Bylaws of the Foundation
The “International Research Center at the Frontiers of Chemistry” (ICFRC), also known as the Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation, is a scientific cooperation foundation (FCS), a private, nonprofit organization governed by the rules applicable to foundations recognized as serving the public interest.
The Foundation was established in 2007, following the passage of a law in 2005 to ensure the development of centers of excellence in several disciplines.
Governance of the Foundation
Pursuant to Article L. 344-13 of the Research Code, the Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors comprising representatives of its founding members: the University of Strasbourg (represented by its president and vice president for research), the CNRS (represented by the director of the National Institute of Chemistry and the regional delegate), BASF-France (represented by its president) and Bruker-France (represented by its president). The Board also includes representatives of researchers and faculty members, as well as qualified individuals, representatives of local authorities, and members of the business community. The State is represented on the Board of Directors by a government commissioner, a role held by law by the rector of the Grand Est regional education authority. The Board of Directors elects a president (who is legally responsible) and a Treasurer; both of whom serve in a voluntary capacity.
The Board of Directors’ scientific decisions are made after consulting the Scientific Advisory Board, which is composed of individuals recognized for their scientific expertise, who are not affiliated with the University of Strasbourg. The majority of its members are from universities in neighboring countries.
Inspections & Audits
The Foundation’s financial statements are prepared by a certified public accountant and audited annually by an independent auditor before the Board of Directors meets to approve the annual accounts.
Over the years, the Foundation has undergone audits by the French tax authorities, the Cour des Comptes, the General Inspectorate of National Education, HCERES, and auditors from the European Commission, with no issues reported. These audits are a normal part of the Foundation’s operations and ensure transparency in the management and use of the funds raised, which is essential to maintaining donors' trust.
The Foundation publishes its annual financial statements and the auditor’s report on the website of the Directorate of Official Journals (dedicated to associations and foundations), in accordance with Decree No. 2009-540 on the disclosure requirements applicable to associations and foundations.
Sustainable Resources & Funding
The Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation has a permanent endowment of 20 million euros, initially established by the French government and its founding members. Only the income it generates is used to further strengthen excellence in chemical research.
The Foundation's management fees range from 4% to 12%, as follows:
- 5% to 12% on donations collected
- 15% on ANR or European grants, of which 10% is remitted to the University of Strasbourg or the CNRS
The Foundation's funding comes from the management fees outlined above, as well as annual contributions from some of its founding members, and income generated by its initial endowment.
As a result, the Foundation's annual operating expense ratio (overhead expenses / revenue) ranges from 7% to 8%.
The Proper Use of Donations
Donations collected as part of the fundraising campaign are used exclusively to fund projects selected by the donor. The Foundation has internal procedures in place to ensure that donations are used appropriately, and the auditor also certifies that they are used in accordance with established guidelines.
Allocation of funding to research teams through a rigorous and transparent process
With 15 years of experience managing and coordinating funding programs, The Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation is committed to transparent decision-making. For each program, it issues a call for proposals and convenes its Scientific Advisory Board.
Composed of individuals from outside the Foundation and the University of Strasbourg, the Scientific Advisory Board operates independently and makes recommendations that are subsequently approved by the Board of Directors.
The programs are funded through a range of sources:
- Income from the endowment that constitutes the Foundation's equity.
- Funds from the Investments for the Future Program, which draw on the expertise of the Scientific Advisory Board and the Foundation’s experience in allocating funds.
- Donations that are not directly earmarked for a specific project, but are instead directed toward a chemistry-related topic specified by the donor.
The Foundation follows international peer-review standards when selecting research projects. It calls on international experts from outside Strasbourg, selected for their scientific expertise in the field relevant to each project under review. Each expert independently prepares a written assessment, with an average of 3 to 4 reports per project. Once the review process is complete, the anonymized reports are shared with the project leaders.
Once the experts have completed their individual assessments, the Scientific Advisory Board meets. Each project is discussed by at least two members of the Board while ensuring there are no conflicts of interest. The projects are then ranked according to the scores they receive.
The assessment criteria are as follows:
- Clarity of research objectives and hypotheses.
- Innovation and originality.
- Risk-taking, positioning in relation to current research.
- Expertise of the project lead and partners.
- Whether the resources allocated and requested are appropriate for the project's objectives.
Each year, the Foundation publishes a list of the projects selected for funding.
