The Charter was established during the centenary's celebration of the 1901 Act, as a reciprocal commitments’ Charter inspired by the UK Compact.

This Charter does not define a policy, but rather sets up a partnership framework between the non-profit sector and the public authorities around the following shared principles:
-The non-profit sector must keep the freedom which has founded this sector (it is not so obviouswhen the financial follow up depends on the State…) and among others "the exercise of acritical function which is indispensable for the functioning of democracy";
-Trust and partnership are elements of democratic renewal;
-Relationships are based on contract, duration, transparency and assessment;
-Voluntary work and democracy are the foundations of the non-profit sector (commitment in an association is free and voluntary. It should be facilitated and promoted)
-The non-profit sector contributes to the economic, social and cultural life in France (many associations employ staff today and have therefore an economic role. They are ruled by specific taxation system and must meet some criteria in order to benefit from this system).

The Charter defines also clearly the State commitments on the one hand and the non-profit sector commitments on the other hand. In a few words, the State promotes and facilitates the development of the non-profit sector and gives them room in the local and nationwide consultations. As to the non-profit organisations, they commit themselves to promote ethics of solidarity in their actions and to respect ethics in their financing and transparency in their activity. The Charter presents a partnership framework with reciprocal commitments. Still many French associations demonize the State, and many public bodies consider that associations are incompetent. Moreover, many French associations do not know this text. Although this Charter represents an important reference point for analysing the practices of the State, the territorial public authorities and the associations, and also for deciding about their future, it still needs to be updated and completed under Part V of the Charter.

But the government that came to power in 2002 (right wing) has not made any commitments regarding this text.