Fondazione Città della Speranza

What Fondazione Città della Speranza does

Fondazione Città della Speranza is an Italian philanthropic foundation (Ente Filantropico) established in 1994 and headquartered in Monte di Malo (Vicenza province). Its functional mandate is fundraising for pediatric and translational medical research, channeling donations through the Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica (IRP), a research institute the foundation founded in 2012 in Padova. Since inception, the foundation has cumulatively raised more than €119 million, of which over €53 million has been directed to scientific research across 167 funded projects, and it has helped realize 6 healthcare facilities. Operationally, it sustains a 10-story Torre della Ricerca in Padova housing 30 research groups and more than 200 internal researchers, augmented by approximately 150 external collaborators.

The foundation's research portfolio spans pediatric oncology, gene therapy, and — going forward — CAR-T cell therapies, the last of which will be supported by a Cell Factory to be housed in L'Orizzonte della Ricerca, an 11,000 sqm second research tower with groundbreaking on 28 February 2026. Research output quality is evidenced by an average journal impact factor rising from 4.9 in 2017 to 7.7 in 2020. Revenue is generated through diversified channels: individual donations, the Italian "5x1000" tax designation, bequests, memorial donations, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, and a network of 204 "twin municipalities" (gemellaggi). Named institutional and corporate partners include Banca Mediolanum, Intesa Sanpaolo, Fondazione Cariparo, and Tigotà, with the latter providing point-of-sale fundraising leverage through its 650+ Italian stores.

Governance rests with President Marino Finozzi and IRP President and founder Franco Masello, with Scientific Direction led by Eugenio Baraldi and Medical Direction of IRP led by Stefano Lupi. Institutional reach was materially expanded in 2026 via a framework agreement with Regione del Veneto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV), and Università degli Studi di Padova, plus a partnership with Azienda Ospedale-Università Padova (AOUP) and an Advanced Diagnostics partnership with Banca Mediolanum / Fondazione Mediolanum. These moves embed the foundation in the regional clinical-research infrastructure and reframe it from a single-disease pediatric charity toward a broader translational research platform covering pediatric oncology, cellular therapy, and advanced diagnostics.

Name

Fondazione Città della Speranza

Legal name

Fondazione Città della Speranza Ente Filantropico

Website

https://cittadellasperanza.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Italian philanthropic foundation (founded 1994) funding pediatric and translational medical research through its Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica in Padova, operating a 10-floor research tower with 30 groups and 200+ researchers, raising €119M+ cumulatively for 167 research projects and 6 healthcare facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Medical Research

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Pediatric disease research
• Charitable foundation services
• Pediatric oncology research
• Medical research fundraising
• Nonprofit philanthropy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Monte Di Malo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting pediatric research, including one-time and recurring contributions.
2. 5x1000 Tax Designation: Italian taxpayers can designate 5x1000 of their income tax to the foundation. Over 24 million euros received through this mechanism.
3. Testamentary Bequests (Lasciti): Legacy gifts and testamentary bequests from supporters.
4. Memorial Donations: Donations made in memory of deceased loved ones.
5. Solidarity Gifts (Regali Solidali): Sale of solidarity gifts including perfumes (Profumi della Speranza) and gadgets, where proceeds support research.
6. Corporate Partnerships: Support from companies through donations, cause marketing, and employee giving programs.
7. Event Fundraising: Third-party organized events donate proceeds to the foundation. Various initiatives from sports tournaments to concerts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Fondazione Città della Speranza is an Italian philanthropic foundation that raises funds to finance pediatric disease research, with a primary focus on onco-hematological conditions of childhood. It directly operates the Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica (IRP) in Padova, where it runs advanced research laboratories, a Cell Factory for CAR-T therapies, and molecular diagnostics. Revenue is generated through individual donations, the 5x1000 tax designation, corporate sponsorships, solidarity gifts, and fundraising events, all of which are reinvested into research infrastructure and projects.

