What Fondation du Souffle does

Fondation du Souffle is a French nonprofit foundation recognized as being of public utility (reconnue d'utilité publique), operating exclusively in respiratory health. Founded over a century ago and headquartered at 68 Boulevard Saint-Michel in Paris, the Foundation carries out three integrated missions: financing respiratory-disease research, running prevention and education programs, and providing social aid to respiratory patients in precarious situations. It is described as the leading French private funder of respiratory health research and the only French organization exclusively dedicated to all respiratory diseases. Since 2020 it has co-funded 39 rare respiratory disease research projects with partners such as RespiFil, AFPF, and FLAM, committing over €1.8 million; it has also directed approximately €400,000 over five years to pulmonary arterial hypertension research.

The Foundation's product portfolio combines digital tools, research outputs, events, and public campaigns. Its core digital product is the Soufflotest, an online self-assessment quiz that returns personalized respiratory-health advice, developed with volunteer pneumologists. The annual 'Regards sur le Souffle' barometer, conducted with OpinionWay, tracks French public awareness of respiratory health risks; the 2025 edition reported 74% awareness among French citizens. Annual fundraising and engagement events include the Urban Trail solidarity race in Montmartre, Respir'Athlon (a public conference on respiratory innovation combined with physical-activity programming), Journées du Souffle patient days, and World Lung Day activations. The 2025 national campaign 'Respirer sans même y penser' generated 8 million reach through partnerships with TF1, Media Transports, CEGEDIM pharmacies (1,200 locations), and Basic Fit (200 gyms), driving more than 8,000 Soufflotest completions. The Foundation publishes the Soufflothèque, a digital library of brochures, infographics, and press materials, and issues the Lettres du Souffle newsletter series.

The Foundation operates as a 17-person team and is funded entirely through private sources — there is no government subsidy. Revenue is generated from four streams: individual donations (one-time, monthly recurring, IFI-linked, in memoriam, legacies, life insurance), corporate philanthropy and sponsorship (notably from pharmaceutical patrons GSK, Sanofi Regeneron, Menarini, Kenvue, and IRCEM), event-based fundraising, and employer-giving programs. Donations are eligible for French tax deductions (66% income tax, 75% IFI). Distribution is primarily domestic France, executed through lesouffle.org, a nationwide network of regional partner associations and committees, and institutional partnerships with medical societies (SPLF, FFP) and patient federations (FFAAIR, RespiFil, Antadir). Pr Bruno Crestani, Head of Pneumology at Hôpital Bichât (AP-HP), serves as President.

Name

Fondation du Souffle

Legal name

Fondation du Souffle

Website

https://lesouffle.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondation du Souffle is a French nonprofit foundation (d'utilité publique) dedicated exclusively to respiratory diseases, funding research, running national prevention campaigns, and providing social aid to patients across France through individual donations and pharmaceutical partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Respiratory Health Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Promotion, Prevention & Wellness Education (EDALAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Pulmonology Practice (HLAKANAA)

Keywords

• Respiratory health research
• Public health awareness
• Disease prevention education
• Patient social aid
• Fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The Foundation's primary funding source is donations from individuals, including one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and tribute gifts (In Memoriam). Donations are eligible for tax deductions under French law (66% income tax reduction, 75% IFI reduction).
2. Corporate Philanthropy and Sponsorship: Private sector partners (pharmaceutical companies such as GSK, Sanofi Regeneron, Menarini, Kenvue, IRCEM) provide financial support through grants and sponsorship of events and campaigns.
3. Legacies, Donations, and Life Insurance: The Foundation receives legacy bequests, outright donations, and life insurance policies as part of its liberalities program, providing long-term sustainable funding.
4. Event-Based Fundraising: Organized sporting events such as the Urban Trail (Montmartre) and Respir'Athlon generate donations and participant fees while raising public awareness.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fondation du Souffle is a French nonprofit foundation recognized as being of public utility that funds respiratory health research, provides social aid to respiratory disease patients in financial precarity, and runs prevention and education programs. Its main digital product is the Soufflotest, an online self-assessment quiz that helps individuals evaluate their respiratory health and receive personalized advice. The Foundation organizes fundraising events (Urban Trail, Respir'Athlon) and publishes educational content and an annual public awareness barometer.

