Ever since its creation in 1884, the Alliance Française de Paris has helped the Alliances Française network to expand all over the world. In July 2007, its status was modified and it became the Fondation Alliance Française. It was officially recognised as a non-profit organisation and representing the moral and legal referent of the Alliances Françaises throughout the world.
The Foundation has the exclusive ownership of the “Alliance Française” label and grants the right of use to its collaborators. Whenever a new Alliance is created, it has to refer to the Fondation in order to be officially recognized after examination of its statutes. Prior to the attribution of this label, the Foundation ensures that the associations abide by local law and are respectful of a set of guiding principles defined by itself and common to all the Alliances. These principles include strict political and religious neutrality with respect to local disputes.
The Foundation insists upon good governance in the Alliances. It has experts organized according to geographical zones, capable of helping and advising an Alliance Française in difficulty. The Foundation is supported jointly by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Education which contribute to its budget and to the management of its workforce. Twelve permanent collaborators work at the Fondation. Its Board of Directors comprises renowned personalities like Hélène Carrère d’Encausse, Permanent Secretary at the Académie Française, writer Eric Orsena, journalist Bernard Pivot. Its sponsors, CIC- Banque Transatlantique, Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, le Cordon Bleu, Total, constitute an active group. Its principal donors, among whom is Pierre Moussa, founder of Paribas, also have a seat there.
For more, you can visit the website of the Fondation Alliance Française: www.fondation-alliancefr.org/