BrazilFoundation
BrazilFoundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that mobilizes global philanthropic resources to fund vetted Brazilian civil society organizations, having directed US$61 million to 1,069 organizations across 333 cities over 26 years.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What BrazilFoundation does
BrazilFoundation is a 26-year-old US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit philanthropic foundation headquartered in New York City (EIN 13-4131482) that mobilizes international resources to fund vetted Brazilian civil society organizations (OSCs). Its core function is intermediation: connecting individual, family, and corporate donors — primarily in the US and Brazil — with a curated network of 1,069 Brazilian nonprofits across 333 cities via grantmaking, due diligence, and impact monitoring. The organization has directed US$61 million of cumulative philanthropic capital since 2000 and holds Charity Navigator 4-star (2025), Candid Gold Transparency (2023), and Melhores ONGs recognitions as evidence of operational credibility.
The foundation's product portfolio is built around multiple complementary giving vehicles: one-time and recurring online donations, a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) launched in 2024, thematic funds (Luz Alliance Fund for ecosystem restoration across Brazil's seven biomes, Fundo de Mulheres for women's empowerment, Fundo Minas for socio-environmental initiatives, Rio Grande do Sul emergency relief), planned giving, corporate matching gift programs spanning 20,000+ companies, and annual gala fundraising events in New York, São Paulo, Miami, and (newly) Trancoso. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is the operational and reputational infrastructure for cross-border philanthropy.
BrazilFoundation's revenue model is entirely donation-based, with no products or services sold. Contributions are accepted via credit card, bank transfer, stock, cryptocurrency, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, all tax-deductible for US donors. The Gala series — with the New York Gala positioned as a flagship international philanthropic event for Brazil — functions as the primary annual fundraising engine, supplemented by corporate sponsorships from a broad roster of partners (Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Itaú Social, Microsoft, Google, Apple, Starbucks Foundation, Mubadala Capital, BTG Pactual, B3, and others). Headcount is modest at 11–50 employees, reflecting an asset-light model that outsources program delivery to its grantee network.
BrazilFoundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BrazilFoundation
- Legal name
- BrazilFoundation
- Website
- https://brazilfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BrazilFoundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that mobilizes global philanthropic resources to fund vetted Brazilian civil society organizations, having directed US$61 million to 1,069 organizations across 333 cities over 26 years.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BrazilFoundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Grantmaking Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)
Keywords
Where BrazilFoundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
BrazilFoundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations (Individual & Corporate): BrazilFoundation receives charitable contributions from individual donors, families, and corporations. Donations can be made as one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, or annual commitments. The foundation is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 13-4131482), making contributions tax-deductible for US donors.
- Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Management: BrazilFoundation offers DAF accounts allowing individuals, families, and companies to make tax-deductible contributions, receive immediate tax benefits, and recommend grants to Brazilian civil society organizations over time. The foundation manages all administrative tasks including donation processing, record keeping, and tax documentation.
- Philanthropic Event Revenue: Gala events (New York, São Paulo, Miami, Trancoso) serve as major fundraising vehicles. Since 2003, more than 40 events have been held, generating substantial donations for Brazilian social initiatives. The XXI New York Gala 2026 at The Plaza Hotel exemplifies this flagship event model.
- Planned Giving / Legacy Donations: BrazilFoundation accepts planned gifts through wills, retirement plans (IRA QCDs), and life insurance policies, allowing donors to create a lasting philanthropic legacy in Brazil.
- Corporate Partnerships & Matching Gifts: Corporate partners support the foundation through strategic partnerships, annual donations, and employee matching gift programs. More than 20,000 companies participate in matching gift programs that double or triple employee donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | One-time or recurring charitable donations (no fixed tiers) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
BrazilFoundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BrazilFoundation is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that mobilizes charitable resources from individual donors, families, and corporations and channels them as grants to Brazilian civil society organizations. Its offering centers on a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), thematic funds (e.g., Luz Alliance Fund), one-time and recurring donation programs, planned giving, corporate matching gift administration, and annual gala fundraising events. The foundation performs due diligence, monitoring, and reporting on grantees operating across 333 cities in Brazil.
