Whether it’s protecting children, fighting poverty or supporting animal causes, the French are very generous with their favorite associations. In 2019, they donated 5 billion euros. Can they confidently donate to charities?
Corporate donations to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are constantly increasing: 3.5 billion euros for this same year 2019. This generosity of large groups can have a hidden side. For this new issue, the magazine “Cash Investigation” (Facebook, Twitter, #cashinvestigati) carried out the investigation and discovered that to conquer this manna, certain associations would sometimes forget their missions.
Very lucrative partnerships
Journalist Gabriel Garcia investigated the best-known child protection organization, Unicef France, and its very lucrative partnerships with multinationals. Some raise questions, such as the one signed with L’Occitane: this company uses palm oil to make its soaps, and some of its subcontractors, producers of this oil, would use child labor, reveals “Cash Investigation”.
Elise Lucet and her team looked into the associations’ accounts. Who controls the use of donations made to them? Misuse of donors’ money, conflicts of interest, absence of calls for tenders, there are many dysfunctions. However, there is a label, Le Don entrust, supposed to control them. But between promise and reality, there is often a gap…
After the investigation, the magazine “Cash Investigation” offers a great debate with guests from all walks of life, donors, association leaders, politicians, experts… They answer Elise Lucet’s questions. “Cash Investigation”: revelations, a debate, solutions.
> THE GUESTS
– Adeline HazanPresident of Unicef France.
– Boris Patentregerco-founder of Envol Vert, Managing Director France of Mighty Earth.
– Benoit HamonCEO of Singa.
– Suzanne Chamigeneral delegate of the IDEAS Institute.
– Adrien Nougaretaka ZeratoR, organizer of Z Event.
– Allain Bougrain-Dubourgfounder of the LPO.
“Companies, sponsorship, associations: dangerous liaisons”, an investigation by Gabriel Garcia, broadcast Thursday October 20, 2022 at 9:10 p.m. on France 2.
> Replays of France Télévisions news magazines are available on the Franceinfo website and its mobile application (iOS & Android), “Magazines” section.