Fondation du patrimoine

Origin

In January 1994, the senator and mayor of Saumur, Jean-Paul Hugot, submitted a report to Jacques Toubon, Minister of Culture and Francophonie, entitled Conditions de création d'une fondation du patrimoine français, in which he advocated the creation of a structure that could mobilize private-sector players (companies and individuals) in support of heritage. The report was inspired by the British National Trust model.

The Fondation du patrimoine was created by the law of July 2, 1996. At the time, it was chaired by Édouard de Royère, former head of the Air Liquide group.

It was recognized as a public utility organization by decree on April 18, 1997.

Presidents

1996-2005: Édouard de Royère

2005-2017: Charles de Croisset

Since 2017: Guillaume Poitrinal

A distinctive legal structure

The Fondation du patrimoine is both an allocation of assets and a group of individuals.

Built on the model of foundations recognized as being of public utility under the decree of April 18, 1997, its statutes were laid down by Parliament. The French State is represented on the Board of Directors by three non-voting government commissioners. Nevertheless, the law provides for statutes that partly depart from the standard statutes for organizations recognized as being in the public interest, approved by decree by the Conseil d'Etat. The founding companies have the majority of votes on the Board of Directors of the Fondation du patrimoine. In addition, the Foundation's articles of association provide for membership by individuals or legal entities in the same way as for an association.

These specific features are designed to involve the founding companies closely in the running and financing of the foundation, and to attract widespread support from the general public. Influenced by the British National Trust, this status is intended to provide the foundation with substantial resources in the form of contributions, as well as a high profile in public opinion. 18% of French local authorities are members of the Fondation du patrimoine.

The Fondation du patrimoine has the legal capacity to shelter foundations whose purpose is compatible with its missions, such as the VMF Foundation.

By law, the Fondation du patrimoine receives the majority of unclaimed estates (75%), i.e. those without heirs. This amounted to 5.1 million euros in 2017.