Rêves De Clown

What Rêves De Clown does

Rêves De Clown is a French nonprofit association (governed by Law 1901) founded in March 2005 by Michel Vobmann, with hospital clown activities tracing back to 1998 in Lorient, Brittany. The organization deploys 18 professionally trained "Clowns Hospitaliers" and engages more than 60 volunteer ambassadors to conduct visits across healthcare facilities in Brittany, serving primarily children (75% of patients) and adults (25%) including those in pediatric, oncology, hematology, palliative care, rehabilitation, and EHPAD (elderly care) settings. The association is recognized as being of general interest (2008) and as a charitable organization (2014), and has reached a cumulative milestone of 600,000 patients visited, with the 600,000th patient milestone crossed in April 2026.

The core product is the Clowns Hospitaliers service — direct in-person clown interventions delivered at no cost to hospitals or patients — supported by a solidarity products boutique (selling plush toys, books, bubbles, and crafts), a donation platform, a structured ambassador/benevolat program with sub-tracks for engaged, young, and digital volunteers, and a specialized training curriculum for hospital clowns including protocols for Alzheimer's care. The organization operates no proprietary technology platform, no public API, and no mobile application; its digital presence is limited to a WordPress-based website, Facebook, and Instagram.

The business model is purely donation-driven and geographically concentrated in Brittany. Revenue streams include individual donations, corporate and foundation partnerships (Arkea, Groupama), service club contributions (Lions Club, Rotary Club), proceeds from charity events, and sales of solidarity products. Services are provided free of charge, and there are no pricing tiers. Intervention sites span seven Breton hospitals (Lorient/Scorff, Brest, Quimper, Morlaix, Vannes, St Brieuc, and Douarnenez as of March 2026), with the Lorient office at 50 rue Louis Braille serving as administrative headquarters.

Name

Rêves De Clown

Legal name

Association Rêves De Clown

Website

https://revesdeclown.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rêves De Clown is a French nonprofit association deploying 18 professionally trained hospital clowns across seven Brittany hospitals to reduce anxiety and bring joy to pediatric (75%) and adult (25%) patients, funded entirely through donations, foundation and corporate partnerships, and solidarity product sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Support Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Comedy Club & Showcase Nights (MPAGACAE)

Keywords

• Hospital clown services
• Therapeutic clowning
• Nonprofit healthcare support
• Pediatric patient visits
• Charitable healthcare programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lorient

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from supporters, processed through the organization's secure donation system on the website. The association is recognized as being of general interest and is a charitable work, making donations tax-deductible.
2. Solidarity Products: Sale of solidarity products including soft toys (doudous), books, bubbles, keychains, and handmade items crafted by volunteers. Products sold at stands, at headquarters, through the online boutique, or by mail order.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Financial support from businesses including foundations (Arkea, Groupama), local businesses, and service clubs (Lions Club, Rotary Club) who fund specific hospital visits or provide ongoing support.
4. Event Fundraising: Proceeds from charity events organized by supporters including fitness events, concerts, sports competitions, and community fundraisers where proceeds benefit the association.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rêves De Clown is a French non-profit association that deploys professionally trained hospital clowns (Clowns Hospitaliers) to visit hospitalized children and adults across healthcare facilities in Brittany, France. The association also sells solidarity products and operates volunteer ambassador programs to fund its mission of reducing patient anxiety and bringing moments of joy to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and elderly care homes. Services are provided free of charge to patients and healthcare institutions.

Product overview

Rêves De Clown is a charitable association operating primarily in Brittany, France, offering hospital clown services as its core mission. The organization deploys professionally trained hospital clowns who visit healthcare facilities including pediatric wards, rehabilitation centers, and elderly care homes. The service portfolio includes direct patient visits (Clowns Hospitaliers), an online solidarity products boutique, a donation platform, and a volunteer ambassador program. The association works exclusively with hospitals throughout Brittany and serves primarily children (75%) and adults (25%), including oncology, hematology, and palliative care patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clowns Hospitaliers (Hospital Clowns Service)

Quantifiable outcome

• 600,000 patients reached since 1998, with milestone of 600,000th patient in April 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Ruseff & Latruffe ImmobilierminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal real estate company supporting the clowns in hospitals initiative
• JardilandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGarden center chain conducting annual fundraising collections for the association
• Le Café qui FumeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal café partner participating in partner evenings and community events
• CPAM 22, 29, 44minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance funds (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie) supporting healthcare initiatives
• E.S.CA.PEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner participating in Brest partner evenings
• Armor EmballagesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal packaging company supporting the association
• Le Verger Perdu (Glaces Bio)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganic ice cream producer donating 1€ per buche glacée sold to support the association for 3 years
• Lilo.orgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolidary search engine where users can vote for the association to win advertising credits
• Peintres et Sculpteurs de BretagneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArtist collective supporting the association through art events and exhibitions
• Marché U GouesnouminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal supermarket partner supporting fundraising activities
• Boulangerie BarbotinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal bakery supporting community events

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Dreams Come True: UK charity granting wishes and providing joyful experiences to seriously ill children. Comparable as a UK-based non-profit serving hospitalized children with non-medical interventions, though broader than clown-specific services.
• Big Apple Circus - Clown Care: US hospital clown program founded in 1986, pioneering the model of professional clowns visiting hospitalized children. Comparable as the foundational hospital clown organization that informed European peers like Rêves De Clown.

Direct peers

• Humour et Santé: French association training clowns for hospital interventions, focused on bringing moments of joy to hospitalized children and adults. Directly comparable as a French non-profit hospital clown organization with similar mission.
• Le Rire Médecin: Founded in 1991, Le Rire Médecin is the leading French hospital clown association, deploying professional clowns to pediatric wards across France. Directly comparable as a non-profit hospital clown organization serving hospitalized children and families with trained performers.
• Docteurs Clowns: French hospital clown association operating in healthcare facilities, providing trained clowns to children in hospitals. Comparable as a French non-profit offering the same core service of professional clown interventions in pediatric care.
• Cliniclowns (Cliniclowns Nederland): Dutch hospital clown foundation operating since 1992, sending professional clowns to visit sick children in hospitals. Directly comparable as an established European hospital clown non-profit with similar operating model.
• Theodora Foundation: Swiss-founded organization with French operations, deploying 'Giggle Doctors' (clowns and storytellers) to hospitals to support sick children. Directly comparable as a European hospital clown non-profit operating across multiple countries.
• Les Clowns de l'Espoir: French association operating hospital clowns in healthcare settings, focused on bringing joy to hospitalized children. Directly comparable as a regional French non-profit hospital clown organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RevesdeclownBretagne
• Instagraminstagram.com/reves_de_clown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-r%C3%AAves-de-clown

Compliance2 records

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 Rêves De Clown