LA MAISON-PHARE

What LA MAISON-PHARE does

La Maison-Phare is a nonprofit association (association loi 1901) founded in 2016 and headquartered in the Fontaine d'Ouche neighborhood of Dijon, France. Operating as a centre social and association d'éducation populaire et de pédagogie sociale, it provides an open-access community hub serving local residents of all ages through a portfolio of in-person services: a café and restaurant (Au Café, Au Resto), a youth center for ages 11-25, a 2,000 m² collective organic market garden with a weekly neighborhood market, four-times-weekly street workshops (Ateliers de Rue), an adventure playground (Terrain d'Aventures), community radio (Radio Phare Ouest) in partnership with Radio Dijon Campus, academic support for middle-schoolers, French-language learning, computer assistance, and a digital access point (Point d'Accès Numérique). It also publishes Le Nénu-phare, a collaborative neighborhood magazine written with residents.

The association is not a technology company; its core "platform" is two physical venues (2 allée de Grenoble and L'Extension at 1 allée du Ruisseau) plus public space in the neighborhood. The technology stack is minimal — a WordPress website, social media accounts, RSS, and partner-led digital inclusion resources — and there is no proprietary software product. Programming is co-built with residents and partner associations (CEMEA, FRMJC, PEP CBFC, CESAM, ASCS, CirQ'ônflex, Conservatoire de Dijon, Bibliothèque de Fontaine d'Ouche, and others).

Revenue is generated through a hybrid community-led model combining micro-fees from participants (€4 annual membership, €3-10 meals, €15-85 activity fees, garden plot subscriptions) and substantial institutional grant funding from Ville de Dijon, CAF 21, Conseil Régional de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, DRAC, DDETS 21, DSDEN 21, ANRU, and ASP. Participation is intentionally low-cost or free, and the go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth, street outreach, social media (Facebook ~10,700 followers, Instagram), a newsletter, and partner referrals — with no formal sales motion. The association is governed collectively with no external investors or parent entity, employing 18 staff supported by volunteers and resident participation.

Name

LA MAISON-PHARE

Legal name

La Maison-Phare

Website

https://lamaisonphare.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Maison-Phare is a nonprofit community center in Dijon, France (Fontaine d'Ouche) providing free or low-cost café, restaurant, youth programs, street workshops, collective gardening, media production, and social support to neighborhood residents of all ages since 2016.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dijon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership at 4€ per person per year. Membership is optional but enables access to certain paid activities and dining at the café/restaurant.
2. Café and restaurant sales: The café sells beverages, snacks, and meals. Members pay 6€ (+ price libre) per meal for adults and 3€ for children; non-members pay 10€/5€. Breakfast at 2.50€ and afternoon snacks at 1€.
3. Activity participation fees: Various partner associations run paid activities (dance, yoga, choir, woodworking, etc.) at the Maison-phare and L'Extension venues. Fees range from 15€/year to 72€/year depending on the activity, plus optional 10€ ASCS membership.
4. Collective market garden sales: The collective vegetable garden produces vegetables sold at a small weekly market (Wednesday 14h-18h) to local residents. Also sells preserves (bocaux). Reserved for inhabitants on a membership basis.
5. Public funding and grants: Financed by institutional funders including Ville de Dijon, CAF 21, Conseil Régional de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, DRAC Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, DDETS 21, DSDEN 21, ANRU, and ASP. Funding supports the social and educational project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

La Maison-phare is a nonprofit community association providing social pedagogy and popular education services to residents of the Fontaine d'Ouche neighborhood in Dijon, France. Its core offerings include community café and restaurant services, youth programming, collective market gardening, street-based educational workshops, an adventure playground, academic support, French language learning, digital inclusion support, and a collaborative neighborhood magazine. All activities operate on a free or low-cost, open-access basis supported primarily by public institutional funding.

