HelloAsso

HelloAsso operates as a pivotal financial technology platform for France's non-profit sector. Established in 2009 by co-founders Ismaël Le Mouël and Léa Thomassin, the company was initially launched under the name "Mailforgood". Thomassin, who holds a Master's degree in social and solidarity economy and previously worked at a citizen strategy consulting agency, now serves as the company's president. Le Mouël, a graduate of École Polytechnique and HEC Paris, drew inspiration from his parents' early adoption of organic farming, which influenced his interest in the social and solidarity economy. Their shared vision was to provide associations with digital tools to support their growth.

The company's business model is centered on a voluntary contribution system. It provides a comprehensive suite of digital tools to non-profits, clubs, and foundations in France entirely free of charge, with no commissions taken on the funds collected. Revenue is generated exclusively through optional tips that individuals can add when making a payment—such as a donation, membership fee, or event ticket purchase—to an association via the platform. This model, which was considered a significant risk at inception, has proven successful, with reports indicating that about half of all users choose to leave a contribution to support HelloAsso's operations. The company holds the ESUS label (“Solidarity Company of Social Utility”), a French government certification for social enterprises.

HelloAsso's service offering is designed to digitize and streamline the financial management of non-profits. The platform provides tools for managing memberships, crowdfunding campaigns, online donations, and event ticketing. Key features include list and membership management, ticket scanning, contribution tracking, and online giving capabilities. Over the years, HelloAsso has expanded its services, introducing its first online donation tool in 2010, followed by membership and ticketing features in 2013, at which point it rebranded to its current name. In 2021, a search engine was launched to help individuals find local associations, and a mobile application was introduced in 2023. The company has achieved significant scale, having facilitated the collection of over 1.5 billion euros for more than 350,000 associations since its founding. In October 2023, it secured a payment institution license from the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR), enhancing its autonomy in payment processing.

Keywords: non-profit payment platform, association fundraising, online donations, membership management, event ticketing for non-profits, crowdfunding for associations, voluntary contribution model, social enterprise, fintech for good, ESUS certified, digital tools for charities, French non-profit sector, Ismaël Le Mouël, Léa Thomassin, Mailforgood, BasiCompta, online collection, free fundraising tools, association financial management, community engagement platform