Who we are

24 years of changing lives in Brazil through strategic philanthropy

BrazilFoundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting social change and development in Brazil. By supporting initiatives that address critical social issues, BrazilFoundation empowers individuals and communities to create lasting positive impact.

What we do

Our Investment Program

With a proven successful methodology, we promote integration between financial and technical resources to solutions offered by CSOs to generate positive social and environmental impact in Brazil. We provide an investment strategy to achieve the best social returns for your donations.

Thematic Funds

Black Entrepreneurship

Gender Equity

Environment & Climate Change

Education

Our Services

DAF

Establish a DAF, use tax benefits, and create a philanthropic legacy. You can set up a Distributable Fund or an Endowed Fund and recommend distributions according to your charitable goals for future generations. Donors recommend organizations to receive funds, and we operate the review process.

Strategic Partnerships/ESG

Invest with BrazilFoundation for a more profound, strategic impact in your field of interest or geographic region. We select grantees, provide capacity building, and promote knowledge sharing. This mechanism is effective in addressing funding shortages in strategic areas.

Designated Funds

Designated Funds manage international donations to benefit a specific Brazilian civil society organization. A Designated Fund is established with an initial donation from the organization itself or donor contributions.

Pass-Through Gifts

A simple and tax-efficient way to support Brazilian organizations of your choice anytime. We perform all due diligence.

Other ways to support

Endowment Fund

Help guarantee BrazilFoundation’s long-term sustainability and create permanent impact by donating to our Pooled Endowment Fund.

Fundraising Events

Join dozens of global banks, airlines, luxury brands, and philanthropists who have sponsored our flagship events. Individuals or groups can also create their fundraisers to assist BrazilFoundation.

Matching Gift

More than 20,000 companies match their employees’ contributions to nonprofit organizations, multiplying their donations with the Matching Gift Program. You can also multiply your donation.

Planned Giving

Perpetuate your vision of a fairer Brazil. Include BrazilFoundation as a beneficiary in your will, retirement plan, or life insurance policy. Your support will be a legacy of contribution to our mission and to the country.

Crowdfunding

Create your own fundraising campaign and mobilize friends and colleagues to contribute. Fundraise around your birthday or other special occasions.

Donate

Collaborate with our mission, help leverage ideas, and drive resources to organizations that strive to change lives in Brazil.

Mission

BrazilFoundation mobilizes resources to invest in actions that transform Brazil. We connect leaders and civil society organizations with global support networks that promote equity, socio-environmental justice, and opportunities in Brazil.

Vision

To be the go-to specialists for advancing socio-environmental equity and justice through Brazilian philanthropy.

Values

Trust 
Racial and gender equity, socio-environmental justice 
Respect, Dialogue, and Collaboration 
Excellence and Transparency

History

Years ago, due to an initiative by Leona Forman, some friends got together in New York to discuss how they could contribute to a better Brazil. The idea was to build a support network with leaders and initiatives working to transform the country. That plan became the basis for what BrazilFoundation is today. The initial aim remains: to identify and support solutions that allow a future of equal access, social justice, and opportunities for all Brazilians

Leona Forman
Founder of BrazilFoundation

Our community

  • Adriana Carvalho

  • 

Foto: Antonio Milena
/11-9935 3710
/11-3872 8248
a.milena@uol.com.br
www.antoniomilena.com.br

    Alexandre Bettamio

  • Andre Laport

  • Armando Strozenberg

  • Carlos N. Guimarães

  • Carmem Barroso

  • Claudia Lorenzo

  • Creomar de Souza

  • Daniela S. Saad Rebouças

  • Daniel Wilkinson

  • Eduardo Mufarej

  • Rebecca Tavares, Ed.D.

