Alban du Rostu (E16): "Our Aim is to Become Leaders in Philanthropy"

Alban du Rostu (E16) manages the Fonds du Bien Commun [Common Goods Fund], a hybrid model which applies private equity principles to philanthropy. The aim is to fund and support the upscaling of community and entrepreneurial projects which could transform France for future generations.

ESSEC Alumni: How has your career led you to the management of Fonds du Bien Commun? 

Alban du Rostu: Following an initial career in finance in the USA and strategy consulting with McKinsey, like many others I suddenly found myself questioning the meaning of my work. How could I align my professional life with my personal values and put my expertise to work for the common good? That’s when I met Pierre-Édouard Stérin, a successful entrepreneur and the first French business angel to donate 100% of his assets to the common good. One business plan and two weeks later, I took charge of launching and structuring the Fonds du Bien Commun.

EA: What kind of projects do you support?

A. du Rostu: We work in four priority areas. Education firstly, such as language development with the charity 1001mots, fun workshops for children from working-class backgrounds unable to go on holidays with Les Ateliers Amasco founded by Michel Wendling (E03), and investments in EdTech. Secondly, human and spiritual growth, i.e. anything which helps to shape free, self-fulfilled young people, including fighting against depression through sport with Je Bouge pour Mon Moral, or support for the missions of Esprit de Patronage and scouting. Solidarity thirdly, with aid for families with a disabled child via Tombée du Nid, outreach with La Maraude des Parlementaires which rallies 60 parliamentary deputies and senators of all political leanings, or the creation of the Bonne Table restaurant chain of which 50% of employees are former homeless people. Culture and heritage lastly, with the organisation of the Symphonia show about Notre-Dame de Paris, or the launch of the Sesame Prize with the Heritage Foundation to preserve rural heritage. 

EA: What form of support do you offer?

A. du Rostu: Our forty or so employees have backgrounds in investment, strategy consulting and entrepreneurship. That said, their support targets a return on investment with a social rather than a financial impact. Our choice of projects to support mirrors this; our criteria prioritise their aim, capacity to upscale and team quality. We then jointly design an ambitious 5-year growth plan, along with performance indicators.

EA: What are your projects for the future?

A. du Rostu: We plan to inject €1 billion in the coming 10 years via donations, impact investments and project creation! In 2023, we will roll out €40m, then €60m in 2024 and €80m in 2025.

EA: How can the ESSEC community support your actions?

A. du Rostu: By joining us above all! There are already several ESSEC members on the team, including Anne-Louise Moiroud (E19) and Thibault Cambournac (E19). We’re hiring, and place great importance on paying our staff well, because we want to show that it is possible to have a career in the world of charity and the impact economy without having to sacrifice your ambitions. We’re also looking for entrepreneurs to join our incubator and create impact start-ups with us. In addition, we need volunteer coaches and mentors to provide guidance on a periodical basis to non-profit organisations.

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni 
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Image 1: Alban du Rostu

Image 2: From left to right: Anne-Louise Moiroud, Alban du Rostu, and Thibault Cambournac