Marisa Bellisario Foundation

What Marisa Bellisario Foundation does

Fondazione Marisa Bellisario is an Italian non-profit organization (ONG) headquartered in Rome at Piazza Giuseppe Verdi 8, founded in 1989 by Lella Golfo in memory of pioneering Italian businesswoman Marisa Bellisario and officially constituted as a foundation in 1991. It was recognized as an Ente morale in 1996 and as an NGO by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2005. The foundation operates as a network of approximately 1,000 members, 14 regional committees across Italy (plus San Marino), and engages with political institutions and major Italian corporates to advance women's empowerment, gender equality, welfare policies, and women's entrepreneurship.

Its core activities are organized around a portfolio of recurring programs rather than a single product. The flagship is the annual Premio Marisa Bellisario, conferring the Mela d'Oro (Golden Apple) on outstanding women in business, science, institutions, journalism, entertainment and sports, with nearly 525 awards given over 35 years. Complementary programs include the Donna Economia & Potere annual seminar (over 450 attendees), the Women Value Company award co-developed with Intesa Sanpaolo (now in its 10th edition), the Women Empowerment Company special mention with Confindustria, the 1000 CV Eccellenti database of female professionals for board placements, the Board Academy training program with Deloitte (over 1,500 participants), and the Mela Rosa certification for companies adopting gender quotas. The foundation's regulatory advocacy is credited with Italy's Law 120/2011 (Golfo-Mosca) introducing gender quotas on corporate boards.

The foundation is funded through membership fees from approximately 1,000 members and corporate sponsorships from a concentrated set of Italian partners including Intesa Sanpaolo, Eni, Deloitte, Enel, Poste Italiane, Leonardo, FS, Terna, and illycaffe. It operates with a lean staff of 1-10 employees, extending its reach through the regional committee structure, annual events, and a multi-channel digital presence (website, social media, blog, newsletter). There is no disclosed technology platform or AI capability; the foundation's substantive value is its reputation, network, and policy advocacy record in the Italian gender-equality landscape.

Name

Marisa Bellisario Foundation

Legal name

Fondazione Marisa Bellisario

Website

https://fondazionebellisario.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fondazione Marisa Bellisario is an Italian non-profit foundation that promotes women's leadership through the annual Premio Marisa Bellisario Mela d'Oro award, the Donna Economia & Potere seminar, corporate gender-equality awards, and governance training programs, serving women professionals, major Italian corporate partners, and policymakers across 14 regional committees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Women's Leadership and Gender Equality Foundation

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)

Keywords

• Women's leadership advocacy
• Gender equality programs
• Executive training courses
• Corporate diversity awards
• Professional networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Roma

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Association fees from approximately 1000 members across Italy who support the foundation's mission
2. Corporate sponsorships and donations: Support from partner companies including Intesa Sanpaolo, Eni, Deloitte, Enel, Poste Italiane, Leonardo, FS, Terna, illycaffe, and others who sponsor events and initiatives

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Fondazione Marisa Bellisario is a non-profit organization (ONG) that promotes women's entrepreneurship, management and gender equality in Italy. It runs the annual Premio Marisa Bellisario (Mela d'Oro) award for outstanding women, the Donna Economia & Potere annual conference, the Women Value Company and Women Empowerment Company corporate awards, the 1000 CV Eccellenti talent database, and the Board Academy training program for aspiring board members. It also engages in advocacy, international cooperation, and preservation of its historical archive.

Product overview

The Fondazione Marisa Bellisario is a non-profit organization (ONG) focused on women's entrepreneurship, management, and gender equality in Italy. Rather than a unified technology product, it operates a portfolio of programs: the Premio Marisa Bellisario (annual excellence award since 1989), the Donna Economia & Potere annual seminar, the Women Value Company and Women Empowerment Company awards for companies demonstrating gender equality practices, the 1000 CV Eccellenti database of female professionals, Board Academy training courses (with Deloitte), and the Mela Rosa company certification. The foundation also maintains a historical archive and engages in international cooperation projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Premio Marisa Bellisario: The main annual award recognizing female excellence in management, entrepreneurship, science, institutions, information, entertainment, and sports. Known as the 'Oscar delle donne' (Oscar of women).
• Mela d'Oro
• Donna Economia & Potere
• Women Value Company
• Women Empowerment Company
• 1000 CV Eccellenti (Curricula Eccellenti)
• Archivio Storico
• Mela Rosa
• Board Academy

