Migrant aid associations suffer from the reluctance of private donors

Even though government subsidies are only half that, private donors are increasingly reluctant to participate in funding associations that help migrants.

Has funding for associations helping migrants become too divisive? According to certain sector officials in France, the answer is yes. Several private donors also provide half-mast government subsidies.

This is especially supported by the French association, Lion, which is present in around ten countries and aims to further integrate exiled people, thanks to private funding.

Its president, Benoît Hamon, confirmed that 30% of the association’s budget was called into question in a single year, particularly due to the current climate in the United States: “We are suffering from the decision of some large international companies, which are present in the American market, to disassociate themselves from the things they have until now financed in terms of refugee inclusion. We have received declarations from the American government, from Donald Trump himself, that are very hostile to diversity, against inclusion.”

“We have received intimidation directed at American or European companies located in the Americas, resulting in them stopping their sponsorship or inclusion policies.”

Benoît Hamon, president of the Lions association

at franceinfo

The result: in an unprecedented way, the Lions also held a civic fundraiser this year. “We are obliged, this is the first time we have done so, to call for a crowdfunding campaign to ask the French public, for whom it is an important issue to reveal the talent and potential of new people, to compensate for the decrease in our funding.” However, new allies are emerging in this storm, explains Benoit Hamon, citing the Crédit Mutuel Foundation, which has recently committed to doing just this, in contrast to the current climate.

Not all migrant aid associations rely on this type of patronage, but even public subsidies appear to be cautious in this regard, analyzes the president of the Federation of Solidarity Actors, Pascal Brice: “We can see clearly that these actions and policies are at the heart of what we call an ongoing cultural battle, both in the United States and in Europe.”

“When you look at all the ideological debates over welfare, I put it in quotes, or when you look at the tension around the question of foreigners, continued Pascal Brice, I emphasize to you that there is an increasingly tense public debate, which I think is one of the reasons why solidarity associations are experiencing a decrease in subsidies.” The decline is such that one in three solidarity associations is now under threat in France, according to the latest report from the Federation.