godfofficiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Grand Orient de France