Who we are
25 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 or trust in the United States. 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
Alessandra Gadelha
Alexandre Bettamio
Andre Laport
Anya Prusa
Armando Strozenberg
Carlos N. Guimarães
Carmem Barroso
Claudia Lorenzo
Creomar de Souza
Daniela S. Saad Rebouças
Daniel Vorcaro
Daniel Wilkinson
Eduardo Mufarej
Elizeu Chavez Junior
Tiffany Kearney
President & CEO
Fernanda Vidigal
Gilberto Costa
Mônica de Roure
Vice President & Director of Institutional Relations, Brazil
Gilberto Gil
Rebecca Tavares, Ed.D.
Senior Advisor
Aline Silva
Finance and Administrative Manager, Brazil
Jacqueline Pitanguy
Jacqueline Ward
Klicia Oliveira
Mafoane Odara
Mandy Gulbrandsen
Marcus Berto
Marcus Vinicius Ribeiro
Maria Carolina Tavares de Melo
Bruno de Souza Faria
Strategic Partnerships Manager, 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
Fernanda Jaguaribe
Development Consultant, USA
Isabel Clavelin
Manager of the Black Entrepreneurship Fund and the Gender Equity Fund, Brazil
Ricardo Sennes
Roberta Mazzariol
Junior Amaro
Senior Development & Events Consultant, USA
Leila Cocito
Director of Communications, USA
Leonardo Feitosa Leandro
Director, Finance & Administration, USA
Rodrigo Fernandes
Lívia Duarte
Communications Manager, Brazil
Loan Barcelos
Information Analyst, Brazil
Luciana Brajterman
Manager, Development, USA
Mª Cecilia Oswaldo Cruz
Program Director, Brazil
Leona Forman
Founder, BrazilFoundation
Will Landers
Chairman, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors | Executive Director, Young Investors Society
Will Landers
Chairman, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors
Will Landers
Chairman, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors
Will Landers
Chairman, BrazilFoundation Board of Directors
Sergio All
Sonia Consiglio
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.
Janaina (Jana) Hees
Philanthropist, Hees Family Fund
Karen Johnson Lassner
Public Health Management Specialist
Paula Herrera
Donor Services 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
Yasmin da Cunha Paes
Program Analyst, Brazil
Oscar Decotelli
CEO, DXA Invest
Sylvia Brasil Coutinho
Vanessa Gomes
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
Rachel Maia
CEO – Executive & Board Advisor, Vale, UNGC Brasil
Ana Paula Vervloet
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.