In France, the foundation is the act by which one or many persons decide the irrevocable assignment of goods, rights or resources to the realisation of a project of general interest and non-profit. There are a number of types of foundations and funds in France, namely: public utility foundations (fondations reconnues d’utilité publique), corporate foundations (fondations d’entreprise), sheltered foundations (fondations abritées) under the aegis of a few public utility foundations, foundations for scientific cooperation (fondations de coopération scientifique), university foundations (fondations universitaires), partnership foundations (fondations partenariales), hospital foundations (fondations hospitalières) and endowment funds (fonds de dotation).