Endowment Fund

Financing the Heron Tree and the endowment fund.

In 2021, the total budget for the building of the Heron Tree was estimated at 52.4 million Euros. Ongoing studies are looking at validating the technical feasibility as well as fine-tuning the financial arbitrations.

While various options are being considered as to the design of the Heron Tree, the project will be able to evolve incrementally while operating. The financial principles of the budget were fixed at the start of the project : 

1/3 is covered by Nantes Métropole

1/3 is covered by other public bodies (local authorities such as Région Pays de la Loire, the State, Europe and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignation)

1/3 is covered by corporate sponsorships and individual donations. Collection of these donations and management of sponsorships are handled by a dedicated endowment fund, headed by Carine Chesneau.

For example, the endowment fund has implemented the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in 2018.

It is currently focusing on finding sponsors. Currently 45 companies and 5,667 individuals had made a commitment : they are participating financially in the construction of the Heron Tree in the Extraordinary Garden for a total amount of € 6,003,316. These commitments concern companies of all sizes and from all industries.

New corporate sponsors continue to join this adventure and choose to involve their employees in this project. The commitments must continue and will remain possible until the delivery of the Heron Tree and of the Extraordinary Garden. The endowment fund can also count on the support of partners such as Sorties à Nantes, Petits Frères des Pauvres, Le Relais etc.