Product overview

Fondation du Souffle operates as a non-profit health foundation offering a portfolio of digital and educational products focused on respiratory health awareness, disease prevention, and research funding. The core digital offering includes the Soufflotest self-assessment tool, the annual 'Regards sur le Souffle' opinion barometer, and the 'Soufflothèque' resource library. The Foundation organizes physical events including the Urban Trail race and Respir'Athlon public conferences for fundraising and awareness. Public campaigns like 'Respirer sans même y penser' and 'Activ' ton Souffle' provide prevention education through multimedia content. All services are accessible primarily through the lesouffle.org website and are funded entirely by public donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soufflotest: An online respiratory health self-assessment tool that allows individuals to evaluate their breathing and respiratory symptoms.
• Urban Trail
• Regards sur le Souffle
• Respir'Athlon
• Activ' ton Souffle
• Les Journées du Souffle

Products and services

• Soufflotest An online self-assessment quiz that allows individuals to evaluate their respiratory health by answering questions about breathing symptoms, fatigue, and daily discomfort, receiving personalized advice based on responses. Created with support from volunteer pneumologists.
• Regards sur le Souffle Barometer An annual opinion barometer conducted with OpinionWay measuring French public awareness, behaviors, and risk perceptions regarding respiratory health and prevention practices.
• Urban Trail An annual solidarity race event held in Montmartre, Paris, combining 7 km of running or walking with 1,200 steps to the top of the Butte Montmartre. Participants register and raise funds for respiratory research.
• Respir'Athlon An annual public event combining a scientific conference on respiratory health innovation with physical activity demonstrations, patient association meetings, and Urban Trail registration pickup.
• Soufflothèque A digital library of educational resources including brochures, health sheets, infographics, and press releases on respiratory diseases and prevention.
• Respirer sans même y penser A national prevention campaign launched in October 2025 featuring 15-second video spots distributed across TF1, Media Transports, pharmacies, and fitness centers to raise awareness about respiratory health.
• Les Journées du Souffle Annual patient days featuring educational content, expert presentations, and community activities focused on respiratory health for patients and families.
• Activ' ton Souffle Annual campaign for World Asthma Day promoting physical activity and sports for people with asthma, including videos and educational materials.
• Research Grants for Respiratory Diseases Competitive research grants awarded to medical researchers for projects in respiratory health, including rare diseases and pulmonary arterial hypertension, selected by a Scientific Council of 20 pneumology experts. 39 rare disease projects funded since 2020 for over €1.8 million.
• Social Aid Program for Respiratory Patients Direct financial assistance to respiratory disease patients in precarious situations, helping them meet immediate needs and emergency situations related to their condition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 39 research projects funded for rare respiratory diseases since 2020, totaling over €1.8 million
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.

