BNP Paribas Foundation: 40 years of history in 12 questions

Explanation
Philanthropy consists in providing support while expecting no direct compensation. Engaged since 1984, BNP and Paribas stand as pioneers in the world of corporate philanthropy. The two banks actively participated in the development of this practice, which was also strengthened with a legal framework in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
Important ! Do not confuse philanthropy and partnership.
The objective in a partnership or sponsorship is for each party to obtain a quid pro quo. For example, BNP Paribas has been the main sponsor of Roland Garros French open since 1973. Through this iconic partnership, the brand benefits, among other things, from increased visibility.

Explanation
The purpose of a foundation is to “collect and manage assets, financial or otherwise, dedicated to actions of general interest”. With the status of autonomous legal structure, foundations offer companies the possibility of implementing their philanthropy policies under a simplified tax regime. As seen with the Paribas Foundation, foundations also provide benefactors with an excellent communication tool for boosting their visibility and stepping up their initiatives.
It was Paribas that, in 1984, chose to support young artists and programmes through a Foundation. BNP implements its philanthropy initiatives through direct governance ; that is without going through a legal structure.

Explanation
The Paribas Foundation was created on 13 February 1984. Its purpose was “to grant aid to persons, works or organisations with an activity of a human, cultural, educational and research nature” (Article 3). To that end, it worked in cultural and social fields to “contribute to the knowledge and visibility of heritage” and “support the personal commitment of the Group’s employees”.
The Paribas Foundation is particularly fond of a 17th century French proverb whereby “You can lose by lending but never by giving”.

Explanation
In 1987, the Paribas Foundation created the "Musées et Monuments de France" collection with the aim of enabling museums, in France and abroad, to raise awareness of and promote their treasures. With the support of the Foundation, some museums – local and national – were able to have a catalogue of their collections published. Publication was accompanied by a promotional campaign managed by the Foundation among its employees.
The catalogues were translated into French, English, German, Spanish, Russian and even Japanese.

Explanation
Just like “BNP pour l’Art”, which contributes to the restoration of France’s pictorial heritage, “BNP pour Lire” promotes the French language around the world. Through donations, the programme provides libraries and cultural institutes, including in Japan, Peru and Cairo, with thousands of works in French.
At each award ceremony, literary luminaries such as Andreï Makine and Hélène Carrère d’Encausse give a talk and present a top-ten list of recommended books.

Explanation
The “Prix du Jeune Écrivain” (young writer's award) was created in 1984 by a team of volunteers in Muret, near Toulouse. The aim was to promote young authors between the ages of 15 and 26 and give them the opportunity to launch their author careers. The Management of BNP Toulouse was involved in the project and supported the development of the prize in France and in French-speaking countries. The bank contributed to the dissemination of award-winning books to employees and high-school students.
In 1988, Marie Darrieussecq won the “Prix du Jeune Écrivain” for her collection of short stories La Randonneuse et autres nouvelles. It will be the first of many.

Explanation
When the merger between BNP and Paribas was envisaged, the decision was taken to group the philanthropy activities under a single entity to take advantage of the experience and network built up over nearly 20 years.
The creation of the BNP Paribas Foundation was facilitated in part by the complementary fit between the philanthropy strategies of the two ancestor banks. For example, while BNP supported the creation of "Maison de la Danse de Lyon", the Paribas Foundation supported the beginnings of the international career of young choreographer Angelin Preljocaj. The two banks also worked with the same players, including ADIE (Association pour le Droit à l’Initiative Économique).
Due to the non-commercial nature of the BNP Paribas Foundation, the Foundation’s logo is the only Group logo in which the name of the entity is placed above that of the brand

Explanation
Between 1990 and 2015, the BNP Paribas Foundation supported choreographer Angelin Preljocaj in the creation and production of his tours The partnership is characteristic of the loyalty sought by the Foundation in order to “have an impact on the life of the partner”.
BNP also supported dance by engaging with institutions, having supported "Maison de la Danse de Lyon" since 1986. In exchange for promotion in its branches, bank employees benefit from reduced prices for shows.
In addition to Angelin Preljocaj, the BNP Paribas Foundation has supported choreographers such as Belgium’s Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker since 2013 and Israel’s Hofesh Schechter since 2018.

Explanation
Cinema is not part of the BNP Paribas Foundation’s philanthropy initiatives.
In 1997, the BNP Paribas Foundation supported jazz pianist Manuel Rocheman. Since then, the Foundation has engaged with musicians, composers and performers and supported numerous festivals in France and abroad. During the COVID crisis in 2021, the BNP Paribas Foundation brought together the jazz artists it supports at the Trianon as part of a “solidarity concert” attended by nearly 1,000 spectators.
Also in 1997, the BNP Paribas Foundation supported the circus arts. In particular, it backed the projects of the circus artist Johann le Guillerm between 1999 and 2010. The bank pursued this commitment with new artists, including trapeze artist Chloé Moglia in 2015. This field of philanthropy is a symbol of the Foundation’s boldness, which is reflected in its ability to “seek out where no-one is going”.

Explanation
Support for the environment is one of the three fields of intervention of the BNP Paribas Foundation. Since 2010, the Foundation has been fully committed to the protection of the environment and the ecological transition with the "Climate and Biodiversity Initiative" project. It supports climate change research by supporting international research teams. The Foundation is extending the actions of the BNP Paribas Group by continuing its environmental sponsorship initiatives.
Previously, BNP was committed to protecting the environment. In 1987, the bank and the WWF jointly launched a national competition for 6-16-year-olds on “Protecting animals starts by knowing them better”. In the same year, BNP won the Prix Entreprises et Patrimoine Nature award that recognises companies engaged in environmental philanthropy.

Explanation
The BNP Paribas Foundation has not supported medical research since 2010.
Previously, and since 1984, the Paribas Foundation supported eight research programmes selected by the Scientific Committee of "Association Française contre les Myopathies". It also engaged with researchers, notably by supporting the Necker Hospital Genetics Centre in the creation of a DNA bank in 1993. This structure preserves the DNA of sick children to enable current and future research into serious diseases.
For its part, BNP supported "Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale" from 1976 onwards. Through this commitment, each year it supported ten young researchers working in disabilities, cardiovascular diseases, neuroscience and the fight against AIDS.

Explanation
The BNP Paribas Foundation launched “Projet Banlieues” following the urban riots that shook the city’s priority neighbourhoods in 2005. It supported local associations working to foster social and professional integration.
To implement this project and play a central role in social challenges, the BNP Paribas Foundation harnessed its long-standing network with the contribution of two associations: ADIE (Association pour le Droit à l’Initiative Economique) for social inclusion and AFEV (Association de la Fondation Étudiante pour la Ville) for school inclusion.
Several projects were initiated by this programme, among them Odyssée Jeunes (2009), which made it possible to “send at least one class per middle school of all Seine-Saint-Denis middle schools on a school trip”. Thanks to this programme, coordinated with the Seine-Saint-Denis department and the National Education Ministry, in the last 15 years more than 50,000 secondary school students have been able to go on a school trip.