Domitille Marchal Lemoine, an Icon of Change from France

Icons of Change

Icons of Change International Awards 2025  Domitille Marchal Lemoine Executive Director | Friends of Fondation de France Inc Board Member | Alliance Française de Westchester Marketing & Communications Consultant | Afrika Startup Lab  SDG Focus: Sustainable Development Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals Changemaker in Global Philanthropy and International Collaboration (France)  In a world where global challenges demand coordinated solutions, Domitille Marchal Lemoine has emerged as a transformative leader in international philanthropy, bridging donors, nonprofits, and communities across continents. With over two decades of experience in fundraising, communications, and strategic advisory, she has consistently elevated the impact of charitable giving, ensuring that resources are translated into measurable, sustainable outcomes.  As Executive Director of Friends of Fondation de France Inc, Domitille oversees the organization’s U.S.-based operations, supporting over 150 international nonprofits through advocacy, capacity-building, and donor engagement. She has implemented innovative strategies to enhance visibility, drive fundraising, and strengthen the connection between American donors and vetted nonprofit initiatives in France and around the globe. Under her stewardship, Friends of Fondation de France has amplified the reach and efficiency of philanthropic efforts, enabling contributions to achieve maximum social and cultural impact.  Domitille’s leadership extends beyond administration. She organizes seminars, conferences, and international forums on philanthropy, equipping nonprofit leaders with the tools to build robust fundraising programs, strengthen institutional governance, and communicate their mission effectively. Her guidance ensures that diverse organizations — from human rights advocacy groups to arts and education initiatives — achieve operational excellence while aligning with strategic global priorities.  Earlier, as Marketing and Communications Director at Afrika Startup Lab, Domitille spearheaded branding, outreach, and communications strategies for international development, connecting networks of experts and stakeholders to advance social entrepreneurship and sustainable initiatives. Her advisory work has also spanned luxury and startup enterprises, local municipalities, and community-led environmental projects, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to results-driven impact.  Domitille’s dedication has earned international recognition. In 2023, she received the Trophée des Français des États-Unis, awarded by Le Petit Journal and the Caisse des Français de l’étranger (CFE), honoring her exceptional contributions to charity and humanitarian work. Her expertise in strategic fundraising, communications, and cross-cultural collaboration has made her a trusted advisor to nonprofit boards, advocacy groups, and donor networks alike.

Transcript

00:00It is a true privilege to be with you today and share my reflections on the power of cross-border,

00:08collaboration and philanthropy, and how together we can tackle some of the most pressing challenges

00:14facing our world today. This year, 2025, has been declared by the United Nations

00:23at the International Year of Peace and Trust. At this moment, we are reminded of a crucial truth.

00:32Global peace and prosperity are built on the foundation of mutual respect, understanding and collaboration.

00:42Philanthropy plays a central role in building the connections that foster such cooperation.

00:48Generosity is a universal language. Let's pause and ask a simple question.

00:57What is philanthropy?

01:01The Encyclopedia Britannica defines philanthropy as voluntary organized efforts intended for socially useful purposes.

01:12It exists in every culture, expressed in countless ways for countless causes.

01:22For me, philanthropy is, at its core, an act of collaboration.

01:29Philanthropy is the art of collective responsibility.

01:33It is how citizens, institutions and communities work together to advance the common good.

01:42And what is remarkable today is that most of the causes philanthropy serves are inherently global and interconnected.

01:55And at the heart of this vision is SDG Goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals,

02:04the understanding that no one can solve global problems alone.

02:10Whether we are addressing health care, education, climate change or cultural preservation,

02:19these issues require global solutions.

02:25They demand global cooperation.

02:27SDG Goal 17 calls for multi-stakeholder partnerships

02:33that engage governments, businesses, civil society and philanthropists.

02:40It recognizes that only through these partnerships can we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

02:48and build a more equitable and sustainable world.

02:53Take, for example, science and health care.

02:57The recent years demonstrated that philanthropy can catalyze collaboration across borders

03:06to address shared threats to public health.

03:11Health crises do not respect national boundaries.

03:16And solutions must be developed together.

03:18When philanthropists support global health initiatives,

03:23whether in vaccine development, disease prevention or mental health,

03:29they contribute to a network of international collaboration

03:35that improves the lives of millions.

03:39Goal 17 encourages exactly this type of partnership

03:43to ensure that we can respond to future challenges more effectively.

03:51If we think of the global thoughts,

03:55reducing inequalities requires supporting local communities

04:00and empowering them to design their own solutions.

04:03This aligns with SDG Goal 17,

04:09which calls for collaboration to promote the transfer of knowledge,

04:14technology and resources,

04:17ensuring that no one is left behind.

04:21Time and again, we've seen that when local NGOs,

04:25often dependent on international funding,

04:28are given the tools and trust to act,

04:30they create extraordinary change.

04:33By building partnerships that empower them,

04:37we are fostering sustainable,

04:39locally driven solutions to global challenges.

04:42That too is the power of philanthropy,

04:46creating networks of collaborations that uplift communities

04:49and drive transformative change.

04:54In education, the impact of philanthropy is equally profound.

05:00By funding scholarships,

05:01supporting institutions and fostering opportunities

05:06for international study,

05:07we not only increase access to knowledge,

05:11but we also build the global leaders of tomorrow.

05:16Young people who study in different countries

05:18are exposed to different perspectives,

05:20which enables them to understand and solve

05:24the complex issues our world faces

05:27with a sense of shared responsibility.

05:31And, of course, protecting the environment

05:35is a mission that simply cannot be confined by geography.

05:39The ocean's plastic pollution travels from one shore to another.

05:44Greenhouse gases do not stop at borders.

05:50Our planet's challenges demand

05:52coordinative collective action.

05:56And philanthropy has a critical role to play

05:59by funding both large-scale initiatives

06:04and grassroots movements

06:05that work together to protect our shared environment,

06:09independently from government decisions.

06:14In the cultural world,

06:16philanthropy connects us to our collective heritage.

06:21When a donor supports an exhibition,

06:24helps restore a historic site,

06:27or funds a new production in a theatre,

06:30the impact which is far beyond a single country.

06:35Art travels, ideas circulate,

06:39tourists visit,

06:41and people everywhere are enriched.

06:44Cultural philanthropy creates shared experiences

06:49that foster collaboration across continents.

06:54The common thread in all these examples

06:57is partnership, true partnership.

07:00based on trust, transparency, and shared purpose.

07:03Because, at its best,

07:06philanthropy is not about charity.

07:09It is about connection.

07:11It is about bringing together ideas,

07:14people, and resources

07:15to build a more resilient and just world.

07:21As we look towards the future,

07:23SDG Goal 17 provides a vital framework

07:26for tackling the challenges ahead.

07:30Philanthropy is a catalyst for these partnerships,

07:34bringing together diverse sectors

07:37to collaborate on achieving the SDGs.

07:42And this is where we have such an important role to play,

07:46as we are philanthropists,

07:49uniquely positioned to lead by example,

07:52to bridge gaps, build trust,

07:55and inspire collective action.

07:57And in this international year of peace and trust,

08:01we are reminded that peace is built not only through treaties or negotiations,

08:07but through relationships, through trust.

08:11And trust, in turn, is built when people give their time,

08:15their resources,

08:16their expertise,

08:18and their heart.

08:19So let us continue to strengthen this global ecosystem of giving.

08:26Let us deepen partnerships that transcend borders.

08:29Because when generosity travels, it knows no limits.

08:33And when we work together, there is no challenge too great to overcome.

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