Product overview

LA MAISON-PHARE is a community center (centre social) in Dijon, France, operating as an association for popular education and social pedagogy. It is NOT a technology company. The organization provides a broad portfolio of community services including: a café and restaurant (Au Café, Au Resto), youth center (Accueil Jeunes), collective gardening (Maraîchage Collectif), street workshops (Ateliers de Rue), adventure playground (Terrain d'Aventures), community radio (Radio Phare Ouest), academic support, French language learning, computer assistance, digital access point, Club Agora forum, homemade preserves (Les Bocaux du Ruisseau), and a collaborative magazine (Le Nénu-phare). This is a social/educational organization, not a technology product or SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Au Café A welcoming community café serving as a neighborhood hub for gatherings and collective practices, based on unconditional welcome and free or low-cost participation.
• Au Resto (Community Restaurant) Community restaurant serving midday meals on Wednesdays and Thursdays with member (€6) and non-member (€10) adult pricing, plus children's pricing and homemade food.
• Accueil Jeunes (Youth Center) Open reception space for young people aged 11 to 25 offering activities in cooking, dance, sports, games, radio, video, cycling, fishing, performances, and evening events.
• Le Maraîchage Collectif (Collective Market Gardening) 2,000 m² organic vegetable garden with greenhouses producing vegetables sold at a weekly Wednesday market for neighborhood residents.
• Ateliers de Rue (Street Workshops) Four-times-weekly street workshops delivering activities (woodworking, cardboard, games, sports, engraving, painting, sewing, reading, screen printing) directly in neighborhood public squares.
• Terrain d'Aventures (Adventure Playground) Natural outdoor space dedicated to collective activities, woodworking, and shack building, free and open to all children, associated with approximately 1,000 adventure playgrounds worldwide.
• Radio Phare Ouest Monthly community radio program broadcasting interviews and chronicles about neighborhood life, produced in collaboration with Radio Dijon Campus and local schools.
• Accompagnement Scolaire (Academic Support) Methodological homework help for middle school students (6th to 9th grade) at €4/year with organizers, aiding learning organization and relationship to schoolwork.
• Apprendre le Français (French Language Learning) Socio-linguistic French language workshops and learning sessions for all levels, offered in partnership with CESAM at L'Extension.
• Aide Informatique (Computer Assistance) Computer repair assistance and digital training service offered by MicrotelClubDijon at €85/year, including equipment repair and digital literacy support.
• Point d'Accès Numérique (Digital Access Point) Free internet access point with adapted and free computer courses available on Thursday mornings, managed by CESAM.
• Club Agora Popular university forum offering exchange and reflection sessions, press point, and monthly art exhibitions featuring local artists.
• Les Bocaux du Ruisseau Homemade preserves including jams, pickles, ratatouille, and compotes produced from the collective garden's harvest.
• Le Nénu-phare (Collaborative Magazine) Collaborative neighborhood magazine written by and for inhabitants providing expression on daily life and social topics through in-depth investigations; four issues published to date.
• Accueil de Loisirs PEP CBFC Leisure center for children aged 6-14 offering educational and recreational activities during Wednesdays and school holidays, managed by PEP CBFC.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Ville de DijoncoreOthersPrimary municipal funder and institutional partner. Supports the association's social and educational project through direct funding.
• CAF 21 (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales)coreOthersProvides social workers for individual support sessions (accompagnement social) on Wednesday afternoons and Fridays. Runs permanence at L'Extension on an appointment basis.
• Conseil Régional de Bourgogne-Franche-ComtécoreOthersRegional council providing institutional funding for the association's educational and social activities.
• DRAC Bourgogne-Franche-ComtécoreOthersRegional cultural authority (Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles) providing cultural funding support.
• CEMEA Bourgogne Franche-ComtécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partner in popular education. Collaborates on adventure playgrounds (terrains d'aventures), training, and educational projects. Associated with the national CEMEA network.
• FRMJC Bourgogne Franche-ComtécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation of MJC (Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture) in the region. Co-organizes events such as outdoor cinema and supports the youth media project 'A nous les médias'.
• PEP CBFC (Pupilles de l'Enseignement Public)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the 'Accueil de loisirs' (leisure center) for children aged 6-14 at La Maison-phare, open every Wednesday and during school holidays. Co-run with Ville de Dijon.
• Fédération des Centres Sociaux de Côte-d'OrcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of community centers in Côte-d'Or. La Maison-phare operates as a social/cultural center affiliated with this network.
• Radio Dijon CampusregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community radio station. Collaborates on monthly radio chronicles ('Chroniques Phare Ouest') recording interviews with neighborhood residents. Partners on the 'Minute à l'Ouest' youth media project.
• CESAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides French language learning workshops (socio-linguistic ateliers), digital access courses, and manages the Point d'Accès Numérique (digital access point). Located at L'Extension.
