Section actions
Duration: Member: 2–10 h/month; volunteer: 4–20 h/month; executive: 10–40 h/month
Cost: Contribution 5–50 €/year; managers — time and responsibility
Possible online
Who this guide is for
Section actions
- If you want to join an association (sport, culture, parents of students, social)
- You if you want to become a leader of an association and understand your responsibilities
- You if you ask for naturalization and want to prove a citizen engagement
To be prepared in advance
Section actions
- List of your interests and your available time
- Contribution budget (5–50 €/year)
- Consciousness that lead = responsibility (legal and financial)
Step-by-step procedure
Section actions
- 1Define the form of engagement: (1) active member — participate in activities, vote in AG; (2) volunteer — give time for missions; (3) executive — sits on the board of directors (chair, treasurer, secretary).
- 2Find an association: town hall (Maison des Associations), Facebook, francebenevolat.org. Common types: sports (FFT, FFB), parents of pupils (FCPE, PEEP), culture (mediatheque, choir), social (Restos du Coeur, Secours Populaire), foreigners (Russian Circle, regional Russian-speaking associations).
- 3Become a member: fill out the membership form (in an agency or online), pay the membership fee (5–50 €/year). Receive membership card and access to activities. You can join several associations.
- 4Volunteer: Tell the manager your willingness to help. Describe your skills (translation, conduct, accounting, animation). Sign a volunteer agreement for coverage and reimbursement of expenses.
- 5Managing Director: Generally after 1–2 years in the association, you can be elected to the board of directors at the general meeting. Roles: Chair (Directorate), Treasurer (Finance), Secretary (Administrative).
- 6Manager's responsibility: in case of financial error — personal liability if not managed. The association must take out a liability insurance of the directors ('50–200 €/year').
- 7General Assembly (AG) — mandatory annual meeting. The members voted: moral relations/treasurery, renewal of the council, amendment of the statutes. The VP is a mandatory document.
- 8For naturalisation: a certificate of participation (member/volunteer/leader) is a strong proof of citizen integration. Keep the certificates of several associations.
Common mistakes
Section actions
- Become a leader too quickly without understanding responsibility — financial risks.
- Do not check the status of the association: a for-profit association can be re-qualified as a company — tax risks.
- To believe that a member does nothing: his or her vote in the AG counts, without quorum decisions are void.
- Do not apply for a certificate for naturalization: written proof is required.
- Make a decision to the board without a VP — none, risk in case of dispute.
Official sources
Section actions
Show sources in this section
Important remark
The associations are governed by the 1901 law. Indicative information; for the statutes and responsibilities of the directors, consult a lawyer.
Did this guide help you?
Thank you! Signal transmitted anonymously if the statistics are enabled.
Have you noticed a mistake?
The message opens in your email with the page, address and context. Vitalpes does not store the report on the site.
