With the launch of the next major fundraising campaign for 2026-2030 fast approaching, Vincent Monfort, Executive Director of the Audencia Foundation, and Mélanie Thomas-Baillard, Head of Operations, discuss the Foundation’s priority issues and the importance of concrete commitment from graduates and partner companies to support the success of all students.
What are the Foundation’s priority objectives for the coming months?
Vincent Monfort: Housed by the Fondation de France, the Audencia Foundation’s mission since its creation has been to support students and research projects that promote equal opportunities, innovation, and the transformation of businesses and society.
As Audencia’s projects develop and diversify, the support needs naturally evolve. The Foundation works to enable a growing number of students to complete their education and to support high-impact research projects related to major contemporary issues.
The coming months will therefore be marked by continuity and adaptation, with a view to supporting these projects and talents over the long term, in close collaboration with the Audencia community. This ambition relies on the mobilization of graduates and partners, whose commitment is essential to bringing these projects to life.
How does the Foundation translate this commitment into concrete action for students?
Mélanie Thomas-Baillard: The Foundation implements concrete measures such as equal opportunity scholarships, the Mission Handicap program, and the Parcours Sirius program, which support student success and reinforce the academic excellence of our School. In concrete terms, a scholarship can be €300 to enable a student to study abroad, or €1,500 as part of an emergency scholarship for a student facing serious financial or personal difficulties.
Alumni contribute directly to these programs through their donations, mentoring, and efforts to rally other graduates around this campaign. Their support helps remove the specific obstacles that students face, whether it be international mobility, urgent financial difficulties, or specific needs related to health issues.
Their commitment has a tangible impact on students’ lives and academic careers. This commitment is reflected in the implementation of concrete measures, such as equal opportunity scholarships, the Mission Handicap program, and the Parcours Sirius program, which support students’ success throughout their academic careers.
What role do alumni and businesses play in this dynamic?
Vincent Monfort: Graduates and businesses are at the heart of the Audencia Foundation’s work. Their commitment goes far beyond financial support: they help raise awareness of the Foundation’s initiatives, actively participate in the development of its activities, and play an essential role in connecting with the wider community. Having a dedicated foundation is a strong marker for a prestigious school: it provides the opportunity to make a long-term commitment, to unite a community around meaningful projects, and to strengthen the impact of actions carried out in favor of students and research.
Every contribution, whether individual or collective, reinforces this dynamic and enables all students to have the same opportunities for success, regardless of their circumstances.
Supporting the Audencia Foundation means taking concrete action to ensure student success and develop impactful projects. Together, we are creating a collective dynamic based on solidarity, generosity, and shared responsibility.
Today, more than ever, every contribution counts.
By joining the Audencia Foundation, you are actively contributing to equal opportunities and the success of all students, while strengthening the school’s reputation and academic excellence.
Graduates, parents, businesses… Get involved now and make a difference by giving everyone the means to succeed!
