Charity

Leaving the world better than we found it is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to create prosperity for all.

Why we are committed to charity

As an investment house, we care deeply about the future—your children’s, your grandchildren’s, and the generations to follow. Beyond providing financial security and education, we invest in sustainability to build a world that endures. A world where people support one another and where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Degroof Petercam Foundation

Established in 2008 as a public utility foundation, the Degroof Petercam Foundation (DPF) is now among Belgium's ten largest foundations.

Employment is essential for sustainable prosperity in society. The mission of DPF is to support the most innovative organizations that contribute to sustainable and fair job opportunities.

Discover our foundation

Highlighted Precious Partnership projects

ETRE schools

Wal’crèches

A school for young people who find traditional education challenging

Frédérick Mathis has built something remarkable: the ETRE schools, a hands-on alternative for students who don’t thrive in conventional classrooms. Through ecological projects, these schools help vulnerable youth find purpose, confidence, and job opportunities.

From childhood dream to reality

As a child in Toulouse, Mathis didn’t dream of becoming a pilot or footballer—he wanted to create the perfect school. Fast forward 30 years—after studying IT, education sciences, and working for the European Commission—he got a call from an old friend: Come back to Toulouse. I have a project for you.

The Aha moment!

That project was a hostel for troubled teens placed by the courts. Mathis quickly noticed that these young people were focused solely on survival and finding work, disconnected from broader issues like climate change. Inspired, he brought a group to his hometown, Poucharramet, to work on ecological projects. The impact was transformative. By working with their hands—planting, installing solar panels, building eco-homes—these teens felt valued for the first time.

This revelation led Mathis to establish the first École de la Transition Écologique (ETRE), an "Ecological Transition School," in 2016.

A new way to learn

ETRE schools engage youth through practical, eco-focused training, helping them rebuild confidence and trust in society. The curriculum revolves around sustainable trades, with a strong emphasis on diversity, especially encouraging young women to participate.

The model is gaining traction across France—businesses, too, are taking notice. "The labor shortage is a major hurdle in the ecological transition," says Mathis. "More and more companies see this."

Growing success

In 2024, the ETRE network won the Degroof Petercam Foundation Award, securing funding to expand through a social franchise model. With 26 schools already operating, the goal is to have an ETRE school in every French department.

To scale up, Mathis’ team created a nine-month incubator to train future school directors.

Looking beyond France

Now, Mathis has his sights set on Brussels and Belgium, hoping to bring ETRE to the European stage. "The EU was built on coal and steel—why not make the ecological transition its next foundation?"