Interview with a philanthropist
Philippe Poncin
The Alpes Sauvages foundation was created in 2021 by Philippe Poncin. After a career as CEO of an industrial company, he wanted to dedicate time and means to a topic of importance to him: biodiversity protection in the Alps’ region.
1. What motivated your philanthropy?
I have been passionate about the wild since childhood and it gave me much joy to have the chance to discover it. My hobbies led me to explore the outdoors both on land and sea, either through skiing, hiking, mountaineering or diving. All of it in places almost untouched, from the Arctic to Antarctica. How amazing to see living beings, so free and wild, in these rare virgin natural habitats.
When came the time to retire and pass on my company, it was very natural to me to give back to our planet Earth, using some of the proceeds from the company’s sale.
I was born in Grenoble and I work there so I know that our Alps’ ecosystems are uniquely rich but also highly endangered. This is why I chose to support non-profit organisations working to protect nature in this area, in cooperation with other stakeholders such as researchers, farmers, public and private institutions.
2. Tell us more about your philanthropic commitment, the actions you support and the future of the foundation?
The Alpes Sauvages foundation, founded 3 years ago, is still young. We support 12 non-profit organisations with 2,4 m€ of grants distributed to projects focusing on protecting ecosystems or endangered species, fostering cohabitation between animal farming and wolves and also research projects focusing on alpine biodiversity. In the Alps, we can find wolves, ibexes, rock ptarmigans, springtails and dragonflies, as well as ponds, wildlife reserves and spaces for rewilding.
In 2025, we have updated our strategy to focus on supporting coalitions of non-profit organisations leading more ambitious projects, and dedicating more financial means over a longer period of time, in our case 7 years. We ask all the non-profits to cooperate and define together the topics that seem more impactful in their opinion.
3. Would you please share with us what this philanthropic adventure brings you personally?
To begin with, the saying “giving makes one happy” is absolutely true for me.
Then, and that might be the most rewarding, it’s about meeting remarkable and extremely committed people, volunteers for most of them, who act to protect a much suffering biodiversity. They are my super heroes!
It is also about discovering the profession of grantmaker and acquiring knowledge on the alpine environment. Learning at any age is good to prevent neurons from aging.
Immersing myself in the non-profit universe which is very different from the business world, yet they share things in common: in both cases, we need a vision, a strategy, policies and efficient projects. The main improvement is that my office is now outdoors, in the mountains!
4. What advice would you give to others looking to do something similar?
There are a few pre-conditions: first, have a family discussion as the amounts given to philanthropy are subtracted from their inheritance and also because the philanthropic adventure can mobilize several generations in the service of generosity. Make sure you are well advised – notary, bank, umbrella foundations – in the choice of structure for your philanthropic action.
Then, go ahead without hesitation, you would be surprised to see how satisfying it is to get involved for a cause meaningful to you. You will find all the useful assistance you need in the small world of philanthropy and with the help, of course, of BNP Paribas Wealth Management’s philanthropy advisory team.
5. How has the individual philanthropy advisory team helped you?
I was very satisfied with the philanthropic advice of BNP Paribas, which occurred simultaneously with the legal and tax advice linked to the company’s transfer. During this kind of complex operations, tension is high given the stakes. By bringing to my attention the philanthropic opportunities and associated options, I was able to make up my decision and take philanthropy into account during the company’s transfer. Thanks to this timely advice, I benefited from a more favorable taxation for my donation to my foundation, thus enabling me to give a higher amount, which I very much appreciated. The support goes beyond the creation of a philanthropic vehicle, for example with invitations to conferences within the philanthropic sector, as well as introductions to other philanthropists.
