Cartier Chairman of Culture & Philanthropy Cyrille Vigneron on how the maison supports work toward global change

The Cartier Philanthropy foundation works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities globally through four key areas: access to basic services, women’s empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and emergency response. Vigneron explained that the foundation was created to allow for more impactful and strategic giving. “About 20 years ago, almost all the [maison’s] regions and markets wanted to contribute through fundraising events and galas, with proceeds that would be donated. But we felt spending on events with little follow-up wasn’t effective.” Today, the foundation emphasises long-term partnerships that extend beyond grants to include strategic guidance, connections to other funders, and consulting services in areas like data science and branding. According to its 2023-2024 annual report, the foundation collaborates with 58 partners across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

To illustrate the impact of such partnerships, Vigneron mentioned Educate Girls in India, which addresses the critical issue of girls’ education in rural areas. Over four million girls aged six to 14 are out of school daily in India, one of the highest rates globally, due to social norms, economic challenges, and limited family support. Since its launch in 2007, the initiative has expanded to over 29,000 villages in four of the country’s most populous states and has mobilised 1.8 million girls to enrol in school since 2007. 

Another game-changing partnership is Mothers2Mothers (m2m), which employs women living with HIV to support others in their communities with essential health services, and worked with HIV-positive mothers and expectant mothers to prevent transmission to their children.  

Vigneron emphasised that addressing the issue required not only medical intervention but also tackling underlying social dynamics. “In cases where a husband passed away, it was not uncommon for his brother to assume responsibility for the family, which could lead to further spread of the disease,” Vigneron noted. In response, the organisation adapted its approach by training mothers to become peer mentors, empowering them to foster healthier practices within their communities.

The impact has been remarkable. “I recently spoke with the CEO, who shared that Mothers2Mothers has reached 15 million women, from South Africa all the way to Uganda,” Vigneron shared. “Transmission rates from mother to child have gone from over 41 per cent to zero. Last year, not one child was infected. This has touched millions of lives.” 

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