Fondation Notre Dame

What Fondation Notre Dame does

Fondation Notre Dame is a French Catholic charitable foundation recognized as a public utility (fondation reconnue d'utilité publique) by decree of 30 November 1992, founded by Monseigneur Jean-Marie Lustiger and headquartered in Paris. It operates as a grant-making intermediary, channeling private donations from individual donors, bequests, and sheltered foundations to approximately 344 partner associations across France, supporting 696 projects in 2025 with €60 million committed across solidarity, education, culture, and heritage causes. The foundation explicitly receives no public subsidies and is funded entirely through donor generosity, with a stated 86% pass-through rate to beneficiaries.

The foundation's core offerings are organized under the Programme Entraide & Éducation and a set of specialized funds (Fonds Insertion Logement for housing, Fonds d'urgence Mains ouvertes for emergency aid, and the recently launched Fonds des Aidants for caregivers). A defining structural feature is its sheltered foundation (fondations abritées) business: 60 funds and foundations operate under its legal umbrella, including the Fondation Avenir du Patrimoine à Paris (dedicated to church restoration), Fondation KTO (Catholic television), and Fondation des Bernardins. This creates a diversified revenue and program ecosystem. Since 2022, the foundation has been co-led by Sylvie Bretones (Déléguée générale) and Gaëlle Rault (Déléguée générale adjointe), and it is hosted free of charge by the Association Diocésaine de Paris with shared staff mutualization keeping overhead at 14%.

Tech infrastructure is intentionally lightweight: a WordPress website maintained by Spyrit, online donation processing via GiveXpert (Eudonet) supporting card, SEPA, and instant transfer payments, and no proprietary technology platform. The foundation serves approximately 150,000 beneficiaries annually through its partner network of 41 Paris parishes and 344 associations, distributing tax-advantaged donations under France's 66% income tax and 75% IFI deduction regimes.

Name

Fondation Notre Dame

Legal name

Fondation Notre Dame

Website

https://fondationnotredame.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondation Notre Dame is a French Catholic public-utility foundation founded in 1992 that grants private donations to approximately 344 partner associations across France, supporting 696 projects in 2025 with €60 million committed in solidarity, education, culture, and heritage, and hosting 60 sheltered foundations under its legal umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

Keywords

• Charitable grant-making
• Donation platform services
• Sheltered foundations
• Social solidarity programs
• Religious heritage preservation

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: The foundation's primary revenue source is donations from individual private donors. It receives no public subsidies. Donations are made via one-time or recurring (monthly) contributions, and through IFI (Impôt sur la Fortune Immobilière) and income tax deduction schemes. A 100€ donation costs the donor 34€ after 66% income tax reduction.
2. Bequests and heritage transmission: The foundation accepts legacies (legs), donations (donations), temporary usufruct donations, life insurance (assurance-vie), and share donations as part of its heritage transmission program, providing donors with tax advantages.
3. Sheltered foundations (fondations abritées): The foundation hosts 60 sheltered funds and foundations (fondations abritées and fonds sous égide) that raise their own funds under the foundation's legal umbrella, contributing to its overall scale of operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fondation Notre Dame is a French Catholic public-utility foundation that receives, manages, and redistributes private donations to support charitable associations working in solidarity, education, culture, and heritage. It operates an online donation platform, hosts 60 sheltered foundations under its legal umbrella, and runs targeted funds (housing insertion, emergency aid, caregiver support, heritage restoration) that collectively channelled approximately 60 million euros to 696 projects across 344 associations in 2025.