• FFAAIR (Fédération Française des Associations et Amicales d'Insuffisants ou Handicapés Respiratoires)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFAAIR groups 51 regional or local respiratory patient associations covering all types of respiratory diseases. It is a key partner for patient outreach, advocacy, and shared educational initiatives.
• SPLF (Société de Pneumologie en Langue Française)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SPLF is France's leading professional society for pulmonology. The Foundation collaborates with SPLF on research projects, scientific publications, expert events, and public health campaigns. SPLF President Pr Claire Andrejak contributes expert content to the Foundation.
• FFP (Fédération Française de Pneumologie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FFP is a key institutional partner for pneumology professional development, research, and public health initiatives related to respiratory diseases.
• Antadir (Association Nationale pour les Traitements à domicile, les Innovations et la Recherche)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAntadir focuses on home-based respiratory treatments and innovations. It collaborates with the Foundation on research and patient care programs related to home oxygen therapy and respiratory support.
• RespiFil (Filière des Maladies Rares Respiratoires)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespiFil is France's national network for rare respiratory diseases. The Foundation co-funds research projects with RespiFil and collaborates on patient programs and awareness campaigns for rare diseases.
• TF1flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTF1 provided free media airtime for the Foundation's national prevention campaign 'Respirer sans même y penser', enabling broad reach to the French public.
• Media Transports (Metro and Major Railway Stations)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Transports provided free advertising space in Parisian metro stations and major French railway stations for the Foundation's national prevention campaign.
• CEGEDIM (1,200 Pharmacies)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCEGEDIM provided free in-pharmacy advertising space across 1,200 French pharmacies for the Foundation's national prevention campaign.
• Basic Fit (200 Gyms)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerBasic Fit provided free advertising space across 200 French gym locations for the Foundation's national prevention campaign.
• Recup'AirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecup'Air is a patient association focused on respiratory rehabilitation for patients with broncho-pulmonary diseases. Listed as a useful resource on the Foundation's website.
• Asthme et AllergiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient association providing information and support for people with asthma or allergies, parents of asthmatic children, and healthcare professionals. Listed as a useful resource on the Foundation's website.
• APEFPI (Association Pour l'Evaluation de la Fibrose Pulmonaire Idiopathique)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient association dedicated to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, providing information and support for patients and families. Listed as a useful resource on the Foundation's website.
• RespiFil / AFPF / FLAM (Research Co-Funding Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation co-funds rare respiratory disease research with RespiFil, AFPF (for pulmonary fibrosis), and FLAM (for LAM). These partnerships enable targeted research calls addressing specific rare disease areas.
• UFOLEPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUFOLEP (Union Française des Œuvres Laïques d'Éducation Physique) collaborates with the Foundation on physical activity programs for respiratory patients, including the Respir'Athlon event and Sports Health assessments.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• WHO Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD): WHO-hosted global alliance coordinating chronic respiratory disease prevention and care. Thematically aligned with Fondation du Souffle's prevention and education mission; functions as a global policy/coordination peer rather than a fundraising competitor.
• RespiFil: France's national network for rare respiratory diseases and a co-funder of research with Fondation du Souffle. Adjacent — operates as a rare-disease filière rather than a general-purpose foundation.
• Société de Pneumologie en Langue Française (SPLF): France's leading professional society for pulmonology. Not a fundraising peer, but a core scientific partner of Fondation du Souffle — comparable as a French respiratory-health institutional stakeholder and ecosystem participant.
• FFAAIR: Federation of 51 French respiratory patient associations, a key strategic partner for Fondation du Souffle's patient outreach. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct fundraiser peer.

Direct peers

• Asthma + Lung UK: The UK's leading respiratory health charity (formerly British Lung Foundation), funding research, running prevention campaigns, and supporting patients — a near-mirror of Fondation du Souffle's three-pillar model.
• American Lung Association: The US national respiratory health nonprofit, structured similarly as a research-funder, prevention educator, and patient-advocacy organization. Directly comparable mission, multi-stream donor model, and national awareness campaigns.
• European Lung Foundation: European-level patient-facing organization for lung health, coordinating pan-EU research communication, prevention, and patient engagement. Comparable as a respiratory-focused, multi-country, mission-aligned foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Ligue contre le cancer: France's largest disease-specific nonprofit, combining research funding, patient support, and prevention — a much larger incumbent in the same 'French health-foundation' category as Fondation du Souffle.
• Croix-Rouge française: One of France's largest recognized public-utility nonprofits, with health-focused programs alongside humanitarian aid. Comparable as a recognized d'utilité publique donation-driven organization, though far broader in scope.
• Fédération Française de Cardiologie: Major French health nonprofit combining research funding, prevention campaigns, and patient support for cardiovascular disease — highly analogous structure but a different disease vertical and significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FduSouffle
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeuYoEg0ICJiVJzCASivDZQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/FduSouffle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondation-du-souffle
• Instagraminstagram.com/fdusouffle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fondation du Souffle