The Alliance Française was created in Paris on July 21, 1883, by a group of eminent men, including the scientist Louis Pasteur, the diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, the writers Jules Verne and Ernest Renan, and the publisher Armand Colin.

It became a Foundation in 2007, to bring the Alliance Française into the 21st century.

The Alliance Française de Paris is the headquarters of the organization, and own the Alliance Française brand.

More information at alliancefr.org.

Federation of Alliances Françaises USA

For the past one hundred years the Federation of Alliances Françaises USA has had as its mission to provide support for its individual member chapters in their efforts to promote French language and francophone culture.Today as yesterday, the primary focus of the AFs is on the improvement of cross-cultural understanding and the strengthening of intercultural communication.

Like all Alliance Française chapters in this country, the Federation is an entirely independent American organization. Its activities are the product of the initiative of its members as communicated to its Board of Directors, its working Committees and participating members around the country. Its financial well-being is dependent almost entirely on the dues of member chapters, with some limited outside sponsorship and fund-raising activities.

More information at www.afusa.org.

Fondation Alliance Française

The Alliance Française Foundation was created by the official journal of the French Republic on the 26th of July, 2007. It is open to the public. The foundation exists to modernize the historical mission of the Alliance Française, with the goal of increasing the diffusion of the French language and culture by sharing this mission with well-known international partners in consultation with local public powers.

Its goals:

• Unite and lead the worldwide network
• Provide expertise, training and advice
• Offer a cultural alternative to globalization

More information at fondation-alliancefr.org.