Environment, Education, Inclusion

EDF Group Foundation

A lab to build a sustainable world for future generations

One vocation
Serving the general interest via philanthropy

The EDF Group Foundation is the company’s main philanthropic instrument. The Foundation, sponsored by EDF SA, EDF Renouvelables, Enedis⁽¹⁾, Dalkia and Citelum, supports in various ways a number of public interest projects initiated by civil society organizations via:

• Financial grants.
• Personnel engagement (staff sponsoring, skills volunteering).
• Cultural exhibitions.

To this end, the EDF Group Foundation administers an endowment fund allocated under a multi-annual action programme.

One aspiration
Building a sustainable future backed by new forms of solidarity

The EDF Group Foundation deploys its action across all territories in France and internationally, and stands at the heart of constructive exchanges between the EDF Group, its employees and civil society.

In Paris, the Espace Fondation provides a space to organize exhibits and special events accessible to everyone free of charge, helping to shed light on important issues by fostering the critical thinking of citizens.

⁽¹⁾ Enedis, independent subsidiary of EDF as defined in the French Energy Code.

New mandate and new commitments

For its seventh mandate, the Foundation had defined three major causes based on a shared diagnosis and messages heard from the stakeholders: “Change for future generations” – “Act for solidarity in communities” – “Channel our energies”. The wording in the imperative form of action verbs attests to the Foundation’s determination to back projects that have a genuine impact on civil society and to promote the active involvement of EDF staff.

“Change for future generations”

Change… the verb is a call to mobilize, both individually and nationally or internationally, in order to generate new behaviours, thereby preparing tomorrow’s world. This is a vast endeavour, with many urgencies – in particular climate warming – entailing long-term projects designed to achieve a fair transition. The Foundation supports projects linked to environmental protection and initiatives to raise awareness on climate issues and biodiversity loss, intended to secure a sustainable living environment for future generations. The Foundation also supports cultural and educational projects designed to provide everyone with the intellectual tools needed to better address the challenges of the future and prepare for the necessary actions. This combat in favour of future generations encompasses two subject areas: education and environment.

“Act for solidarity in communities”

Similarly to social inequalities, territorial inequalities also represent a major challenge at the start of this century. Under the Foundation’s new mandate, “territorial philanthropy” in favour of local communities is a priority, backed by a network of correspondents in the regional divisions, in overseas territories and Corsica, and in International Division offices. These philanthropy correspondents who are familiar with their territory, are able to escalate feedback on projects closely linked to the specific local needs. In the context of its governance system, the Foundation has set up Territorial Committees in charge of steering local projects efficiently, whether related to environmental protection, equal opportunities in education, fighting fuel poverty or access to energy on an international scale.

“Channel our energies”

Contributions by the EDF Group Foundation involve not just financial grants but also the active engagement of the entire staff of EDF Group. Personnel engagement is an essential driver for the Foundation. Participation in projects will rally and federate the staff, and builds pride of belonging to the company. Various engagement programmes are offered to ensure that each employee who so wishes can get involved in general interest projects according to their preference, availability and skills: volunteering (solidarity days, solidarity leaves, donating time) or donating working time in the context of skills volunteering programmes (see insert). Each year, the Foundation recognizes the engagement of EDF employees involved personally in volunteer initiatives by awarding financial grants to non-profit associations for their projects.

The three fields of action of the Foundation

The Foundation’s intervenes in three fields of action corresponding to three areas of urgency: climate, society and democracy.

Environment: In line with its commitment to preserve biodiversity and fight against climate warming, the Foundation supports educational and awareness projects related to environmental issues, to training in sustainable practices, and community initiatives to protect and restore biodiversity in natural areas.

Education: Education is crucial to enable everyone to grow their potential and build their future. The Foundation supports projects in favour of equal opportunities designed to reduce social and geographic inequalities. Thanks to the exhibits and events scheduled in its Cultural Space, the Foundation wishes to help educate enlightened citizens, capable of analysing the world with the right tools and acting accordingly, of deciphering information with a critical mind, and using social media in a reasoned manner.

Inclusion : In order to help everyone find their place in society and fight poverty, the Foundation supports projects fostering the social and professional inclusion of vulnerable populations, as well as international projects of access to energy in developing countries.

Espace Fondation – The EDF Foundation cultural space

A unique cultural space freely accessible

The EDF Group Foundation also includes the ESPACE FONDATION EDF, a cultural space hosting exhibits and special events open to the public, located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, 6 rue Juliette Récamier, in a former electrical substation built in 1910. The Espace Fondation EDF has greeted more than 1.2 million visitors since its opening in 1990. The Foundation organizes temporary exhibitions twice a year in the 400-sqm space extending over several levels. With the goal of contributing to a better understanding of the world, the exhibition programme approved by the Culture Commission* seeks to explore territories of the future by decompartmentalizing the worlds of culture, environment and science, setting the stage for sustainable development, and inviting engaged artists on topics linked to the Foundation’s priorities.

Scientific skills sponsoring

Patronage supported by Group companies

In addition to the initiatives supported by the EDF Group Foundation, the Group’s subsidiaries are also involved in more local patronage:

• Electricité de Strasbourg is committed to promoting regional access to culture, environmental protection and humanitarian aid, all while encouraging employee involvement in local voluntary organisations.
• In United Kingdom, EDF’s patronage policy takes shape in its “A better energy ambition” programme that promotes dialogue with stakeholders through employee involvement.
• Edison ssupports a number of projects connected to its industrial facilities in Italy and around the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on the environment and culture.