Fondazione Con Il Sud

What Fondazione Con Il Sud does

Fondazione Con Il Sud is an Italian nonprofit foundation, legally domiciled in Rome (Via del Corso, 267) and established in 2006, that operates exclusively in the seven southern regions of Italy (Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardegna and Sicilia). It functions as a grant-making philanthropic entity that mobilizes banking-foundation and institutional capital (notably via ACRI), then redistributes it through competitive calls for proposals ("bandi") and co-funding arrangements to third-sector organizations. Cumulative impact reported by the foundation is €335 million disbursed across more than 2,000 projects involving 7,600+ organizations, addressing social cohesion, education, welfare, cultural production, social housing, mafia-confiscated asset reuse, and marine conservation. Grantees are required to form partnership networks (a lead "capofila" plus partners), and the foundation extends its reach by incubating seven community foundations in Naples (Centro Storico, Rione Sanità), Salerno, Benevento, Messina, Val di Noto and Agrigento-Trapani, into which it doubles initial resources.

Its "products" are programmatic rather than commercial: open competitive calls (e.g., 2026 Bando Volontariato at €4M, "Benvenuti a casa" social housing at €5M, the 2025-2027 confiscated-assets initiative at €2M per year), the Social Film Production initiative (20+ docufilm titles, 18 on Prime Video via partnership with Apulia Film Commission since 2017), and communication platforms including Con Magazine (a participatory video magazine with ~400 services), Esperienze con il Sud (~450 blogs, ~700 registered organizations), and the Chàiros online grant-management portal. A wholly- or co-managed subsidiary entity, Con i bambini, focuses specifically on child educational poverty.

Revenue mechanics are philanthropic rather than commercial: the foundation generates no product or service revenue, operates as a nonprofit (not publicly traded, no IPO history, no parent company), and is funded by Italian banking foundations, corporate foundations (Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, Banca Popolare Etica, Fondazione CDP, Fondazione Snam ETS), and international donors (Open Society Foundations, JP Morgan). Distribution follows a "social infrastructure" thesis — investing in civil-society networks rather than single projects — paired with a deliberate narrative-reorientation function that uses storytelling, docufilm, and press tours to counter negative stereotyping of Southern Italy.

Name

Fondazione Con Il Sud

Legal name

Fondazione con il Sud

Website

https://www.fondazioneconilsud.it

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fondazione Con Il Sud is an Italian nonprofit foundation (founded 2006, headquartered in Rome) that grants funds to third-sector organizations across seven southern Italian regions, having distributed €335 million across 2,000+ projects involving 7,600+ organizations, with programs spanning voluntary-sector funding, social housing, education, and cultural initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy and Grant-making for Social Infrastructure

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Philanthropy grant programs
• Social infrastructure funding
• Nonprofit foundation grants
• Community development funding
• Social cohesion initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant-making and philanthropy: The foundation generates no commercial revenue. It operates as a philanthropic organization that raises and distributes funds to social projects in Southern Italy through competitive calls for proposals (bandi), co-funding arrangements, and direct support to community foundations. The foundation is funded by Italian banking foundations and other institutional donors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fondazione Con Il Sud is a philanthropic foundation that raises capital from Italian banking foundations and institutional donors and redistributes it through competitive grant calls (bandi), co-funding arrangements, and direct support to community foundations in seven Southern Italian regions. Its programs fund partnership-based social, educational, cultural, and welfare projects, supplemented by an online platform (Chàiros) for proposal management and media initiatives such as Con Magazine and Social Film Production Con il Sud.

Product overview

Fondazione Con Il Sud operates as a philanthropy foundation focused on social infrastructure development in Southern Italy. The foundation offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including grant-based calls for proposals (Bandi e Iniziative), film production initiatives (Social Film Production Con il Sud), and communication platforms (Con Magazine and Esperienze con il Sud). The organization also provides an online project management platform (Chàiros) for grant applications and project tracking. The foundation does not offer a traditional technology product but rather grant programs, content platforms, and networking tools for social development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Con Magazine: Video magazine published by Fondazione con il Sud and Con i bambini, covering social topics in Italy
• Esperienze con il Sud
• Chàiros
• Sud Vivo
• Social Film Production Con il Sud
• Con i bambini

