FONDACA - Fondazione per la cittadinanza attiva

What FONDACA - Fondazione per la cittadinanza attiva does

FONDACA – Fondazione per la Cittadinanza Attiva (Active Citizenship Foundation) is an Italian non-profit foundation established in 2001 and headquartered in Rome. It operates as a civic research foundation and think tank, using citizenship as an analytical lens to study social, political, and cultural transformations in Italy and Europe. The foundation addresses the crisis of democratic citizenship through interdisciplinary research drawing on sociology, political science, cultural anthropology, policy analysis, organizational studies, and communication studies, and through consulting, policy contributions, cultural dialogue, and training programmes.

Its core products are two registered, proprietary methodologies: VALERE®, a reporting and evaluation model for civic organizations, and COMMUNITY FOOTPRINT®, a methodology for assessing corporate impact on local communities across environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions. It also maintains the Fondaca Library — a specialized bibliographic resource established in 2011 and part of the Italian National Library System from 2012 to 2024, donated in 2025 to UPTER — and an open archive of bibliographic sources on COVID-19 and citizenship. FONDACA produces books with major Italian publishers (Carocci, Morlacchi Editore), research reports, and training materials.

The business model is non-commercial. FONDACA generates operating funds through consulting engagements to public institutions (Italian ministries, regional governments, European institutions), corporations (Roche Italia, Barilla, EDRA, Ferrovie Italiane), civic organizations (Cittadinanzattiva, Save the Children Italia), and through project-based grants from foundations such as Fondazione Cariplo and Fondazione Con il Sud. As of December 2025, FONDACA is registered in Italy's National Single Register of the Third Sector (RUNTS) as an 'Other Third Sector Entity', succeeding its prior ONLUS status.

Name

FONDACA - Fondazione per la cittadinanza attiva

Legal name

Fondazione Fondaca

Website

https://fondaca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FONDACA is a Rome-based Italian non-profit civic research foundation, founded in 2001, that uses citizenship as a lens to study democratic governance through research, consulting, and proprietary methodologies (VALERE®, COMMUNITY FOOTPRINT®) for Italian ministries, regions, universities, corporations, and civic organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Research and Consulting Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Civic research foundation
• Citizenship studies
• Democratic governance consulting
• Nonprofit research services
• Active citizenship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FONDACA is a nonprofit civic research foundation that conducts theoretical, empirical, and applied research on citizenship, civic activism, and democratic governance. It sells consulting, organizational assessment, stakeholder engagement, and training services to public institutions, private companies, and civic organizations, leveraging two proprietary methodologies (VALERE® and COMMUNITY FOOTPRINT®) and a specialized thematic library on active citizenship.

Product overview

FONDACA is a research foundation focused on citizenship as a lens for understanding social transformations in Italy and Europe. The foundation operates through an integrated set of offerings including two proprietary methodologies—VALERE® for reporting and evaluation of civic activism, and COMMUNITY FOOTPRINT® for assessing corporate impact on communities—alongside research services, consulting, policy activities, cultural dialogue, and advanced training programs. Additionally, the Fondaca Library provides specialized knowledge resources on active citizenship and governance topics, and an Archive of COVID-19 bibliographic sources supports pandemic-related research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VALERE®: A reporting and evaluation model focused on two fundamental aspects of civic activism: general-interest activities carried out by civic organizations, and civic organizations as enabling environments for the development of active citizenship.
• COMMUNITY FOOTPRINT®

