Danone Communities is an impact investment fund that supports innovative social businesses working to improve the health of vulnerable populations by providing access to safe drinking water and quality nutrition.

Through long-term financial support, our expertise, and our networks, we actively work to make a positive impact on global health, in line with Danone’s mission. As of the end of 2024, we support 16 social enterprises in 22 countries, impacting the health of 15 million vulnerable people every day.

Danone Communities’ mission is to sustainably improve the health of vulnerable populations, connected to Danone’s mission of bringing health through food and hydration to as many people as possible.

We support the growth of social businesses that develop innovative and sustainable solutions to provide access to quality, healthy food and safe drinking water.

Together, we build resilient business models that deliver impact and help strengthen local economies.

Danone Communities is not a charity, but an impact investment fund. While charities’ activities are fueled by donations, Danone Communities supports social businesses that use economic mechanisms to address major social challenges related to access to safe water or quality food.

These businesses are economically viable, and every euro invested continues to generate value over time, creating a lasting impact. As Professor Muhammad Yunus says:
“A euro of charity has only one life. A euro invested in a social enterprise can be reinvested again and again.”

What sets us apart is our business approach: we believe that some social problems can be solved through entrepreneurial mechanisms. We support innovative entrepreneurs who develop local, sustainable solutions tailored to real-world needs.

Our ambition is to support the growth of social businesses that make a real difference in improving the health of vulnerable populations, relying on innovative business models.

Danone has been one of the catalysts and a strong advocate for Social Business.

Rooted in Danone’s mission, Danone Communities supports the company in achieving local health impact among vulnerable populations.

We harness the power of the business model to develop health initiatives by:

• Breaking down local barriers related to distribution (access), price, or awareness about healthy hydration and nutritious food
• Serving vulnerable populations beyond the reach of Danone’s portfolio

Danone is one of the fund’s investors, along with others, and voluntarily provides its employees’ expertise to support social enterprises.

At Danone, employees are not just spectators: they are agents of change. Danone Communities offers them the opportunity to actively contribute to Danone’s mission by taking action to improve the health of vulnerable populations.

In France, through the Profit-Sharing & Participation program, every employee can choose to invest all or part of their savings in the Danone Communities fund. This investment helps support the innovative social enterprises we work with and improves the health of vulnerable populations.

But the commitment goes far beyond financial support. With the Impact3 program, Danoners can put their professional skills to work for impact by taking on pro bono assignments (mentoring, coaching, consulting) for social enterprises supported by Danone Communities, providing experienced, unique, and targeted technical assistance.

This engagement model helps build bridges between business and impact, leveraging the collective intelligence of Danone teams to help scale innovative solutions that serve health.