Product overview
BrazilFoundation is a nonprofit philanthropic organization structured as a 501(c)(3) charity under US tax code (EIN 13-4131482) that operates as a unified platform connecting global philanthropy with Brazilian civil society. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of giving mechanisms including its core donation platform (one-time and recurring donations), the Donor Advised Fund (DAF) as its primary philanthropic vehicle, Thematic Funds such as the Luz Alliance Fund for environmental restoration, Matching Gift and Planned Giving programs for legacy contributions, and annual Gala events in major cities as flagship fundraising initiatives. These products work together to mobilize resources, provide tax-efficient giving options, and direct funding toward organizations promoting equity, socio-environmental justice, and opportunity across Brazil.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Luz Alliance Fund: Supporting organizations working to preserve and rehabilitate ecosystems for the good of both people and nature, investing in social-environmental initiatives to help restore and preserve 7 Brazilian biomes.
- Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
- Fundo de Mulheres (Women's Fund)
- Fundo Minas
Products and services
- Donor Advised Fund (DAF) A flexible and efficient vehicle for managing philanthropic investments in Brazil, allowing individuals, families, and companies to make tax-deductible contributions and recommend grants to Brazilian civil society organizations over time, with BrazilFoundation handling administration, record keeping, and tax documentation.
- Luz Alliance Fund Thematic fund supporting organizations working to preserve and rehabilitate ecosystems, investing in social-environmental initiatives to restore and preserve Brazil's seven biomes.
- Recurring / Monthly Donations Program Monthly donation program allowing donors to provide ongoing, recurring support to BrazilFoundation to fund transformative initiatives across Brazil.
- Planned Giving / Legacy Donations Legacy giving program allowing donors to include BrazilFoundation as a beneficiary in their will, retirement plan (IRA QCDs), or life insurance policy to create a lasting philanthropic legacy in Brazil.
- Corporate Matching Gift Program Program through which more than 20,000 participating companies match their employees' contributions to BrazilFoundation, potentially doubling or tripling donations.
- Thematic Funds Portfolio Portfolio of themed funds supporting specific causes including environmental preservation (Luz Alliance Fund), women's empowerment (Fundo de Mulheres), and regional initiatives such as the Rio Grande do Sul emergency relief fund and Fundo Minas.
- Philanthropic Gala Events Annual fundraising gala events held in New York, São Paulo, Miami, and Trancoso that mobilize resources for Brazilian civil society organizations, combining ticket sales, auctions, donor honorees, and cultural performances. The New York Gala is described as one of the leading international philanthropic events dedicated to Brazil.
Quantifiable outcome
- US$ 61 million invested in Brazilian civil society over 26 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use BrazilFoundation
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BrazilFoundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
BrazilFoundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Rede ComuáminorRede Comuá is listed as a supporting partner, appearing as a community/network ally.
- US Embassy in Brazil (Embaixada dos EUA)minorThe US Embassy in Brazil is listed as a supporter, reflecting the binational nature of BrazilFoundation's mission.
- BM&F B3 (BM&FBovespa)coreIn 2015, BrazilFoundation announced a partnership with BM&F B3 (now B3) through which 20 projects supported by BrazilFoundation per year would have their second year guaranteed via B3's donation platform.
- Instituto Capim SantominorInstituto Capim Santo partnered with BrazilFoundation to co-host the inaugural Gala Trancoso in April 2026, celebrating local culture and philanthropy in Bahia.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
BrazilFoundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Charities Aid Foundation America: CAF America is a US-registered 501(c)(3) that helps US donors give internationally with grantmaking, due diligence, and donor-advised services. Highly comparable to BrazilFoundation's model of routing US philanthropy to vetted grantees abroad, with overlapping DAF-like capabilities.
