Today, they generate over one million full-time equivalent jobs. The approximately 900,000 associations in France represent a budget of around 60 billion euros. For more than a century, the social economy has demonstrated that it is possible to undertake differently.
Some organizations have often proven that they can compete with the capitalist world in terms of economic performance and social responsibility (health mutuals, insurance mutuals, lunch voucher groups).
But how can one have a “non-profit” status and have lucrative side activities?
Moreover, when associative employment becomes professionalized, what happens to the activist spirit of the founders?
What about the civic dimension inherent in the spirit of the 1901 Law?
How to manage this dichotomy rooted in our culture where personal commitment and professional activity are sometimes deeply dissociated?
Often born from local initiatives in a surge of solidarity, the initial volunteers had no specific skills to deal with the problems they faced.
However, amateurism quickly shows its limits.
This highly dynamic sector must succeed in its transition to professionalism if it wants to preserve its riches and withstand the test of time.
The regulatory framework is evolving, and it is now necessary to address numerous financial and human resources issues.
