25 years of corporate philanthropy: when mobility truly changes lives

25 years, three chapters built around the same idea

Created in France in 2001, the Renault Foundation has continuously evolved its approach. Education, professional integration, inclusive mobility: its different roadmaps also reflect the transformations taking place in society.

In 2001, the Foundation initially focused on higher education and excellence programs. For nearly two decades, it supported the education and training of young engineers and managers, with a strong international dimension. Training the talent that industry would need: that was the first step.

Between 2020 and 2023, the Foundation refocused its efforts on employment and professional integration. Driving licenses, micro-business creation, reducing the digital divide: mobility gradually became a way of overcoming the barriers separating people from employment, training opportunities or greater independence.

Since 2024, a new roadmap has provided a broader framework for this evolution. Its purpose can be summed up in a few words: “So that mobility brings us closer.” Three pillars now structure the Foundation’s corporate philanthropy: Safety, to prevent risks and protect road users; Support, to promote inclusive mobility; and Safety rescue, to support those who step in when emergencies arise.

The approach remains firmly grounded in practical action. In 2024, for example, the Foundation funded nearly 1,000 driving licenses and supported 432 young people on their path to education and employment. And behind every figure is an association, a volunteer, an employee or a person receiving support.

This is also the meaning behind the Foundation’s commitment to “doing with”: starting from the needs of non-profit organizations and developing projects together with them.  

From France to the world: six regions, six ways to bring people closer

The Renault Foundation in France is not the only one taking action. Six other foundations are now active around the world, sharing a common focus on mobility, education and inclusion, while developing responses tailored to local realities. To discover their work, here are six projects, six stories from the field.

Argentina: learning to find your place

The Renault Argentina Foundation, established in 1960, works to promote employability and inclusive mobility. Its Community Program, developed around the Santa Isabel plant, provides practical training tailored to the needs of the job market. Over the past six years, it has reached 620 beneficiaries, delivering more than 1,300 hours of training through 37 workshops.

Brazil: learning a trade

Established in 2010, the Renault Institute places inclusion through education, income generation and road safety at the heart of its work. Its Geração Futuro program provides free training for young people and adults in administration and automotive mechanics. Since 2019, 921 people have graduated, with an average employment rate of 71%.

Colombia: a driving license as a stepping stone

In Colombia, the Fundación Renault, established in 2014, focuses on education, employability and mobility. Its Te llevo con el corazón: Women driving their future program supports female heads of household in obtaining a C1 driving license and then finding employment in the transport sector. The program includes 105 hours of theoretical and practical driving training, more than 34 hours dedicated to soft skills, and support from Renault volunteers. Twenty-nine women are taking part in this first cohort.

Spain: learning the right habits from an early age

The Renault Group Spain Foundation, established in 1963, advocates for mobility that is “sustainable, connected, fair and safe.” In partnership with the AESLEME association and the Princess of Girona Foundation’s Talent Tour, its Safe and Sustainable Mobility Program for Young People raises awareness among young people about road safety risks while encouraging discussion about the mobility of tomorrow. In 2025 and 2026, more than 15,000 young people took part in the various initiatives.

Morocco: making it possible to get to school

Established in 2018, the Renault Morocco Foundation focuses in particular on education, training and road safety awareness. Among its programs, the school mobility initiative in Fahs-Anjra is a particularly good illustration of the link between mobility and access to essential services: in this province near the Tangier plant, safe collective transport solutions enable more than 2,200 middle and high school students to get to their schools.

Romania: breaking down barriers, wherever they may be

The Fundația Dacia pentru România (Dacia Foundation for Romania), established in 2017, focuses on three areas: access to education, the labor market and culture. For its first edition in 2025-2026, its Mobilitatea contează - Mobility Matters program allocated a €1 million fund to 35 community projects. The result: 13,544 beneficiaries, across a wide range of areas, including access to employment after maternity leave, cultural activities for older people, sports for people with disabilities and access to reading.

Six countries, six realities, six responses. A woman learning to drive in Colombia, a young person training in automotive mechanics in Brazil, a high school student finally able to get to school in Morocco, or someone finding their way back into employment in Argentina: the forms may vary, but the question remains the same. What is preventing someone from moving forward today, and how can that barrier be removed?

Ultimately, this is what 25 years of corporate philanthropy in France tell us: mobility can be measured in terms of distance traveled, but above all, in terms of opportunities regained.