Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, headquartered in Turin, Italy, is one of Europe’s largest private foundations with origins dating back to 1563. It was founded by seven Turin citizens in response to widespread poverty and the social instability following wars, combining charitable relief and social support with educational aims. Over centuries, its mission evolved but remained rooted in supporting public interest and responding to community needs.
The foundation historically operated charitable institutions such as Monte di Pietà and Ufficio Pio, providing microcredit and broad social support, and developed a significant role in regional banking and postwar reconstruction. In 1991, its banking activities were separated from its philanthropic work, cementing its structure as an independent foundation of banking origin.
Today, Compagnia di San Paolo manages an endowment of around €7 billion and awards over €180 million annually in grants. Its activities focus primarily on northwest Italy—Piedmont, Liguria, and Valle d’Aosta—but also include national and international projects. The foundation’s work is organized around three main “goals”: Culture, People, and Planet. In 2022, expenditures included €36.4 million for cultural projects, €52.4 million for social and educational initiatives, and €44.7 million directed toward environmental purposes.
Current projects range from supporting artificial intelligence research and training local institutions for effective participation in Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, to international cooperation in areas like health and education. The foundation has also aligned its strategies with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, integrating climate and sustainability commitments into both grantmaking and internal practices.