    President & CEO

  • Elizeu Chavez Junior

  • Fernanda Vidigal

  • Mônica de Roure

    Vice President & Director of Institutional Relations, Brazil

  • Gilberto Gil

  • Aline Silva

    Financial and Accounting Coordinator, Brazil

  • Jacqueline Pitanguy

  • Jacqueline Ward

  • Klicia Oliveira

  • Mafoane Odara

  • Mandy Gulbrandsen

  • Marcus Vinicius Ribeiro

  • Maria Carolina Tavares de Melo

  • Bruna Lessa

    Executive Assistant, EUA

  • Bruno de Souza Faria

    Strategic Partnership Coordinator, Brazil 

  • Mauricio da Silva

  • Mauricio Morato

  • Catia Costa

     Finance & Admnistration Director, Brazil 

  • Meliza Diamond

  • Otaviano Canuto

  • Patricia Cavalcanti Lobaccaro

  • Paula Bezerra de Mello

  • Paulo Ribeiro

  • Rejane de Paula

  • Danielle Diniz

    Administrative and Human Resources Assistant, Brazil

  • Isabel Clavelin

    Manager of the Black Entrepreneurship Fund and the Gender Equity Fund, Brazil

  • Ricardo Sennes

  • Roberta Mazzariol

  • Leila Cocito

    Head of Communications , USA

  • Leonardo Feitosa Leandro

    Director, Finance & Administration, USA

  • Lili Martins

    Director of Donor Services, USA

  • Lívia Duarte

    Communications Coordinator, Brazil

  • Loan Barcelos

    Project Monitoring Assistant, Brazil

  • Luciana Brajterman

    Manager, Development, USA

  • Mª Cecilia Oswaldo Cruz

    Program Director, Brazil

  • Leona Forman

    Founder, BrazilFoundation

  • Will Landers

    Chairman, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Managing Partner, BTG Pactual

  • Will Landers

    Chairman, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Managing Partner, BTG Pactual

  • Will Landers

    Chairman, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Managing Partner, BTG Pactual

  • Will Landers

    Chairman, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Managing Partner, BTG Pactual

  • Sergio All

  • Sonia Consiglio

  • Steven Wann

  • Pedro Lichtinger

    Vice-Chairman, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | President & CEO, Asterias Biotherapeutics

  • Sueli Carneiro

  • Ricardo Puggina

    Treasurer, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs

  • Marcello Hallake

    General Counsel, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Partner, DLA Piper

  • Marcello Hallake

    General Counsel, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Partner, Jones Day

  • Marcello Hallake

    General Counsel, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Partner, Jones Day

  • Marcello Hallake

    General Counsel, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Partner, Jones Day

  • Thomas A. Shannon, Jr.

  • Bruno Simonato

    Managing Director, Head of EMEA & LatAm Equity Sales for North America at Bank of America Securities

  • Claudia Amboss

    Interior Designer & Event Planner, Projecta Interior Design

  • Cristiana Mascarenhas

    Head Designer, In Plus Inc.

  • Daniel Vorcaro

    President, Banco Master

  • Gilberto Costa

    Executive Director, JP Morgan/ International Private Bank LATAM and Global Families Group Operations Lead

  • Janaina (Jana) Hees

    Philanthropist, Hees Family Fund

  • Karen Johnson Lassner

    Public Health Management Specialist

  • Paula Herrera

    Development Manager, Brazil

  • Karin Dauch

    Journalist and Real Estate Agent

  • Karin Dauch

    Journalist and Real Estate Agent

  • Karin Dauch

    Journalist and Real Estate Agent

  • Karin Dauch

    Journalist and Real Estate Agent

  • Maria Nazareth Farani de Azevedo

    CEO and Partner of Atrium Constructions

  • Tiffany Kearney

    Development Director, USA

  • Marcus Berto

    Director, Lorinvest

  • Yasmin Cunha Paes

    Project Analyst, Brazil

  • Oscar Decotelli

    CEO, DXA Invest

  • Sylvia Brasil Coutinho

  • Wania Sant’Anna

  • Edmar Lisboa Bacha

    Rio de Janeiro

  • Edmar Lisboa Bacha

    Rio de Janeiro

  • Edmar Lisboa Bacha

    Rio de Janeiro

  • William Ballantyne

  • Eduardo Soares

  • Márcio Villas Boas Passos

  • 20/02/2021 Rachel Maia - RM Consulting. Foto: Claudio Gatti

    Rachel Maia

    CEO – Executive & Board Advisor, Vale, UNGC Brasil

Be part of it

Join our network of collaborators

Be a Volunteer

If you’re interested in volunteering, please send an email with your name, location, phone number and areas of interest to volunteers@brazilfoundation.org.

Work with us

Our offices are located in New York and Rio de Janeiro. Be part of our team and contribute to constructing a fairer Brazil.