Fundación Mapfre

Fundación Mapfre
Name	Fundación Mapfre
Type	Non-profit foundation
Founded	1975
Founder	Mapfre
Headquarters	Madrid, Spain
Area served	International
Focus	Social welfare, cultural promotion, research

Fundación Mapfre. Fundación Mapfre is a Spanish non-profit institution established by the insurance group Mapfre to promote social welfare, culture, research and safety. The foundation operates from its headquarters in Madrid and maintains programs and venues across Spain, Europe, Latin America and other regions, collaborating with museums, universities, and international organizations. Fundación Mapfre engages with cultural heritage, public health, road safety, and insurance research through exhibitions, grants, and partnerships with institutions such as Museo del Prado, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Banco Santander, and university research centers.

History

Fundación Mapfre was created in 1975 by the Spanish insurer Mapfre during a period of expansion that followed Spain's transition from the Francoist Spain era to the Spanish transition to democracy. Early institutional links connected Fundación Mapfre with Spanish civic initiatives including collaborations with Real Academia Española, Instituto Cervantes, and municipal governments like the Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the foundation developed cultural programs alongside partnerships with Museo del Prado, British Museum, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, and international entities such as UNICEF, World Health Organization, and International Labour Organization. In the 2000s Fundación Mapfre expanded its research remit, affiliating with academic institutions including Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad de Salamanca, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and centers such as Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.

Mission and activities

The foundation frames its mission around social welfare, cultural promotion, and scientific research, working with stakeholders like European Commission, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and private corporations including BBVA, Banco Santander, and Iberdrola. Activities range from public exhibitions at venues like Casa de América and Sala Fundación MAPFRE to road safety campaigns aligned with Dirección General de Tráfico and collaborations with Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Fundación Mapfre supports medical initiatives in coordination with hospitals such as Hospital Universitario La Paz and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, and works with NGOs like Cruz Roja Española and Caritas on social inclusion programs.

Programs and initiatives

Fundación Mapfre runs a variety of programs: cultural exhibition series in partnership with Musée d'Orsay, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Museum of Modern Art, and Metropolitan Museum of Art; road safety and accident prevention projects linked to European Transport Safety Council and Global Road Safety Partnership; and social welfare grants in conjunction with Fundación ONCE and Fundación Banco de Alimentos. Educational initiatives include scholarships and fellowships with universities such as Universidad de Barcelona and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and continuing professional development tied to industry bodies like Spanish Association of Insurers and International Insurance Society. Outreach extends to film and photography festivals like Festival Internacional de Cine de San Sebastián and competitions supported by museums and cultural agencies such as Instituto de Cultura de Madrid.

Research and publications

Research programs within Fundación Mapfre cover insurance studies, demographic analysis, public health, and road safety, often publishing reports and monographs in collaboration with institutions like Oxford University, Harvard University, London School of Economics, Universidad Pontificia Comillas, and think tanks such as Real Instituto Elcano. Publications address topics relevant to insurers and policymakers, drawing on data from agencies including Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Eurostat, and World Bank. The foundation’s research outputs include catalogs produced with partners like Tate Modern, scholarly volumes edited with Cambridge University Press, and policy briefs developed with European Road Safety Observatory and OECD working groups.

Museums and cultural projects

Fundación Mapfre operates exhibition spaces and curates projects with major cultural institutions: touring exhibitions with Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, retrospectives coordinated with Musée Picasso, and photographic archives shared with International Center of Photography. The foundation has organized monographic shows on artists linked to Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Francisco Goya, and Diego Velázquez, and collaborated with contemporary art venues including Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, MACBA, and Fundación Joan Miró. Cultural education programs involve partnerships with conservatories and academies such as Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía and historical archives like the Archivo General de Indias.

International presence and partnerships

Fundación Mapfre’s international network spans Latin America, Europe, and Asia with offices and collaborations involving institutions such as Universidad de São Paulo, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, British Council, and Alliance Française. The foundation engages in bilateral projects with municipal and national entities including the City of Buenos Aires, Government of Mexico City, Ministerio de Cultura de España, and European partners like Erasmus+ consortia. Global partnerships extend to organizations such as United Nations Development Programme, Pan American Health Organization, and multinational firms like Telefonica and Acciona for joint cultural, research and social programs.

Category:Foundations based in Spain