THE ALCUIN FUND
ALCUIN FUND, FACILITATING EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
THE ALCUIN FUND FOR SCHOOLS IS HOSTED BY THE KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION
THE ALCUIN FUND FOR SCHOOLS
Facilitating initiatives at grass-roots level by education providers everywhere in Europe
The Alcuin Fund has been contributing to education in Europe since 2017.
Conscious of the great need for educational alternatives to enable ALL children to succeed, the foundation supports initiatives at grass-roots level that can respond to the variety of children’s current educational needs in Belgium and more widely in Europe. These projects have open approaches and teaching methods, and are accessible to everyone. They are supported by men and women who are concerned to actively create a more human society, “for the development of not-for-profit educational establishments, which are open to everyone and of high quality, offering a diverse range of teaching methods whilst remaining affordable for the greatest number of pupils” (articles of incorporation of 7th December 2016).
The Fund has chosen to place itself under the patronage of Alcuin (732-804), an eminent European and close adviser to Charlemagne, who was a central figure during the Carolingian Renaissance and founded the Palatine Academy. He popularised knowledge of grammar, rhetoric and dialectics among the clergy and laypersons.
THE KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION
Working together for a better society
The King Baudouin Foundation is the largest foundation in Belgium, managing a budget of 64 million euros in 2017. It serves the public interest and increases social cohesion by supporting initiatives of individuals and organisations. Acknowledged as being of public benefit, its key values are integrity, transparency, pluralism, independence, respect for diversity and promoting solidarity.
It is currently active in the areas of poverty, social justice, health, civic engagement, developing talents, democracy, European integration and heritage. It operates at several levels, from Belgium to Europe, Africa and more widely internationally. It was created on the 25th anniversary of the reign of King Baudouin, in 1976.
ORGANISATION
THE GOVERNING BOARD THAT MANAGES THE ALCUIN FOUNDATION FOR SCHOOLS INCLUDES A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION (HOST FOUNDATION), AND TWO PRIVATE FOUNDERS, AN INSTITUTIONAL FOUNDER AND A CHOSEN QUALIFIED PERSON.
1- GOVERNING BOARD
THE KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION
REPRESENTED BY :
Françoise Pissard: director of the KIng Baudouin Foundation
pissart.f@kbs-frb.be
Assisted by:
- Stéphanie Smets: independent expert representing the King Baudouin Foundation
smets.s@mandate.kbs-frb.be - Ludwig Forrest: philanthropic adviser to the King Baudouin Foundation
forrest.l@kbs-frb.be
THE FOUNDERS
2 NATURAL PERSONS
Jean-Charles de Le Court
Chairman of the Alcuin Fund for Schools
Valérie d’Ursel(de La Rochefoucauld)
co-Founder1 LEGAL PERSON: THE FONDATION FOR THE SCHOOL
Facilitator of educational initiatives, the Fondation pour l’Ecole seeks to promote freedom of teaching methods and diversity in education.
It is recognised as being of public benefit in France, hosting 11 foundations and can host others in the field of education.
In 2015-2016, it granted 2.7 million euros in subsidies to educational projects (4.7 million euros including aid allocated by its 11 sheltered foundations).
QUALIFIED PERSON
2- OPERATION
Resources
The Alcuin Fund is funded almost exclusively by donations from private individuals and legal entities located for the most part in Europe.
Operational expenditure
The Alcuin Fund has no personnel or premises. It relies on the commitment of its trustees.
Intervention expenditure
The Alcuin Fund for Schools publishes calls for projects to invite educational charities which require financial assistance to submit funding requests.
The Alcuin Fund organises two donation committee meetings per year, which decide on the subsidies it will grant during the following six months. The first donation committee meetings will take place in October and November 2017 and will trigger the implementation of the first Alcuin Fund subsidies to various educational projects in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe.
The Alcuin Fund respects the code of ethics of the King Baudouin Foundation which hosts it, in line with the Association pour une Ethique dans les Récoltes de Fonds.
3 - ACCOUNTS
The Accounts of the Alcuin Fund are prepared by the King Baudouin Foundation in accordance with current legislation. They are drawn up on 31st December each year and published in the following March.
Annual Activity Report : the 2017 financial year is the Alcuin Fund’s first year of activity. The Alcuin Fund activity report will be available in April 2018.
4 - WHO WAS ALCUIN?
The Storiavoce history lessons invite you to discover Alcuin, this nowadays little-known yet essential historical figure, who was behind the Emperor’s decision to create schools. The biographer of Charlemagne (published by Bernard Giovanangeli), interviewed by Christophe Dickès (June 2017), the medievalist Olivier Hanne presents Flaccus Albinus, the great intellectual and cultural reform which he initiated, the role of the clergy, the curriculum at the time and also the limits of this renaissance.