- ATD Fourth World

In 1970, Father Joseph Wresinski wrote to donors:

• I know that you understand the importance of what I’m trying to do. I’ve always been struck by the investments of human and financial resources that underlie movements aimed at helping the poor, and often the very poorest members of society. With the passing of time, as the founding members and first volunteers disappear, institutions and associations have often shifted to activities that no longer help the very poor. This is exactly what I want to avoid. The last thing I want is for the most disadvantaged to be deprived of that which so many of my friends have invested in and have helped me build.

• This is why I have set up teams of men and women who are able to dedicate their lives to the Fourth World. I wanted to ensure that the assets of the latter, that have been entrusted to the association, can never be taken away from the very poor.

This goal is what led to the creation of the ATD Fourth World Foundation. The foundation receives donations and makes funds and premises available to the ATD Fourth World associations. The foundation guarantees that funds will be used to help the very poorest people and their families. The foundation has a responsibility of international financial solidarity with the ATD Fourth World associations across the world. It has been a registered charity since 1971 and its articles of association were amended by an order of the Conseil d’état on 10 October, 2007.

Providing a long-term commitment.

• Faced with the challenge of ending poverty, ATD Fourth World needs to raise funds within the context of its long-term planning (for the next five to ten years).

• The ATD Fourth World Foundation does not only guarantee the long-term financial solidity of ATD Fourth World in France. It also has to support ATD associations in more than ten other countries when they experience financial difficulties or for projects requiring major investments. It has to keep a certain level of savings in reserve so as to be in a position to offer training and also pensions, when the time comes, to members of the ATD Fourth World Volunteer Corps who have given five, ten or thirty years of their lives to working with Fourth World families. Finally, the Foundation wishes to keep sufficient financial resources to be able to develop ATD Fourth World as planned in developing countries, and to cope with an increase in the recruitment of volunteers worldwide.

• The three key areas to which our financial resources will be allocated in the coming years are: offering young people the opportunity to work on a lifelong project in solidarity with the Fourth World; modernising our training premises and rewards for those who take up arms in the fight against poverty; and guaranteeing financial support to ATD Fourth World associations both in very poor countries and in countries where the organisation is weak.