Its mission is to promote the French language and Francophone cultures in the Capital Region, as well as intercultural exchanges, within the context of the international network of the Alliance Française[1]

Marguerite La Follette served as President and Executive Director of the Alliance Française de Washington from June 1963 until 1989.

The Alliance also offers the Test d'évaluation du français certificate (TEF), a diploma delivered by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris.

L'Alliance Française de Washington offers a wide variety of social activities and cultural events, including lectures, concerts, films, exhibits, guided tours to museums, "wine and cheese" parties, and discussion groups.

Major past events include writers Amélie Nothomb, Andrei Makine, Michel Houellebecq and Bernard Werber, Le Monde Cartoonist Plantu, Singers Les Nubians and Angelique Kidjo, Jazz musicians Jacky Terrasson and Guillaume de Chassy.

The main goal of this program is to bring an initiation to the French language and Francophone world to underprivileged elementary students in DC public schools (DCPS.)

In addition to on-site collections, the Alliance offers access to the first French e-library in the United States, Culturethèque, with more than 200 magazines and newspapers, e-books, bandes dessinées, and music.

The Alliance communicates regularly to 25,000 individuals through mailed brochures, blast e-mails, its website, a blog, and via Facebook and Twitter.