Product overview

Fondazione Città della Speranza is a philanthropic foundation that has been operating since 1994 to support pediatric research, particularly in onco-hematological diseases and rare pediatric conditions. The organization operates as a unified foundation with its research institute (IRP) and various fundraising initiatives. The core offering is the Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica (IRP), a research center located in Padua's Research Tower that conducts basic, translational, and clinical research. Supporting the foundation's mission are complementary products: Regali Solidali (solidarity gifts including the Profumi della Speranza fragrance collection), the ongoing L'Orizzonte della Ricerca expansion project for advanced therapies, and the 5x1000 tax donation program. The foundation also provides patient assistance and scientific dissemination services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Profumi della Speranza: A product line of perfumes and room fragrances where proceeds support pediatric research.
• Regali Solidali

Products and services

• Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica (IRP) The foundation's pediatric research institute in Padova, one of the largest dedicated pediatric research centers in Europe, conducting onco-hematology, rare disease, and translational medicine research with on-site Cell Factory and advanced diagnostics capabilities. Target audience: pediatric patients, families, clinicians, and research collaborators.
• Solidarity Gifts (Gadget Solidali) Branded merchandise and gift items (gadget solidali) sold through the foundation's online store and events, with proceeds funding pediatric research. Target audience: individual donors, corporate gift buyers, and event participants.
• Solidarity Events (Eventi Solidali) Fundraising events such as galas, community initiatives, and awareness campaigns organized to raise funds and visibility for pediatric research. Target audience: individual donors, corporate sponsors, schools, and community groups.
• 5x1000 Donation Program Italian tax designation program allowing taxpayers to allocate 5x1000 of their IRPEF tax to the foundation at no cost, providing a stable individual donation channel. Target audience: Italian taxpayers.
• Corporate Partnership Program Structured CSR and sponsorship program for Italian businesses, including sponsorship packages, payroll giving, employee engagement, and cause-related marketing collaborations. Target audience: Italian corporations and SMEs.
• School Fundraising Program Educational fundraising and awareness program engaging Italian primary and secondary schools in solidarity activities supporting pediatric research. Target audience: Italian schools, teachers, and pupils.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 119 million euros invested in pediatric research since 1994
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Azienda Ospedale Università Padova (AOUP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Strategic public-private partnership for pediatric research. Dottor Paolo Fortuna, Director General of AOUP, visited IRP to define shared strategies between the Pediatric Research Institute and the Hospital. The partnership aims to concentrate translational pediatric research in Padova as the reference center for the New Pediatric Hospital of Veneto 'Salus Pueri'.
• Parco Archeologico di PompeinotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Host venue for the 'È Mio Padre - Morricone Dirige Morricone' charity concert on July 29, 2026 at the Anfiteatro degli Scavi di Pompei.
• Città di PompeiminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Municipal partner for the Morricone charity concert event.
• DuePunti EventinotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Event organizer for the Morricone charity concert and other fundraising events supporting the foundation.
• Black Star EntertainmentsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Co-organizer of the Morricone charity concert event.
• IMARTS - International Music and ArtsnotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Tour organizer for the 'È Mio Padre - Morricone Dirige Morricone' charity concert.
• Radio CapitalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Media partner for the Morricone charity concert tour.
• Associazione Volare 4.0 (Mirano Summer Festival)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 March 2026Organized a charity gala dinner donating €10,000 to the foundation. Over 20 years, the association has donated over €250,000 to the foundation.
• Calcio PadovaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 March 2026Football club supporting the foundation through Christmas calendar fundraising, with President Peghin delivering a symbolic check to the Pediatric Research Institute.
• Regione del VenetocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026Framework agreement signed for the Second Tower (L'Orizzonte della Ricerca) project. Regional government partnership to enhance research, teaching, and training activities, promote development of drugs under maximum safety conditions, and ensure economic sustainability.
• Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026Signatory of the framework agreement for the Second Tower project, contributing to the enhancement of pediatric oncology research in the Veneto region.
• Università degli Studi di PadovacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026Academic partner in the framework agreement for the Second Tower project, contributing to research, teaching, and training activities.
• Fondazione Centro Nazionale di Ricerca Sviluppo di terapia genica e farmaci con tecnologia a RNAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026Partner in the framework agreement for advanced therapies and RNA-based drug development as part of the Second Tower project.
• 32° Reggimento Trasmissioni - Esercito ItalianonotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Italian Army regiment that renewed its protocol of understanding with the foundation for mutual cooperation.
• Various Italian institutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2022IRP celebrated 10 years with presence of all represented institutions, researchers, and volunteers marking an important milestone in the foundation's mission.
• Moderna cofounder Derrick RossinotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2022Visited the Research Tower and met with researchers. Professor at Harvard, founded multiple biotech startups, and serves on the board of New York Stem Cell Foundation.
• DuePunti EventinotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 March 2022Organized the Anastacia concert on September 27, 2022 at PalaBassano2 in Bassano del Grappa to benefit the foundation.
• AIL Padova (Associazione Italiana contro Leucemie, Linfomi e Mieloma)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2022Partnership with AIL Padova to open a bank account for Ukrainian children with oncological diseases, facilitating humanitarian corridor to transfer patients to Padova for treatment.
• TigotànotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 February 2022Donated €79,225 through 'green box' campaign supporting a research project by Dr. Barbara Molon at IRP in collaboration with Dr. Lara Mussolin.
• Marcia del GiocattolominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 December 202144th edition of the charity run in Verona with over 2,800 participants raising funds for the foundation.
• Petrarca RugbyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 August 2021Rugby team wearing the foundation's logo on their left sleeve to raise awareness among fans and members about pediatric scientific research.
• 204 Italian Municipalities (Comuni gemellati)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Network of 204 Italian municipalities that have established twinning relationships with the foundation to support pediatric research through fundraising and awareness campaigns.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SickKids Foundation: Canadian foundation funding pediatric research at The Hospital for Sick Children, the largest Canadian pediatric research institution. Comparable mission, donation-driven revenue model, and capital-intensive pediatric research tower deployment.
• Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù: Italy's largest and most prominent pediatric research hospital, a Vatican-owned tertiary care center conducting pediatric translational research. Comparable in disease breadth and patient volume — a larger incumbent in the Italian pediatric research landscape.
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital / ALSAC: The leading US pediatric cancer and catastrophic disease research hospital, funded entirely by donations. Operates globally at a much larger scale and serves as the gold-standard model for foundation-funded pediatric research institutions.
• Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro AIRC & FIRC: FIRC is the endowed grantmaking arm of AIRC, raising funds for cancer researchers across Italy. Represents a larger and better-endowed peer in the same Italian cancer research fundraising category.

