The French-American Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Founded in 1976, the French-American Foundation is the only organization dedicated solely to sustaining and strengthening the French-American relationship at the highest levels of leadership. The Foundation works to build lasting, practical working ties between France and the United States and to advance solutions to problems of shared concern. Through our work, we seek to perpetuate more than two centuries of shared ideals and friendship to meet the challenges of the 21st century together. Programmatic initiatives include: Young Leaders Program: The Young Leaders program convenes a highly selective group of French and American professionals whose common link is their demonstrated leadership and passion for forging bonds in a globalized world. Young Leaders, hailing from a diverse array of sectors, come together to engage in pertinent dialogue around issues of common concern on both sides of the Atlantic. The program is grounded in the belief that informed dialogue across cultures will lead to progress in solving the most pressing issues of our time. Transatlantic Forum: The Transatlantic Forum is an invitation-only membership group that brings together established French and American professionals for in-depth conversations on contemporary issues of concern on both sides of the Atlantic. The program aims to provide a deeper understanding of the forces shaping American and French societies in a warm, convivial atmosphere that fosters stimulating conversations and lasting friendships. Our goal is to build a community that is informed, open-minded and committed to engaging personally on issues of critical import to the U.S. France relationship. Our members cross nationalities and professional fields: government, media, non-profit, academia, business, law, finance, the arts, and more. In general, half are American and half French. Forum members share a passion for debate and a desire to engage across cultures to help build a more peaceful and unified world. Translation Prize: Since 1986, the French-American Foundation has awarded an annual prize for the best translation from French to English in both fiction and nonfiction. The Translation Prize is a valuable element of the intellectual and cultural exchange between France and the United States. Its purpose is to promote French literature in the United States and to provide translators and their craft with greater visibility among publishers and readers. Cyber Security: The Foundation has a longstanding commitment to advancing dialogue on cyber security-related topics of mutual concern to France and the United States. The Cyber Security Program comprises the annual Cyber Security Conference and relevant events in our other program initiatives that assemble leaders in military, government, industry, and academia to examine emerging cyber security challenges in a transatlantic context. Policy Breakfasts: The Foundations Policy Breakfasts bring together leaders from various fields to discuss topics of economic, social, and political importance with a guest of honor. Breakfasts welcome approximately 20 guests, comprised of high-level professionals, government experts, philanthropists, and Young Leaders of the Foundation. Guest speakers share their views on specific topics, followed by questions and remarks from the audience.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 71.8%; rating input score 72
• Program expense ratio: 70.6%; rating input score 71
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.45 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 23.6%; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.1; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 26.7%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -0.4% per year; rating input score 0; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -2.9% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 28th percentile among comparable filings