Product overview

Fondation Notre Dame is a Catholic charitable foundation recognised as a public utility (created by decree of 30 November 1992), operating primarily as a grant-making foundation under its Programme Entraide & Éducation. The foundation does not operate a single software product in the traditional sense; rather, its 'products' are charitable programmes, fundraising vehicles, and sheltered foundation structures. Its core offering is an online Donation Platform (don.fondationnotredame.fr) powered by GiveXpert (Eudonet) for secure payment processing, supplemented by the Programme Entraide & Éducation through which it distributes approximately 150–165 projects per year across solidarity, education, culture, and heritage. The foundation also operates Fondations abritées and Fondations collectrices as branded sub-structures that allow philanthropists to create and fund their own purpose-driven foundations under its legal umbrella. Key sub-programmes include the Fonds Insertion Logement (housing fund), the Fonds d'urgence Mains ouvertes (emergency assistance), and the Fonds des Aidants (caregiver support), as well as Radio Notre-Dame and religious heritage restoration through the Fondation Avenir du Patrimoine à Paris (FAPP).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Donation Platform (don.fondationnotredame.fr) Online donation collection platform supporting one-time donations, recurring monthly donations, IFI (wealth tax) donations, and IR (income tax) donations, with tax deduction calculations displayed in real time. Payments are processed via GiveXpert (Eudonet) supporting card, SEPA, and instant transfer.
• Sheltered Foundations Service (Fondations abritées) A service allowing individuals or organizations to create their own philanthropic foundation under the legal umbrella and supervision of Fondation Notre Dame. The host foundation manages administration, compliance, and fund distribution while the sheltered foundation defines its own mission and cause area.
• Collector Foundations (Fondations collectrices) A category of sheltered foundations that actively solicit public donations for their cause. Includes foundations such as Fondation KTO (Catholic television), Fondation des Bernardins, and Fondation Avenir du Patrimoine à Paris, each with distinct charitable missions in media, culture, or heritage.
• Programme Entraide & Éducation The primary grant-making programme through which Fondation Notre Dame channels financial support to approximately 150–200 charitable projects annually in the areas of solidarity, education, culture, and heritage. It encompasses the Fonds Insertion Logement, the Fonds d'urgence Mains ouvertes, and the Fonds des Aidants.
• Fonds Insertion Logement (FIL) A housing fund that purchases and renovates apartments in Paris and its inner suburbs to provide temporary housing for people in precarity. Operated as part of the Entraide & Éducation programme, with beneficiaries selected and accompanied by partner associations affiliated with Paris Catholic parishes.
• Fonds d'urgence Mains ouvertes An emergency fund providing rapid financial assistance to individuals in urgent need who are being supported by a partner association, support group, or parish. In 2023, 24 emergency grants were awarded for a total of approximately 25,000 euros.
• Fonds des Aidants A dedicated fund launched by Fondation Notre Dame to support family caregivers (proches aidants) in France. The fund launched its first national call for projects on 16 December 2025, targeting caregiver support initiatives across the country.
• Religious Heritage Preservation (via Fondation Avenir du Patrimoine à Paris / FAPP) A heritage preservation programme primarily operated through the Fondation Avenir du Patrimoine à Paris (FAPP), a collector foundation. Supports restoration of churches across Paris including Saint-Séverin, Saint-Paul–Saint-Louis, Saint-Joseph des Nations, and others, financing art works, stained glass, organs, painted décor, and building fabric.
• Heritage Transmission Service (Legs, Donations, Assurance-vie) Heritage transmission service accepting legacies (legs), donations, temporary usufruct donations, life insurance (assurance-vie), and share donations, providing donors with tax advantages as part of the foundation's fundraising programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of every 100€ donated goes directly to beneficiaries (~150,000 people), with 14% used for operating and fundraising costs.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diocèse de Paris (Association Diocésaine de Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992The foundation was founded under the authority of the Diocese of Paris. It is gracieusement hosted by the Association Diocésaine de Paris, which also provides shared staff under mutualization arrangements. The foundation supports projects aligned with the diocese's pastoral mission, including parish-based initiatives across 41 Paris parishes.
• Fondation KTOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sheltered foundation (fondation abritée) under the foundation's umbrella, dedicated to supporting KTO Catholic television. Represents one of the largest contributors to the foundation's culture and media spending.
• Fondation des BernardinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sheltered foundation supporting the Collège des Bernardins in Paris. One of the major contributors to culture and reflection spending within the foundation's ecosystem.
• Fondation Avenir du Patrimoine à Paris (FAPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sheltered foundation created in 2014 dedicated to restoring historic Parisian churches. Has supported 76 projects across 24 churches for 11.8 million euros total. Co-funded the Centre Teilhard de Chardin on the Plateau de Saclay.
• Fondation AdveniatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sheltered foundation under the foundation's umbrella, listed in the address book of fondations collectrices.
• Centre Français des fonds et FondationsminorOthersReferenced as a complementary link in the address book. A national resource center for foundations in France.
• Œuvre d'OrientminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported during the 2024 Lenten offering campaign to help Christian schools in Lebanon (320 establishments, 220,000 children). The foundation served as a collection vehicle for donations to this partner.
