Donations to the Fondation du Patrimoine / Objectives
What are the fundraising targets for the restoration of the Ste-Cécile church of Acquigny?
An assessment mission covering a general restoration programme and budget delivered its conclusions in January 2011:
- From an overall budget of €2.5M, the association committed to raising €250K, representing 10% of this budget.
- A renewal of the first agreement was signed with the Fondation du Patrimoine for Phase 2 of the works on 7 September 2023.
- Phase 1 was completed in October 2014 for a total of €667K excl. VAT, with a contribution from donations plus the Fondation du Patrimoine grant reaching 20.5% of the works cost — well above the initial 10% target… meaning that the €250K objective had to be significantly revised upwards…
- Phase 2 was launched in 2021 with a planned completion date of end 2024, a total budget of €753K excl. VAT and a fundraising contribution of €110K, to be supplemented by the Fondation du Patrimoine grant currently awaiting official confirmation.
To achieve this, the association has been mobilised since 2006 to inform, raise awareness, encourage goodwill and animate the fundraising campaign paid to the Fondation du Patrimoine, which collects all donations. In the current national context of restoring an immense heritage, it is clear from the outset that genuine motivation, combined with dynamic information and communication, are both necessary and essential.
This communication is developed through activities structured around the following events:
- Discovery and guided visits of the church,
- Concerts, exhibitions (painting auctions in 2010 and 2011),
- Sales of postcards and church brochures,
- Sale of the book « The Sainte-Cécile church of Acquigny through its works of art and archives »,
- Organisation of exceptional events: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet recitals in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2019, for which the artist’s full fee is donated to the Fondation du Patrimoine.
All of these efforts — public outreach, sponsorship appeals, events and programmes — have enabled a cumulative total of €279,000 to be raised by end 2023.
