Fondation Macif: Three Decades of Social Innovation

Founded in 1993, the Fondation Macif emerged from a deliberate decision by representatives of the mutual insurance company to channel a portion of profits toward social causes. The decision, formalized at a congress in 1991, reflected a conviction that large mutual enterprises bore responsibility for addressing national and international challenges including poverty, isolation, and technological or natural disasters.

Established as one of France's first corporate foundations when only about fifty existed, the organization has evolved considerably. Initially focused on supporting job creation within the social and solidarity economy across Europe, it shifted around 2009 toward exclusive focus on social innovation, now concentrating on four thematic areas tied to its founder's operations: mobility, habitat, health, and solidarity finance.

The foundation operates through a territorial approach, with regional officers covering France alongside a national team. It has supported more than 5,000 projects since inception, distributing approximately 3.4 million euros annually to approximately 150 initiatives yearly. The work extends beyond funding to detection of unmet social needs and accompaniment of projects from conception through scaling.

Current examples include support for Agil'ESS's solidarity garages, the Compagnons Bâtisseurs' housing rehabilitation work, and Accorderies' poverty-reduction initiatives. Recent programs emphasize citizen mobilization around ecological transition while ensuring vulnerable populations can access solutions for sustainable mobility and housing.

The foundation privileges intergenerational and participatory projects addressing concrete societal gaps rather than predetermined grant categories.