HISTORY
Our History
1994
Barça was ahead of its time when it created its Foundation in 1994
THE BIRTH
18 July 1994
On this day, the FC Barcelona Foundation was officially constituted with a multi-faceted board and the intention to represent the widest spectrum of what FC Barcelona means, integrating people from all fields of arts and culture, as well as from civil society and experts in the management and development of foundations. The Foundation was made possible thanks to the contributions (limited to 9,000 pesetas per person) of almost 25,000 people.
The Foundation shifts towards social endeavours and the needs of the community
DECISIVE CHANGES - 2003
From 2003, the Foundation took a complete turn and began focusing on serving as a social institution. It was sensitive to the changing times and oriented its work on the needs of the community. Overseas, the Foundation started heading in another direction, and also an unprecedented one, by working in liaison with NGOs.
Historic agreement with UNICEF
SIGNATURE - 2006
On September 7, 2006, the FC Barcelona Board of Directors and the Barça Foundation signed a historic agreement with UNICEF at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Barça shirt would be emblazoned with the UNICEF logo. This gesture was accompanied by an annual donation of 1.5 million euros and the commitment to adhere to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. To make the structure of this redefined model coherent, FC Barcelona decided to allocate 0.7% of its ordinary income to the Foundation.
Players donate 0.5% to the Foundation
A GESTURE OF SOLIDARITY - 2009
Sandro Rosell proposed a motion, which was passed, that all professional athletes and coaches at the club should voluntarily donate 0.5% of their income to the Foundation. This charitable gesture was the first of its kind in the football world.
Sport for Development
UNITED NATIONS 2030 AGENDA IN 2018
In 2018 the Barça Foundation and UNICEF forged a joint agreement for investigation into Sport for Development (SD4), which aims to use sport as a tool to prevent violence and improve social inclusion and access to education.
Barça and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) join forces
GLOBAL ALLIANCE - 2022
On 16th June 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland, FC Barcelona and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR/ACNUR) signed a historic agreement that ensured the Club’s women’s and men’s football teams would wear the UNHCR/ACNUR logo on their shirts. The goal of this alliance is to increase awareness of the cause of refugees among football fans around the world, while the projects supported by the FC Barcelona Foundation aim to improve the lives of displaced children and young people. These projects are focused on education, health and equal opportunities, with a particular emphasis on gender equality and diversity. The FC Foundation and UNCHR/ACNUR work together on projects in Uganda, Colombia, Türkiye and Malaysia.