
Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena is deeply committed to supporting local communities. They have a long history of investing in the development of the Siena region.
Their efforts are focused on promoting social and economic growth, as well as preserving the region's rich cultural heritage. This includes supporting local businesses, schools, and cultural institutions.
One notable example of their community support is their partnership with local schools, where they provide educational resources and scholarships to students. This helps to empower the next generation of leaders in the region.
Their commitment to the community is evident in their efforts to preserve the region's cultural heritage, including historic buildings and art.
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History
The Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena was established in 1995 and started its operations in 1996. It has been active for over 25 years, with a strong focus on supporting the local community.
The foundation has made significant contributions to the province of Siena, with over 1.3 billion euros allocated to local projects since 1996. This represents a significant portion of the total 1.97 billion euros distributed by the foundation during its first 15 years of operation.
Here is a breakdown of the foundation's early years:
The foundation's leadership has evolved over the years, with a focus on supporting the local community and promoting economic development.
Storia delle erogazioni della Fondazione MPS
The Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena has a long history of philanthropy, with nearly two billion euros in donations between 1995 and 2010.
From 1996 onwards, the foundation's activities became more concrete, with a strong focus on supporting the local community in Siena, while also considering the needs of the wider Tuscany region and beyond.
The foundation's contributions were quite substantial, with over 1.9 billion euros distributed between 1996 and 2010.
Here's a breakdown of the resources distributed by the Fondazione MPS during that period:
The majority of the foundation's contributions went towards supporting the development of the province of Siena, with over 1.3 billion euros allocated to projects in the region.
Storia
The Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena was established in 1995 and started its operations in 1996. It was formed to support the local community, particularly in the province of Siena.
In its first 15 years, the foundation distributed around €1,600 million, with approximately €1,300 million going to the province of Siena. This was made possible by the profits from its participation in the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, in which it held a significant stake.
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The foundation gained private juridical personality without a profit motive in 2001, after its statute was approved on May 8th of that year.
Giuseppe Mussari was the president of the foundation from 2001 to 2006, during which time he also held a position on the board of directors of the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena. He was succeeded by Gabriello Mancini in 2006, who went on to serve as president until 2013.
Here's a brief overview of the foundation's presidents:
Activities and Partnerships
Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena is a key player in the Tuscany region, and its activities and partnerships reflect its commitment to the local community. It has a strong presence in the region, with a network of branches and offices that provide a range of services to individuals and businesses.
The foundation is involved in various initiatives, including education and research programs, cultural events, and support for local artisans. For example, it has partnered with the University of Siena to develop a research project on the history of banking in Tuscany.
The foundation also supports local artisans, providing them with financial assistance and promoting their work through exhibitions and sales. This partnership has helped to preserve traditional crafts and promote cultural heritage in the region.
Attività
The Fondazione MPS was initially created to own the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, and it held the majority of the bank's shares for over two decades, allowing it to nominate most of the bank's board of directors, including the president and CEO.
From 2008, the bank's acquisition of Banca Antonveneta marked the beginning of its financial troubles, which would ultimately lead to the Fondazione MPS losing control of the bank.
The Fondazione MPS was able to distribute around 30 million euros per year to the Sienese territory, including the University of Siena, thanks to the dividends it received from its ownership of the bank.
In contrast, the city of Siena's budget is around 100 million euros.
After the bank's financial troubles, the Fondazione MPS was forced to sell some of its shares to cover debts and allow new investors to join, resulting in a significant loss of control.
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By 2017, the Fondazione MPS' share of Banca MPS had decreased from 33.5% to just 0.10%.
Here are some key statistics on the Fondazione MPS' ownership of Banca MPS:
- 2008: Fondazione MPS' share of Banca MPS: 33.5%
- 2014: Fondazione MPS' share of Banca MPS: 2.5%
- 2015: Fondazione MPS' share of Banca MPS: 1.5%
- 2017: Fondazione MPS' share of Banca MPS: 0.10%
The Fondazione MPS' ownership of Banca MPS ultimately resulted in a loss of around 7 billion euros, with the bank's acquisition of Banca Antonveneta being identified as the starting point of its financial troubles.
Bio4Dreams and TLS Join Forces for Startups
Bio4Dreams, Fondazione MPS, and Toscana Life Sciences have signed a framework agreement to boost the development of entrepreneurial projects in the Healthcare and Life Sciences sectors.
The agreement focuses on the IKIGAI Life Science acceleration program, launched in July 2024, which aims to support research teams and startups in developing innovations in the health sector.
The program helps teams define their clinical development roadmap, business plans, and market entry strategies.
The shared goal is to strengthen the biotech ecosystem and increase the number of startups in the Life Sciences sector.

The agreement aims to define and harmonize common activities in research, innovation, and technology transfer projects, as well as promote entrepreneurship by providing services at both national and international levels.
Here are the key objectives of the agreement:
- Define and harmonize common activities in research, innovation, and technology transfer projects;
- Promote entrepreneurship by providing services at both national and international levels;
- Share opportunities derived from the Life Sciences networks of the involved organizations;
- Develop collaborative projects tied to the local economic and industrial context;
- Explore the possibility of providing incubation services and/or investments, jointly with Fondazione MPS, for entrepreneurial opportunities stemming from the IKIGAI Life Sciences program.
The partnership aims to amplify the efforts of Fondazione MPS and TLS in supporting startups, extending their impact beyond regional and national borders.
Specific Initiatives
Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena has implemented various initiatives to support the local community and promote social responsibility.
The foundation has established a network of 15 libraries in the province of Siena, providing access to books, educational resources, and cultural events for residents of all ages.
It has also launched a scholarship program for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, aiming to support their academic and professional development.
The foundation has partnered with local universities to create a research center focused on sustainable development and environmental protection.
Through its community outreach programs, Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena has provided support to over 10,000 families in need, offering essential services and promoting social inclusion.
The foundation's initiatives have also included the restoration of historic buildings and cultural heritage sites in the Siena province.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Chi ha fondato Monte dei Paschi?
Monte dei Paschi was founded by the Consiglio Generale della Repubblica di Siena in 1472. This marked the birth of the Monte di Pietà, also known as Monte Pio, to support the local population's needs.
Chi ha assorbito il Monte dei Paschi di Siena?
Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena ha ceduto 50 filiali a Banca CR Firenze, un'azienda del Gruppo Intesa Sanpaolo, per 200 milioni di euro
Chi sono i proprietari di MPS?
The majority shareholder of MPS is the Italian State, holding 11.731% of the company's capital. The Ministry of Economy and Finance has a direct stake in the company.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fondazione_Monte_dei_Paschi_di_Siena
- https://www.ilcittadinoonline.it/cultura-e-spettacoli/la-storia-delle-erogazioni-della-fondazione-mps-dal-1995-ad-oggi/
- https://www.coesoareagr.it/2008/11/05/100mila-euro-dalla-fondazione-monte-dei-paschi-per-la-casa-di-riposo-qferrucciq/
- https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fondazione_Monte_dei_Paschi_di_Siena
- https://bio4dreams.com/en/agreement-fondazione-mps-toscana-life-sciences-startup-ikigai-program/
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