Products and services

• Bando Volontariato 2026 Annual grant call (bando) that provides €4 million in funding to volunteer organizations and social promotion associations in seven Southern Italian regions to support their ordinary activities.
• Benvenuti a casa – Bando per l'housing sociale al Sud Second-edition grant call with €5 million in funding to back experimental third-sector projects tackling housing poverty across the Southern Italian regions.
• Iniziativa 2026 per la valorizzazione dei beni confiscati alle mafie Three-year (2025–2027) initiative providing €2 million in funding to redeploy assets confiscated from the mafia for social purposes across six Southern Italian regions.
• Chàiros platform Online platform operated by Fondazione con il Sud that allows third-sector organizations to register, manage their profiles, and submit and track applications to the foundation's calls for proposals, as well as monitor progress of funded projects.
• Social Film Production Con il Sud Grant-funded film production program run since 2017 in partnership with Apulia Film Commission that connects the cinema industry with Southern Italy's third-sector organizations to produce documentaries and short films about the Mezzogiorno.
• Con Magazine Participatory video magazine co-edited by Fondazione con il Sud and Con i bambini, recognized by Google as an official News source, featuring approximately 400 video services and articles about social change across Italy.
• Esperienze con il Sud Network of approximately 450 project blogs and 700 registered organizations supported by Fondazione con il Sud, where grantees and partners share news, stories, and project activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 projects supported
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• ACRIcoreOthersAssociation of Italian Banking Foundations (Fondazioni di Origine Bancaria). Fondazione Con il Sud, while not a banking foundation itself, is associated with ACRI and participates in ACRI initiatives and networks.
• Con i bambinicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational fund addressing child educational poverty in Italy. Fondazione con il Sud co-manages Con i bambini and shares resources, communication platforms (Con Magazine), and mission alignment for child welfare initiatives.
• Apulia Film CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Social Film Production Con il Sud initiative since 2017, enabling collaboration between cinema industry and third sector organizations to produce docufilms about Southern Italy.
• Filiera FuturacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational open innovation program for Italian wine industry. Fondazione collaborates on initiatives connecting technological start-ups with traditional sectors in Southern Italy.
• ANBSC - Agenzia Nazionale Beni ConfiscatimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Agency for Confiscated Assets. Collaboration on initiatives to valorize assets confiscated from organized crime, supporting social reuse of these properties.
• Open Society FoundationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational philanthropy organization. Fondazione participates in collaborative funding initiatives and shares commitment to social justice and civil society development.
• Caritas ItalianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian Catholic Church organization for charitable activities. Collaboration on social initiatives addressing poverty and exclusion in Southern Italy.
• CEI - Conferenza Episcopale ItalianamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian Episcopal Conference. Partnership through Ufficio Otto per Mille supporting social projects with religious and ethical dimensions.
• Ministero della CulturamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian Ministry of Culture. Collaboration on cultural initiatives and social film production programs.
• LegambientecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Italian environmental association. Partnership on sustainability and environmental initiatives in Southern Italy.
• LUISS - Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi SocialiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate university in Rome. Collaboration on research and academic initiatives related to Southern Italy development.
• ArcicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian recreational and cultural association. Major third sector partner for social and cultural projects.
• ANCI - Associazione Nazionale Comuni ItalianicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Association of Italian Municipalities. Partnership for local development initiatives and community projects.
• Fondazione CRCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking foundation in Cuneo, Piedmont. Collaboration on Storie dal futuro magazine and cross-regional initiatives.
• Fondazione Grimaldi OnluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily foundation supporting community initiatives, particularly in Campania region.
• Fondazione Peppino VismaracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily foundation supporting social and healthcare initiatives, active in multiple community foundations.
• InvitaliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational agency for inward investments and economic development. Collaboration on economic development initiatives in Southern Italy.
• Comune di TarantocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Taranto. Partnership on Ketos dolphin conservation center and urban regeneration projects.
• Comune di LeccecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Lecce. Partnership on Masseria Tagliatelle valorization and local development initiatives.
• Jonian Dolphin ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation managing Ketos - Euro-Mediterranean Center for Marine and Cetaceans in Taranto, promoting marine conservation.
• Cnel - Consiglio Nazionale dell'Economia e del LavorominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Council for Economy and Labor. Partnership on economic and labor policy initiatives.
• AssiferocoreOthersItalian association of foundations and philanthropy. Network membership for sharing practices and collaboration.
• ASviS - Alleanza Italiana per lo Sviluppo SostenibilecoreOthersItalian Alliance for Sustainable Development. Network membership for sustainable development initiatives.
• Forum per la Finanza SostenibilecoreOthersItalian Forum for Sustainable Finance. Network membership for responsible investment and social finance.
• PHILEA - Philanthropy Europe AssociationcoreOthersEuropean philanthropy association. International network membership for sharing best practices.
• ARIADNEcoreOthersEuropean network for social change and philanthropy. International partnership for knowledge sharing.
• Social Impact Agenda per l'ItaliacoreOthersItalian network for social impact. Membership in initiatives promoting social innovation and impact.
• Progetto Ager - Agroalimentare e RicercaminorOthersAgri-food research network. Partnership for agricultural and research initiatives.
• Alliance for Gender Equality in EuropeminorOthersEuropean alliance for gender equality. Network membership promoting gender equality initiatives.
• Fondazione della Comunità Salernitana OnluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation established with foundation support in Salerno province, mobilizing €3.95 million for local projects.
• Fondazione di Comunità del Centro Storico di NapolicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation established with foundation support in Naples Historic Center, mobilizing €3.718 million for local projects.
• Fondazione di Comunità San GennarocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation established with foundation support in Rione Sanità, Naples, working since 2014 for neighborhood regeneration.
• Fondazione di Comunità di BeneventocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation established with foundation support in Benevento province, mobilizing €3.625 million for local projects.
• Fondazione di comunità Me.S.S.In.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation (Mediterranean Sustainable Solidary Communities for Inclusion and Welcome) established with foundation support in Messina.
• Fondazione di Comunità Val di NotocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation established with foundation support in Val di Noto (Sicily) since 2014, operating across multiple districts.
• Fondazione Comunitaria di Agrigento e TrapanicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation established with foundation support in Agrigento and Trapani provinces, mobilizing €3.625 million for local projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Assifero: Italian association of grantmaking foundations, of which Fondazione Con Il Sud is a member. Comparable as a peer-network organization for Italian philanthropic foundations sharing practices and policy positions.
• ACRI: Italian association of banking foundations and savings banks. Comparable as the institutional umbrella for Italian banking foundations, including those funding and associated with Fondazione Con Il Sud.
• Caritas Italiana: Italian Catholic charitable organization addressing poverty and social exclusion; explicitly listed as a core strategic partner. Comparable as a major Italian nonprofit operating social-welfare programs, though funded primarily through religious donations rather than banking-foundation capital.