- American India Foundation: AIF is a US-based 501(c)(3) that mobilizes resources for India-focused development, with galas, corporate partners, and grantee support. Structurally analogous to BrazilFoundation as a country-affinity, US-domiciled international grantmaking platform with event-driven fundraising.
- Give2Asia: Give2Asia facilitates cross-border philanthropy from US and Asian donors to grantees across Asia. Directly comparable to BrazilFoundation in the cross-border grantmaking, donor advisory, and compliance support it provides for US donors giving into a specific region.
- National Philanthropic Trust: NPT is one of the largest US DAF sponsors and a major grantmaking infrastructure provider. Directly comparable to BrazilFoundation in the DAF and donor-advised giving space, though operating at materially larger scale and as a more general-purpose vehicle.
- American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee: JDC is a US-based international grantmaking and humanitarian organization with 100+ years of cross-border giving infrastructure. Comparable to BrazilFoundation in its model of US-domiciled funding routed to vetted international grantees with deep partner networks.
- Global Fund for Women: Global Fund for Women is an international grantmaking foundation that channels donor funds to women-led organizations globally, with thematic funds and a donor-advised component. Comparable to BrazilFoundation in operating thematic grant portfolios (e.g., Fundo de Mulheres) and routing international donor capital to local grantees.
Regional players
- Fundação Lemann: Fundação Lemann is one of Brazil's largest private foundations, focused on Brazilian education and social development. Comparable to BrazilFoundation as a Brazil-focused, large-scale grantmaking foundation, but operating from inside Brazil with a primarily domestic donor base.
- Itaú Social: Itaú Social is a Brazilian corporate foundation and core partner of BrazilFoundation. Comparable as a major Brazil-focused grantmaking foundation, but is domestically structured and corporate-funded, in contrast to BrazilFoundation's binational donor model.
Broad incumbents
- Ford Foundation: Ford Foundation is one of the largest US-based international grantmaking foundations, with a global thematic portfolio including Brazil. Comparable to BrazilFoundation in mission and grantmaking posture, but operates at a vastly larger scale and across many regions.
Emerging players
- Rainforest Foundation US: Rainforest Foundation US funds indigenous-led conservation across tropical forests, including the Amazon. Comparable to BrazilFoundation's Luz Alliance Fund in its focus on Brazilian ecosystems and the use of grantmaking to support local organizations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BrazilFoundation social profiles
Digital presenceBrazilFoundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
BrazilFoundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BrazilFoundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
BrazilFoundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BrazilFoundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BrazilFoundation
What does BrazilFoundation do?
BrazilFoundation is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that mobilizes charitable resources from individual donors, families, and corporations and channels them as grants to Brazilian civil society organizations. Its offering centers on a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), thematic funds (e.g., Luz Alliance Fund), one-time and recurring donation programs, planned giving, corporate matching gift administration, and annual gala fundraising events. The foundation performs due diligence, monitoring, and reporting on grantees operating across 333 cities in Brazil.
Is BrazilFoundation a public or private company?
BrazilFoundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BrazilFoundation founded?
BrazilFoundation was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BrazilFoundation based?
BrazilFoundation is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does BrazilFoundation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations (Individual & Corporate) is the primary driver. The others are donor Advised Fund (DAF) Management, philanthropic Event Revenue, planned Giving / Legacy Donations and corporate Partnerships & Matching Gifts.
Who are BrazilFoundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Charities Aid Foundation America, American India Foundation, Give2Asia, National Philanthropic Trust, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Global Fund for Women. Regional players are Fundação Lemann and Itaú Social. Ford Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Rainforest Foundation US is listed as an emerging player.
Does BrazilFoundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for BrazilFoundation.
What industry is BrazilFoundation in?
BrazilFoundation's product category is Philanthropic Grantmaking Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAH, International Grantmaking & Development Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAF, Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors. Its NAICS code is 813211.