Products and services

• Premio Marisa Bellisario (Mela d'Oro Award) Annual Italian award recognizing female excellence in entrepreneurship, management, science, institutions, journalism, entertainment, and sports. Known as the 'Oscar of women', with nearly 525 Mele d'Oro awarded since 1989 to Italian and international women leaders.
• Donna Economia & Potere Annual Seminar
• Women Value Company Award Corporate award recognizing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for concrete and innovative inclusion, participation, promotion and work-life balance policies that enhance women's contribution. Run in partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo since 2017; 10th edition in 2026.
• Women Empowerment Company Recognition
• 1000 CV Eccellenti (Curricula Eccellenti) Database
• Board Academy Training Program Free six-month training course for women on corporate governance, board functions, and leadership, delivered in collaboration with Deloitte across Rome, Milan, Naples and e-learning; over 1,500 women participated in the first two editions.
• Mela Rosa Certification Certification awarded by the foundation to companies that have adopted and shared Italy's gender quota law (Law 120/2011) and that value female talent at the top levels of their organizations.
• Archivio Storico (Historical Archive) Historical archive of the foundation documenting the contribution of women to Italy's economic and social growth, including materials related to Marisa Bellisario's career. Declared of notable historical-archival interest by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities in 2009.

Quantifiable outcome

• Law 120/2011 (Gulf Law) increased women on boards from 7% to 31.6% in five years for listed companies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Intesa SanpaolocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1989Major strategic partner for the Women Value Company award, recognizing SMEs that excel in gender equality and women's career development. The partnership includes a roadshow across major Italian cities and joint award ceremonies.
• EniminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting the foundation's activities and women's empowerment initiatives
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for the Board Academy program, providing free 6-month courses for women on corporate governance and board membership. Deloitte collaborated with the foundation on diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• illycaffeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of the foundation's activities and events
• EnelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of the foundation's activities and women's empowerment initiatives
• Poste ItalianeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of the foundation's activities and events
• LeonardominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of the foundation's activities and women's initiatives
• FS (Ferrovie dello Stato)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of the foundation's activities
• TernaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of the foundation's activities and women's empowerment initiatives
• ConfindustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Women Empowerment Company recognition, awarding companies that promote equitable, inclusive, and sustainable workplaces with concrete policies for gender equality and women's leadership development
• Women's associations in ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation agreements and protocols with women's associations in China for knowledge sharing and joint initiatives on women's empowerment
• Women's associations in AfghanistanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation for women's empowerment programs in Afghanistan, including training and entrepreneurship support
• Women's associations in TunisiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation agreements and protocols with women's associations in Tunisia for joint initiatives
• Women's associations in United StatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation with women's associations in the USA for knowledge exchange and joint women's empowerment initiatives
• Global Compact (UN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation was among the first women's entrepreneur associations to join the Global Compact, the global pact between business and the United Nations initiated by Kofi Annan on corporate social responsibility
• Telecom Italia (historical archive)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the recovery, research, and cataloguing of Marisa Bellisario's personal archive, including materials related to her career at Italtel
• Olivetti (historical archive)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the preservation and research of Marisa Bellisario's personal archive, given her early career at Olivetti's electronics division

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 30% Club: Global campaign-driven organization working to increase female representation on boards and in senior leadership. Closely aligned with Bellisario's quota advocacy (Law 120/2011) and Women Value Company/Women Empowerment Company programs, making it the most direct functional peer.
• Valore D: Italian association of companies committed to gender equality and women's growth in leadership, headquartered in Milan. Directly comparable as a domestic Italian corporate-network promoting women into senior and board roles, with member companies similar to Bellisario's corporate sponsors.

Broad incumbents

• Catalyst: US-headquartered global nonprofit that works with CEOs and companies to advance women in leadership through research, awards (Catalyst Award), and advisory. Overlaps with Bellisario's research-driven advocacy, awards (Mele d'Oro), and corporate partnerships across multiple industries.
• Vital Voices Global Partnership: Global nonprofit investing in women leaders across sectors through mentorship, awards, and international networks. Comparable to Bellisario through its international cooperation programs in China, Afghanistan, Tunisia, and the USA, plus award-based recognition of female leaders.
• European Women's Lobby: EU-wide umbrella of women's associations conducting policy advocacy, coalition building, and campaigns for gender equality. Comparable as a continental advocacy body whose policy function mirrors Bellisario's role in Italian quota legislation and parliamentary engagement.
• Women's Forum for the Economy & Society: International forum organizing annual gatherings of women leaders from business, politics, and civil society. Directly comparable to Bellisario's Donna Economia & Potere conference, which markets itself as 'the Cernobbio of women.'

Emerging players

• Lean In Foundation: US-based nonprofit producing research, education, and community content to advance women's leadership, including the Circles peer-mentorship model. Overlaps with Bellisario's mentorship, training, and peer-network mission for women managers and entrepreneurs.

Regional players

• Confindustria Nazionale – Comitato Imprenditoria Femminile: Confindustria's internal women's entrepreneurship committee, which already co-runs the Women Empowerment Company special mention with Bellisario. Operates in the same Italian institutional space and shares overlapping corporate-partner networks, though it is part of the main employers' confederation rather than an independent foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOU_J5Ow26WeMSYIuXxnHJA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FondazioneMarisaBellisario
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondazione-marisa-bellisario
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondazionemarisabellisario

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Marisa Bellisario Foundation