• Fonds Insertion Logement (FIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA program within the foundation's Entraide & Éducation program that purchases and renovates apartments in Paris and inner suburbs to temporarily house the most disadvantaged. Currently manages 13 dwellings occupied by 24 people. Partners with associations for tenant selection and support.
• Aux captifs, la libérationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation supported by the foundation for street outreach and support of people in prostitution and extreme precarity. Supported during the 2024 Lenten offering and summer solidarity campaigns. Operates 5 day centers open during the Olympics.
• Sant'Egidio FrancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Sant'Egidio community has managed the Saint-Merry parish since 2021 and operates the 'Cantine familiale' for homeless people (100 meals per Sunday). Supported with 50,000 euros for kitchen renovation. The foundation also supported the organisation's summer food aid campaign (Août Secours Alimentaire).
• Holy GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation supported by the foundation to facilitate inclusion of vulnerable people at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 850 tickets purchased for 425 people. Also organized a solidarity march and a Rugby World Cup screening event.
• Fondation Vouloir l'ÉducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sheltered foundation listed in the address book, focused on education support.
• Fondation de l'Abbaye de LagrasseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sheltered foundation listed in the address book, focused on heritage preservation of the Abbey of Lagrasse.
• Fondation des Œuvres du BerryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sheltered foundation listed in the address book, focused on heritage in the Berry region.
• Fondation Saint EtienneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sheltered foundation listed in the address book.
• Fondation des Entrepreneurs et Dirigeants Chrétiens (EDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sheltered foundation listed in the address book, representing Christian entrepreneurs and business leaders.
• Université Paris-Saclay / Diocèses (Évêchés)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour dioceses (Paris, Évry, Versailles, Nanterre) and the Jesuit provincial co-funded the Centre Teilhard de Chardin on the Plateau de Saclay, a research and innovation center for dialogue between science, technology, and spirituality. The foundation and its sheltered foundations provided financial support for the construction.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso: An independent family foundation funding sustainable food and art-citizen projects in France and Spain. Comparable to Fondation Notre Dame as a French philanthropic grantmaking foundation distributing funds across multiple sectors, though secular and focused on specific themes.
• Fondation d'entreprise Hermès: Corporate foundation supporting contemporary creation, education, and biodiversity. Comparable to Fondation Notre Dame as a French grantmaking foundation operating shelters and programs across culture and solidarity, though corporate-funded rather than private donor-funded.
• Fondation de France: France's largest community foundation and sheltering umbrella, hosting hundreds of sub-foundations and distributing hundreds of millions of euros annually. Most directly comparable to Fondation Notre Dame as a community/grantmaking foundation hosting sheltered funds, though secular rather than Catholic in identity.
• Fondation Apprentis d'Auteuil: A Catholic foundation supporting vulnerable youth through education, training, and family support across France. Comparable to Fondation Notre Dame in Catholic identity, donor-funded operations, and focus on education/solidarity, though specialized in youth rather than diversified across domains.
• Fondation du Patrimoine: France's leading heritage preservation foundation, supporting restoration of historic buildings across France including religious heritage. Directly comparable to Fondation Notre Dame's heritage work through FAPP and similar church restoration projects, though with a national scope versus Paris focus.
• Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris-Hôpitaux de France: Leading French hospital foundation supporting children's hospital projects and caregiver well-being. Comparable to Fondation Notre Dame as a French grantmaking foundation with strong donor base and tax-incentive-driven giving, though specialized in healthcare.
• Fondation Caritas France: Caritas France is the official Catholic charity for social action in France, providing emergency aid, housing, and accompaniment to vulnerable populations. Comparable to Fondation Notre Dame in Catholic identity, donor-funded model, and focus on solidarity/social exclusion, though it operates more direct services rather than pure grantmaking.
• Fondation Abbé Pierre: Leading French foundation focused on housing and homelessness advocacy, supporting mal-logés through direct services and policy. Comparable to Fondation Notre Dame in addressing homelessness and inadequate housing (e.g., its Fonds Insertion Logement), though focused specifically on housing rather than diversified.

Others

• Fondation de l'Orphelinat Mutualiste de la Police Nationale: Workplace/mutual-based French foundation supporting orphans of police officers. Comparable to Fondation Notre Dame in hosting French donor-supported charitable work but serving a different beneficiary base.
• Centre Français des fonds et Fondations: National resource center and trade association for foundations in France. Comparable to Fondation Notre Dame as part of the same French foundation ecosystem referenced in the company's network/partnerships, though functioning as an industry association rather than a grantmaking foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FondationND
• Facebookfacebook.com/fondationnotredame
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondation-notre-dame
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondationnotredame/?hl=fr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries17 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 Fondation Notre Dame