Our status
Inaugurated in 1888, the Institut Pasteur has been a foundation with recognized charitable status since 1887 with more than a third of its funding derived from gifts and donations. This legal status supports our mission to serve the public interest in health care.
What is the status of the Institut Pasteur?
As a private non-profit foundation with recognized charitable status, we have a unique vision that has driven our commitment to advancing science for the benefit of humanity for almost 150 years.
This legal status means we also have responsibilities and duties. The Institut Pasteur is subject to auditing by independent organizations to guarantee full transparency for its donors and partners. In addition to an internal audit by different committees (Finance and Audit, Appointments and Remuneration, and Investment), the Institut Pasteur holds "Don en Confiance" (trusted donations) accreditation, awarded by the body of the same name to organizations and foundations funded by public donations.
Your trust and generosity are vital. They give us the freedom we need to do our day-to-day research.
Why is public support so vital?
- The Institut Pasteur exists thanks to philanthropy.
- It was founded in 1887 following a global appeal that raised significant sums throughout Europe and the United States – a revolutionary approach at the time.
- This large-scale philanthropic support from the public was a direct result of the newly discovered rabies vaccine developed by Louis Pasteur in 1885, which had considerable impact worldwide.
So, philanthropy has been a core component of our model from the start. And, today, we still rely on the support of almost 200,000 donors. We have their generosity to thank for more than a third of our overall funding – our main source of income – and for being a foundational building block of our scientific independence.
Every year, we receive more than €100 million in public donations (almost €130 million in 2025), which helps to fund innovative research projects, develop cutting-edge infrastructure and attract exceptionally talented scientists from all over the world.
Thanks to your support, our scientists have the freedom and flexibility needed to explore unexpected leads. Behind the very first HIV screening test, messenger RNA research and major advances in genetic regulation are scientists who freely followed their instinct, and it is all thanks to you!