Fondazione Sicilia

Fondazione Sicilia

Fondazione Sicilia was established in 1991. It functions as a banking-origin foundation with a mandate to support cultural preservation, education, and regional development in Sicily. Maria Concetta Di Natale became president in 2024, succeeding Raffaele Bonsignore who held the role from 2016 to 2024. The foundation holds direct ownership of Palazzo Branciforte, valued at $26 million, and Villa Zito. It also controls the Collezione Archeologica Ignazio Mormino with over 4,700 artifacts and a painting collection of more than 300 works. Additional positions include a 30 percent stake in Civita Sicilia S.r.l. and a 10.43 percent holding in Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. Geographic focus remains Sicily with limited exposure elsewhere in Italy. It participates in venture strategies at seed and early stages alongside its real-asset holdings. The foundation employs no disclosed professional investment staff count. It maintains membership in ACRI and the Consulta delle Fondazioni di origine bancaria della Sicilia. In May 2024 it sponsored the Premio Letterario Internazionale Mondello. Service providers include BDO Italia S.p.A. as investment advisor since 2023. Fondazione Sicilia operates through 100 percent ownership of an operating subsidiary, Sicily Art and Culture s.r.l., which manages commercial activities tied to its cultural sites. This structure separates philanthropic programming from revenue-generating operations at Palazzo Branciforte.