A foundation at the heart of emlyon's strategy

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Corinne Berty

09.05.2025

A foundation at the heart of emlyon's strategy

For more than 30 years, the emlyon Foundation has worked to ensure that talent and ambition are never held back by social background, a life accident, or a disability. A look back at the Foundation's purpose, its governance, and its concrete levers of action for emlyon students.

Fondation emlyon | Perspectives from Isabelle Huault and Patrick Eisenchteter

A strong conviction: potential exists everywhere, opportunities do not

Every year, talented students give up on pursuing studies at a Grande École. Not for lack of ambition, but because their social background, financial situation, or a life accident holds them back.

It is precisely to prevent this from happening that the emlyon Foundation was created. In concrete terms, the Foundation turns the generosity of its donors into real opportunities: an improved life path, restored confidence, lasting professional integration.

"I want to tell the emlyon Foundation's donors that they count for a great deal in the academic and professional success of the beneficiaries. It allows us to approach the rich experience that is emlyon with peace of mind."

Lounes, scholarship student

An independent foundation, at the heart of the School's strategy

Operating under the umbrella of the Fondation de France, France's leading philanthropic network, the emlyon Foundation is legally independent from emlyon business school, which guarantees its public-interest status and its disinterested management. As a result, it offers numerous tax exemptions to its donors, both in France and internationally.

It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representative of the entire emlyon ecosystem: the School's administration, alumni, current students, representatives of the CCI Lyon Métropole Saint-Étienne Roanne, donors, and qualified individuals. This plural governance ensures that the Foundation's decisions reflect the full range of stakeholders mobilized to make solidarity a concrete lever for equal opportunity.

As part of the Résonances 2028 strategic plan, which places social and environmental commitment at the center of emlyon's activities, the Foundation is an essential lever for strengthening the School's social openness.

Four levers of action, one shared objective: equal opportunity

The emlyon Foundation exclusively funds programs that directly benefit the School's students, acting wherever needs are most immediate:

Living-expense grants — These allow CROUS scholarship students from modest backgrounds to cover around 50% of their annual living expenses (housing, food, transport, healthcare), so that these essential costs no longer stand in the way of their academic success.
The emergency fund — Created in 2016, it provides a rapid response to sudden, serious situations: illness, bereavement, family breakdown, natural disaster... Requests for aid are reviewed each month by a dedicated committee.
Fragile health & disability grants — These support students with a disability or a chronic illness by funding the extra costs linked to their situation: adapted equipment, note-taking assistance, mobility support, particularly for internships abroad.
The Tour de France des Oraux — This program supports, over two years, students from preparatory classes from modest backgrounds or priority areas in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The Foundation steps in with targeted financial aid to help these students travel across France for their admission interviews.

The Foundation in numbers (2025)

Nearly 300 students supported
100% of donations passed directly on to beneficiaries — the Foundation's operating costs are covered by emlyon
300 donors mobilized, 90% of whom are alumni

Did you know?

Since September 2022, emlyon has also been applying a reduction in tuition fees for all CROUS scholarship students in the Grande École Program, a scheme extended to the Global BBA since the 2024 academic year, with a reduction of up to 100% depending on the scholarship level.

Giving means lastingly changing a life path

Behind every program lies a transformed path: a student who can quit an evening job, another who can finally find proper housing, another who can confidently plan their studies and their professional future.

By supporting the Foundation's actions, you take part in a collective movement of generosity, helping future generations pursue a sometimes fragile path with greater peace of mind.

I get involved

Discover the Fondation emlyon's four programs : living-expense scholarships, the emergency fund, health and disability scholarships, and the Tour de France des Oraux.

A foundation at the heart of emlyon's strategy

2025-09-05 12:00:00

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2026-08-20 12:04:22

2026-07-21 12:25:45

Corinne Berty

For more than 30 years, the emlyon Foundation has worked to ensure that talent and ambition are never held back by social background, a life accident, or a disability. A look back at the Foundation's purpose, its governance, and its concrete levers of action for emlyon students.Fondation emlyon | Perspectives from Isabelle Huault and Patrick EisenchteterA strong conviction: potential exists everywhere, opportunities do notEvery year, talented students give up on pursuing studies at a Grande École. Not for lack of ambition, but because their social background, financial situation, or a life accident holds them back.It is precisely to prevent this from happening that the emlyon Foundation was created. In concrete terms, the Foundation turns the generosity of its donors into real opportunities: an improved life path, restored confidence, lasting professional integration."I want to tell the emlyon Foundation's donors that they count for a great deal in the academic and professional success of the beneficiaries. It allows us to approach the rich experience that is emlyon with peace of mind." Lounes, scholarship studentAn independent foundation, at the heart of the School's strategyOperating under the umbrella of the Fondation de France, France's leading philanthropic network, the emlyon Foundation is legally independent from emlyon business school, which guarantees its public-interest status and its disinterested management. As a result, it offers numerous tax exemptions to its donors, both in France and internationally.It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representative of the entire emlyon ecosystem: the School's administration, alumni, current students, representatives of the CCI Lyon Métropole Saint-Étienne Roanne, donors, and qualified individuals. This plural governance ensures that the Foundation's decisions reflect the full range of stakeholders mobilized to make solidarity a concrete lever for equal opportunity.As part of the Résonances 2028 strategic plan, which places social and environmental commitment at the center of emlyon's activities, the Foundation is an essential lever for strengthening the School's social openness.Four levers of action, one shared objective: equal opportunityThe emlyon Foundation exclusively funds programs that directly benefit the School's students, acting wherever needs are most immediate:Living-expense grants — These allow CROUS scholarship students from modest backgrounds to cover around 50% of their annual living expenses (housing, food, transport, healthcare), so that these essential costs no longer stand in the way of their academic success.The emergency fund — Created in 2016, it provides a rapid response to sudden, serious situations: illness, bereavement, family breakdown, natural disaster... Requests for aid are reviewed each month by a dedicated committee.Fragile health & disability grants — These support students with a disability or a chronic illness by funding the extra costs linked to their situation: adapted equipment, note-taking assistance, mobility support, particularly for internships abroad.The Tour de France des Oraux — This program supports, over two years, students from preparatory classes from modest backgrounds or priority areas in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The Foundation steps in with targeted financial aid to help these students travel across France for their admission interviews.The Foundation in numbers (2025)Nearly 300 students supported100% of donations passed directly on to beneficiaries — the Foundation's operating costs are covered by emlyon300 donors mobilized, 90% of whom are alumniDid you know? Since September 2022, emlyon has also been applying a reduction in tuition fees for all CROUS scholarship students in the Grande École Program, a scheme extended to the Global BBA since the 2024 academic year, with a reduction of up to 100% depending on the scholarship level.Giving means lastingly changing a life pathBehind every program lies a transformed path: a student who can quit an evening job, another who can finally find proper housing, another who can confidently plan their studies and their professional future.By supporting the Foundation's actions, you take part in a collective movement of generosity, helping future generations pursue a sometimes fragile path with greater peace of mind.I get involvedDiscover the Fondation emlyon's four programs : living-expense scholarships, the emergency fund, health and disability scholarships, and the Tour de France des Oraux.