Direct peers

• Fondazione Telethon: Italian foundation funding genetic and rare disease research, including pediatric applications. Uses a similar donation + 5x1000 funding model and competes in the same Italian rare pediatric disease research funding space.
• AIL — Associazione Italiana contro le Leucemie, Linfomi e Mieloma: Italian hematological disease charity with formal partnership ties to Città della Speranza (Padova branch). Operates a near-identical model of donations, 5x1000, regional chapters, and research grants focused on the same blood cancer / pediatric oncology space.
• AIRC — Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro: Italy's largest cancer research charity, also funded through 5x1000 tax designation and individual donations. Competes directly with Città della Speranza for Italian donor mindshare on cancer research grants and 5x1000 designations.

Others

• Fondazione Cariparo: Banking-foundation grantmaker that has repeatedly co-funded Città della Speranza projects including the Second Tower. A financial partner/peering regional foundation in the Veneto pediatric research ecosystem, not a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Children's Hospital Los Angeles / Children's Hospital Los Angeles Research Institute: US pediatric research institution with multiple research towers and active fundraising arm. Comparable in dedicated pediatric research infrastructure and donation-driven funding model.
• Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health: UCL-based pediatric research institute in London focused on childhood disease research. Comparable in translational pediatric research focus but operates as an academic unit rather than an independent foundation-funded research entity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/cittàdellasperanza
• Facebookfacebook.com/cittadellasperanza
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondazionecittadellasperanza
• Xx.com/cittadlsperanza

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fondazione Città della Speranza