Direct peers

• Con i Bambini: National fund addressing child educational poverty in Italy, co-managed by Fondazione Con Il Sud. Directly comparable as a thematic grantmaking vehicle deploying competitive bandi to nonprofit consortia across Italy.
• Fondazione Cariplo: Major Italian banking foundation based in Milan, one of the largest grantmakers in Italy with multi-hundred-million-euro annual programs across social welfare, environment, culture and research. Directly comparable as an Italian private grantmaking foundation deploying competitive bandi to third-sector organizations.
• Fondazione CRC: Banking foundation based in Cuneo (Piedmont) funding community development, social services and research; explicitly named as a collaborative partner of Fondazione Con Il Sud on cross-regional initiatives such as the Storie dal futuro magazine.
• Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo: One of Italy's largest banking foundations, headquartered in Turin, with significant programs in social welfare, arts, education and research. Comparable as a top-tier Italian private grantmaking foundation operating competitive calls and partnership-based funding models.
• Fondazione Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Fondazione CDP): Foundation arm of Italy's Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, supporting social infrastructure and impact initiatives; listed as a major financial partner of Fondazione Con Il Sud and operates a comparable large-scale grantmaking/co-investment model.
• Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio Salernitana: Banking foundation in Salerno supporting community projects and local development, operating in a Southern Italian territory overlapping with Fondazione Con Il Sud's geographic focus. Comparable as a regional banking foundation funding community-level social projects.

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: International philanthropy organization backing civil society, social justice and democratic participation; explicitly listed as a major strategic partner of Fondazione Con Il Sud. Comparable in mission (civil society development) but operates globally rather than regionally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/conilsud
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FondazioneconilSudVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/FondazioneConIlSud
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondazioneconilsud
• Instagraminstagram.com/conilsud

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Fondazione Con Il Sud