Friends of Fondation de France is thrilled to announce that Victoria B. Bjorklund, JD, PhD, Secretary of our board, will be presented with the insignia of Knight of the Légion d’Honneur on Wednesday, September 10th, 2025.
Victoria’s role as board member of Friends of Fondation de France has been fundamental since its inception. Her dedication to advancing French-American philanthropy has spanned decades, contributing to vital support for French charitable initiatives across sectors ranging from health care to cultural institutions, in parallel to her involvement with American nonprofits. In recognition of her unwavering commitment to building French-American ties through philanthropy and for her exceptional service to French projects, Friends of Fondation de France nominated her to receive the Légion d’Honneur, the most prestigious decoration in France.
Created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Légion d’Honneur recognizes exceptional civil and military contributions of outstanding merit to France. Awards are not conferred by application—recipients must be nominated by French ministers or by members of the Order itself, and are formally approved by the President of the Republic. The awards, presented in the name of the French nation, are France’s highest distinction. Recognition of non-French citizens is a particular honor, not only because it is rare, but also because it symbolizes the strength of the ties between our countries and the important role of the recipient in promoting them.
Victoria’s career reflects this longstanding dedication and service for philanthropic causes. Victoria is a Retired Partner at the NYC office of the international law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where she founded and for 30 years headed the Firm’s Tax-Exempt Organizations Group. She taught the Law of Nonprofits at Harvard Law School for 9 years.
In 1989, Victoria helped found Doctors Without Borders USA and today chairs its Board of Advisors. In 2000, she provided legal support to create Friends of Fondation de France and has served as Secretary of its Board of Directors for the past quarter-century. She also handled legal matters to create the Friends of the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES) and American Friends of the Louvre, where she remains a Director Emerita. She served on the founding board of Le Fonds de Dotation du Louvre. She also serves as a director on the Boards of the Robin Hood Foundation, the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and previously served on the Board of Princeton University, where she still co-chairs the University’s Planned Giving Advisory Committee.
As Friends of Fondation de France celebrates its 25th birthday, we are deeply proud to honor Victoria on the occasion of our anniversary celebration event at Villa Albertine in New York. It is only fitting that we inaugurate an evening dedicated to French-American philanthropy by recognizing not only her invaluable contributions to Friends of Fondation de France, but to advancing the entire sector. We express our deepest gratitude to Victoria, who is exceedingly deserving of this recognition, for all she has done to advance French-American philanthropy.
Victoria’s award will be presided over by Cédrik Fouriscot, Consul General of France in New York, and introduced by speeches by Axelle Davezac, President of the Board of Friends of Fondation de France, and Dr. Francis Charhon, Member of the Board of Friends of Fondation de France. The ceremony will set the tone for a festive evening celebrating 25 years of Friends of Fondation de France, featuring a panel conversation reflecting on French-American philanthropy and the powerful ties between both countries strengthened by generosity.
We look forward to celebrating this exceptional honor together on September 10th at Villa Albertine. Congratulations, Victoria, and thank you!
