Fondazione Cariplo

The Foundation primarily directs its funding toward four key program areas: arts and culture, scientific research, social services and the environment. In addition to issuing grants directly to specific projects, the nonprofit also acts as a major financial backer of community foundations throughout Lombardy, with the aim of spurring positive change on the local level. This commitment to forging and cultivating regional partnerships lies at the core of the Foundation’s philanthropic mission.

Fondazione Cariplo traces its origins to the early nineteenth century. In the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, much of Northern Italy lay in ruins, its economic and political institutions decimated by conflict. To alleviate widespread poverty and help spur development, the occupying Austrian government recruited members of the Milanese nobility to spearhead the region’s rebuilding effort. In 1816 these local leaders created the Commissione Centrale di Beneficenza, a philanthropic entity tasked with overseeing the recovery program.

In 1823, the group reorganized as a savings bank, the Cassa di Risparmio delle Provincie Lombarde (Cariplo). The bank channeled investment funds toward supporting small businesses, infrastructure projects and other vital aspects of civil society. Over the course of the 19th and 20th, Cariplo grew to become one of the largest financial institutions in the world – in the process helping to transform Lombardy into an economic powerhouse.

Cariplo’s legal status changed with the passage of the Amato-Carli Law of 1990, a measure designed to privatize the Italian banking industry. In compliance with the new legislation, the bank established the Fondazione Cariplo, a non-profit umbrella entity charged with overseeing the bank’s assets. In 1998, after the financial institution merged with Banca Intesa, the Foundation split from the bank to become an independent entity.

In the 21st century, Fondazione Cariplo began to devote increasing attention to environmental issues. To confront the challenges posed by climate change, the organization established two research and development programs: the AGER (Agri-Food & Research) initiative, which funds efforts to develop technologies aimed at promoting sustainable farming practices; and F2C (Fondazione Cariplo for Climate), an educational initiative to increase understanding of global warming. The F2C program also oversees the ClimaMi Project, a collaboration of technical experts, engineers and architects dedicated to applying the findings of climate science to reshape urban policy and planning in Milan.

As of 2024, Fondazione Cariplo supported more than 1,000 programs each year. The organization provides funding for nonprofits, solicits proposals for individual projects and sponsors charity events. The Foundation’s ongoing commitment to promoting worthy causes on both the regional and national level has made it a vital force for good in the Italian philanthropic sector.

Contributor: Stephen Meyer