The money is preferable in poverty, it would be only for financial reasons . This quotation of Woody Allen sums up well enough the long history of the associative world since "good works" - in charitable dimension up to the management of economic activities generating 1,7 million jobs today. She also sums up the current state of mind of the association Офис-holders.

The eleventh edition of our magazine " The community life " leans on an unpublished inquiry having solicited opinion and evidence of 1150 association Офис-holders. Results are peremptory: for the representatives for associative structures, the needs of financing are more and more important. They are to put in perspective with the increase of the social needs which have to face associations. And their uncertainties are not any more linked to a situation but to reappraisals of the models of financing which predominated until then.

We always determine more associations but analyses show a more and more strong competition for the access to financings. In this context, groups will not be able to compensate any more for the disengagement of the State. The private financings, in increase, will remain concentrated on a number restrained by associations

These predictions are not however fatalists: to consolidate financial relations with authorities while developing the access to resources deprived, concrete solutions exist.

We chose to give word, with complete freedom, to associative actors, experts, academics and elected representatives so that they manifest of this key instant associative history.

Next October, we hope of the report of parliamentary mission on the financing and the gouvernance of associative structures for prospective tracks. For the end of the year, we wait that the national Conference of the community life, under the aegis of the President of the Republic, takes into account the proposals of the organised associative world.

JACQUES HENRARD