• Bibliothèque de Fontaine d'OucheregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic library in the neighborhood. Collaborates on reading activities, exhibitions, and joint events including 'Jeux de société et livres' and themed exhibitions.
• Collège RameauregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal middle school. Partners on youth media projects ('A nous les médias'), the collaborative book 'Alphabet-monde', and art workshops with students.
• Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de DijonregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional conservatory. Collaborated on the 'Alphabet-monde' co-writing book project and contributes to artistic programming including music and art workshops.
• CirQ'ônflexregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal circus company. Partners on street performances, summer activities, and artistic programming including the 'Spectacle Emmêlée' at Espace Cirq'.
• ASCS (Association Socio-Culturelle et Sportive de Fontaine-d'Ouche)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighbor association in the same neighborhood. Organizes activities (creative leisure, gymnastics, dance) at La Maison-phare venues. Shared space and co-programming.
• ATD Quart MondeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as an inspiration organization for the association's approach to popular education and social justice.
• ANRU (Agence Nationale pour la Rénovation Urbaine)coreOthersNational urban renovation agency. Major funder of neighborhood renewal projects in Fontaine d'Ouche that benefit the association's community.
• DDETS 21 (Direction Départementale de l'Emploi, du Travail et des Solidarités)coreOthersDepartmental authority providing institutional funding and oversight for social and educational projects.
• DSDEN 21 (Service Départemental Jeunesse, Engagement, Sports)coreOthersDepartmental education and youth services authority providing institutional support for youth and sports programming.
• La Rage du SocialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing platform for social pedagogy research and practice. La Maison-phare team contributes articles and co-published 'En dehors des murs' — a collective book on social pedagogy practiced outside the walls.
• SOS RefoulementregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation supporting migrants and refugees. Co-organizes participatory canteens (cantines participatives), Blabla Café language practice sessions, and collective meals.
• Ligue des Droits de l'HommeregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuman rights organization. Co-organizes the Université Populaire event on identity, homophobia, and discrimination (June 2026).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Fédération des Centres Sociaux de France (FCSF): National federation of community centers in France. La Maison-phare is explicitly affiliated with the Fédération des Centres Sociaux de Côte-d'Or, making this the direct network peer. Both operate the social/cultural center model with open access, multi-service programming, and public funding reliance.
• Emmaüs France: French federation of Emmaüs community organizations providing social inclusion, second-hand commerce, and community support. Operates with similar philosophy of community-based support for marginalized populations and similar multi-program service portfolio.
• Secours Populaire Français: Major French social solidarity association providing food aid, cultural activities, and community support to vulnerable populations. Operates with similar multi-service community center model, public funding reliance, and free/low-cost service philosophy.
• Restos du Cœur: Major French food aid association providing meals and food assistance. While larger in scale, Restos du Cœur operates similar community-embedded food access programming targeting working-class populations, with comparable government funding reliance and community café-style operations.
• Ligue de l'Enseignement: France's largest popular education federation operating thousands of local associations with cultural, educational, and recreational programming. Shares the popular education (éducation populaire) philosophy and community-embedded model with La Maison-phare.
• Croix-Rouge française: France's principal humanitarian organization operating local chapters providing social, educational, and humanitarian services. Comparable multi-service community programming model targeting vulnerable populations with similar public funding mix.

Direct peers

• MJC de France: Federation of Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture operating youth and community centers across France with similar multi-service portfolios (cultural activities, youth reception, educational support). La Maison-phare partners with the regional FRMJC Bourgogne Franche-Comté, indicating direct operational similarity.
• Habitat et Humanisme: French association providing housing and community services for vulnerable populations, combining physical infrastructure (housing) with social support services. Shares the integrated community services model and working-class neighborhood focus with La Maison-phare.
• ATD Quart Monde: International movement co-founded by Joseph Wresinski focused on combating extreme poverty and supporting the most marginalized communities through popular education and community organizing. La Maison-phare explicitly references ATD Quart Monde as inspiration for its approach to working-class neighborhood engagement.
• CEMEA (Centres d'Entraînement aux Méthodes d'Éducation Active): Major French popular education association focused on active pedagogy methods, adventure playgrounds (terrains d'aventures), and youth education. La Maison-phare has a core partnership with CEMEA Bourgogne Franche-Comté, indicating shared mission in social pedagogy and adventure playground methodology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/La-Maison-phare-1069238459798880
• Instagraminstagram.com/lamaisonphare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-maison-phare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 LA MAISON-PHARE