Our Mission
We promote social mobility and inclusion, and scientific progress
The Ardian Foundation’s mission is to enable social mobility and foster innovation that serves the greater good. We focus on children and young people from underserved communities – starting with infants and their parents, and continuing through primary and secondary school and into early adulthood, when young people find their way into further education and the world of work.
We also believe that advancing scientific research is essential to addressing the profound changes shaping our societies. Partnering with leading experts from top institutions, we support world-class research in mathematics, physics, AI, innovation, and economics — focusing on applied solutions that strengthen Franco-European scientific sovereignty and drive sustainable growth.
We look for ways to help children, young people, and communities overcome the barriers they face – whether financial, social, personal, or technological. Access to high-quality education is critical, but so is the ability to benefit from the knowledge and solutions generated by scientific inquiry. That is why we support both programs that give the youngest children a great start in life and research initiatives that tackle urgent challenges, from sustainability to technological ethics.
We believe access to high-quality education is critical. That is why many of the projects that we support are working to provide better educational opportunities. But even before schooling begins, children can start to fall behind if their families lack welfare provision and supportive social networks. So, we prioritize programs that aim to give the very youngest children a great start in life.
And later, as they prepare to leave education, they need opportunities to grow personally and gain social skills for life in the workplace. Our longstanding commitment to personal mentoring helps them make this transition.
We work through expert charities and research institutions
We deliver our support by funding charities that specialize in helping children and young people, as well as research organizations that advance knowledge in areas critical to our future. Many of our partners provide educational opportunities, while others offer access to sport or cultural activities, help in gaining work experience, or conduct pioneering research in fields such as social mobility, sustainability, and responsible technology.
We began in France, but today we support projects and research in multiple countries. We want to extend our work to more of the countries where Ardian does business, enabling our teams to form links with local charities and research institutions that share our vision.
We believe in giving time as well as money
Since the beginning, encouraging Ardian’s employees to get personally involved in our work has been a major priority. This is why our earliest projects involved giving young people a personal mentor – since 2010, hundreds of Ardian employees have become mentors for the foundation.
Our goal is to not simply to help disadvantaged children and young people. We want the charities we support to get bigger and more effective so they can deliver more help to more beneficiaries. They might need help with marketing. Or IT systems. Or legal support. Or HR. Whichever it is, Ardian has people with the expertise they need. That means we can offer real, practical assistance so that these organisations can take on more ambitious projects.
This creates a deeper link between our mission to promote social mobility and the culture and values that drive Ardian.
To us, the most important thing is to get involved.
The fact that so many of the people who work at Ardian also give time and support to the Foundation is a key measure of our success. We have never believed that giving money alone was enough.
We practise venture philanthropy
We deploy the skills that Ardian uses in its investment activities to make our philanthropy more effective.
Committing to fund a charity has parallels with making an investment. We apply the same expertise that Ardian uses to screen potential investments, conduct due diligence, validate its investment thesis and monitor progress. These skills help us select partners that will have the greatest impact.
Our commitment to academic research and advocacy
At the Ardian Foundation, we are deeply committed to supporting world class research in mathematics, physics, artificial intelligence, innovation, and economics. We believe that advancing knowledge in these fields is essential to addressing the challenges of our time and shaping a better future.
We work hand in hand with leading scientific experts from top academic and research institutions, building strong partnerships that enable groundbreaking discoveries. Our focus is on applied research, projects that not only push the boundaries of science but also lead to tangible, real world solutions for industry and society.
By championing initiatives that strengthen Franco European scientific sovereignty, we aim to contribute to sustainable economic growth and generate a positive societal impact. Through our support, we help ensure that innovation remains a driving force for progress, resilience, and shared prosperity.
There are multiple facets to our mission, but one goal: to make social mobility a reality for more children and young people.
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Our Story
Our story
Our story begins in 2010 with a simple idea: find a better way to support the causes that people at Ardian care most about. The Foundation was set up right after the Great Financial Crisis, when Ardian was still part of AXA, by employees who wanted to create a vehicle to manage the company’s philanthropic projects.
Our Organisation
Our organization
Guided by a diverse and experienced Board, the Ardian Foundation’s leadership ensures every initiative reflects our values, drives impact, and shapes a better future.
Scientific Research
Scientific Research
Why we believe funding academic research is essential to driving innovation, solving global challenges, and shaping a better future