Products and services

• VALERE® Reporting and evaluation model focused on two fundamental aspects of civic activism: general-interest activities carried out by civic organizations, and civic organizations as enabling environments for the development of active citizenship. Designed for civic organizations, NGOs, and researchers assessing civic engagement.
• COMMUNITY FOOTPRINT® Methodology for assessing the material and immaterial impact of companies on the strengthening or weakening of the communities in which they operate, considering environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions, as well as long-term well-being and sustainability. Designed for corporations and CSR/sustainability teams.
• Fondaca Library Specialized library focusing on active citizenship, corporate responsibility, new forms of governance, and European integration. The collection comprises Italian and international books, journals, research reports, academic theses, and grey literature, fully catalogued via OPAC system. Serves researchers, students, civic organizations, and the public.
• Archive of Bibliographic and Documentary Sources on COVID-19 and Citizenship Open and ongoing collection of bibliographic and documentary materials related to COVID-19 and citizenship in Italy, designed to ensure easy access and consultation for the scientific community, public institutions, media, civic and civil society organizations.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Active Citizenship NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFONDACA is a member of the Active Citizenship Network, a European network focused on civic engagement and active citizenship.
• ASviS – Italian Alliance for Sustainable DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFONDACA participates in ASviS, the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development bringing together civil society organizations.
• Open Government Partnership – ItalycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFONDACA participates in the Forum for Open Government of the Open Government Partnership – Italy, established within the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Department of Public Administration.
• Università di BarimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration on citizenship and civic engagement topics.
• Sapienza Università di RomamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Rome's major university, involving Giovanni Moro as professor and scientific advisor.
• Università di TrentomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration.
• Università di PaviamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration.
• Università di Roma TREmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration.
• Università di Milano – BICOCCAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration.
• Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di PisamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration.
• Fondazione CariplomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the research project 'Citizenship in Italy after COVID-19' and the Fondaca Library donation to UPTER.
• Fondazione Con il SudmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the research project 'Citizenship in Italy after COVID-19'.
• CivicuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational civic society alliance partnership.
• Roche ItaliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership in the healthcare sector.
• BarillaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership for corporate citizenship initiatives.
• EDRAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing partnership with EDRA for research dissemination. Active collaboration mentioned in current activities.
• Ministero dell'InternomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for public policy research.
• Ministero dell'IstruzionemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for education and citizenship training.
• Regione LaziomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partnership for civic initiatives.
• Regione PugliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partnership for civic initiatives.
• Save the Children ItaliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partnership for child welfare and civic engagement.
• CittadinanzattivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian civic organization partnership for active citizenship.
• San MarcellinomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with civic organization in Genoa for volunteering and civic engagement projects.
• European CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean institution partnership for citizenship research and policy.
• UPTER – Università Popolare di RomamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for library donation and joint headquarters at Palazzo Englefield. Memorandum of understanding for library integration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Fondazione Cariplo: Large Italian philanthropic foundation that has funded FONDACA projects including the 'Citizenship in Italy after COVID-19' research. Comparable as a grantmaker and convener in the Italian civic sector, though operating at far greater scale across multiple social causes.
• European Policy Centre: Brussels-based think tank producing policy research on EU governance, democracy, and citizen engagement. Comparable as a European-level research and policy-analysis organisation whose thematic remit overlaps FONDACA's European citizenship work.
• Fondazione Con il Sud: Italian southern-Italy foundation that supported FONDACA's post-COVID citizenship research. Comparable as a research-funding and capacity-building foundation operating in the Italian civic and social space, with broader geographic and thematic scope.
• Open Government Partnership: International multi-stakeholder initiative FONDACA engages with through Italy's OGP Forum. Comparable as a convener of government and civil-society actors around transparency, participation, and accountability — themes central to FONDACA's research agenda.

Direct peers

• Active Citizenship Network: European civic-society network of which FONDACA is a member, focused on civic engagement and active citizenship. Highly comparable mission and stakeholder base; FONDACA provides research capacity while ACN coordinates pan-European advocacy.
• Cittadinanzattiva: Italian civic organization and FONDACA partner that promotes active citizenship and citizen participation. Directly comparable in thematic focus on citizen engagement in Italy and in organisational structure as a civic-sector intermediary.
• ASviS – Alleanza Italiana per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile: Italian alliance for sustainable development in which FONDACA participates. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder civic platform producing research and policy recommendations in Italy, with overlapping networks across government, academia, and civil society.
• Civicus: Global civil society alliance and FONDACA partner. Directly comparable as an international network advancing civic space and citizen participation, providing benchmarking and advocacy that complement FONDACA's research and policy work.

Regional players

• CISP – Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli: International development NGO and FONDACA partner. Comparable as an Italian-rooted civic-sector organisation engaged in citizen empowerment and social research, with operational focus extending to developing countries rather than EU policy.

Emerging players

• Demopolis Istituto di Ricerca Sociale: Italian social-research institute producing studies on participation, civic engagement, and social transformation. Closely comparable to FONDACA as a Rome-based research provider serving public institutions, NGOs, and foundations with similar methodological approaches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondaca-fondazioneperlacittadinanzaattiva

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 FONDACA - Fondazione per la cittadinanza attiva