Fundação UNITATE

What Fundação UNITATE does

Fundação UNITATE is a private Portuguese social solidarity foundation (IPSS), founded in October 2013 and headquartered in Vila Viçosa, Alentejo. Its mission is the development of Portugal's Social Economy, executed through three integrated intervention areas: capacity building (training and incubation), direct social action, and cultural programming. The foundation supports approximately 1,500 IPSS (Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social) nationwide through training, compliance support, and collaborative networks, and operates six Social Action Units plus the mobile Social Van across the Alentejo region serving elderly populations, people with disabilities, children, and families.

The foundation's core platform is the UNITATE Campus in Borba — a 45,000 m² facility described as the world's first campus dedicated exclusively to the social sector — housing the IFES (Instituto de Formação para a Economia Social) training institute, a congress center, coworking spaces, and a Startup Portugal-accredited social incubator. Product lines include advanced IFES specializations (€350–€380 per course, online), the Rede IPSS+ collaborative network, the Social Mais Edições publishing arm, the Centro Capacitar disability support center, the Laços de Sabedoria CLDS-5G active-aging program, the Geração UNITATE intergenerational volunteering program, the upcoming 21-bed Palliative Care Unit São Carlo Acutis in Pardais, and the UNITATE Café community hospitality concept.

Fundação UNITATE's revenue model blends public co-financing (Segurança Social operating contracts, PRR and Portugal 2030 capital grants, FSE+ project funding — including a €4.9M public works contract consigned in August 2025 and a €475,200 CLDS-5G award), competitive grant funding (€45,000 from BPI Fundação 'la Caixa' in 2023, €5,000 from Caixa de Crédito Agrícola in 2025), fee-based training (€350–€380 per IFES course), small-ticket donations (€2 TODOS UNITATE bracelet), and earned revenue from the planned UNITATE Café. GTM is community-led and event-driven, with strategic alliances to municipalities (Vila Viçosa, Borba), national networks (Startup Portugal, Centro Português de Fundações), and technology/legal partners (KGSA Advogados, Laika Ventures, Nespresso).

Name

Fundação UNITATE

Legal name

Fundação UNITATE

Website

https://unitate.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fundação UNITATE is a Portuguese IPSS foundation that supports ~1,500 social solidarity institutions nationwide through training (IFES), incubation, and direct service delivery from its 45,000 m² UNITATE Campus in Borba and six social action units across the Alentejo region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services / Social Economy Development

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening) (BPADAEAC), Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL)

Keywords

• Social economy training
• Elderly care services
• Palliative care services
• Social entrepreneurship incubation
• Civil society capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Vila Viçosa

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Training and Professional Services: Revenue from specialized training programs including the IFES (Instituto de Formação para a Economia Social) offering courses such as Specialization in Technical Direction of Social Responses (€380), Specialization in People Management and Team Leadership in IPSS (€350), and initial palliative care courses.
2. Social Services Provision: Operating social responses including creches, day care centers, residential structures for elderly, home support services, and palliative care units with public co-financing through PRR (Portugal Recovery and Resilience Plan) and Portugal 2030.
3. TODOS UNITATE Campaign: Solidarity campaign selling bracelets for €2 to directly support foundation social projects, mobilizing communities around inclusion and care.
4. Incubation Services: Incubation center at UNITATE Campus accredited by Startup Portugal's Rede Nacional de Incubadoras (RNI), supporting social entrepreneurship projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fundação UNITATE is a non-profit IPSS (Private Institution of Social Solidarity) foundation that delivers training and capacity-building programs for Portuguese social sector organizations (IPSS), operates social services (elderly care, day centers, residential care, home care, palliative care, disability support) across the Alentejo region, and runs the world's first 45,000 m² campus dedicated exclusively to the social sector (UNITATE Campus in Borba), which combines a training institute (IFES), social innovation lab, social incubator, and direct social services under a single integrated ecosystem.

Product overview

Fundação UNITATE is a social economy foundation (based in Vila Viçosa, Alentejo, founded 2013) offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services spanning the full social sector value chain. Its core platform is the UNITATE Campus in Borba — the world's first campus dedicated exclusively to the social sector — which houses the IFES training institute (Instituto de Formação para a Economia Social), a congress center, coworking spaces, a social incubator (accredited by Startup Portugal), and emerging social service responses (creche, collaborative housing, home care). The Foundation's product portfolio includes: (1) IFES training programs (advanced specializations in Technical Direction of Social Responses, People Management & Team Leadership in IPSS, and Aging/Mental Health/Dementias); (2) the UNITATE Café community café concept (hospitality + culture + Café Memória); (3) Rede IPSS+ collaborative network for IPSS institutions; (4) Social Mais Edições publishing for social sector technical materials; (5) Bolsa de Recrutamento for social sector talent; (6) the Centro de Incubação e Empreendedorismo Social for social startups; (7) the TODOS UNITATE solidarity campaign; (8) the Geração UNITATE inter-generational volunteer program; (9) five Unidades de Ação Social (social action units in Vila Viçosa, Évora, Vendinha, Redondo, Machede) providing day care, elderly residential, home care, and disability transport; (10) the Sala Snoezelen multisensory therapy room; (11) the Laços de Sabedoria CLDS 5G social inclusion program; (12) the Centro Capacitar disability support center; and (13) the upcoming Unidade de Cuidados Paliativos São Carlo Acutis (21-bed palliative care). The Foundation also supports approximately 1,500 IPSS across Portugal and operates social transport (Social Van) serving ~250 beneficiaries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IFES: Instituto de Formação para a Economia Social - training institute for social economy professionals
• Rede IPSS+
• Social Mais Edições

Products and services

• UNITATE Campus A 45,000 sqm campus in Borba (Alentejo), the first campus in the world dedicated exclusively to the social sector. Hosts the IFES training institute, congress center, coworking spaces, a social incubator (accredited by Startup Portugal), social innovation lab, and social service responses including creche, collaborative housing, and home care services.
• IFES - Instituto de Formação para a Economia Social The Foundation's training institute for the social economy, created in 2020. Offers advanced specialization programs, workshops, and action-training courses for IPSS professionals and social sector workers across Portugal.
• Especialização em Direção Técnica de Respostas Sociais Advanced specialization program (8 sessions, 32 hours, €380) for Technical Directors and Technical Teams of social responses, addressing licensing, internal regulations, leadership, HR management, communication, and individual care plans. 7th edition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 1,500 IPSS supported nationwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KGSA AdvogadoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2024Partnership with KGSA Advogados (law firm) and Laika Ventures to develop AI-powered WhatsApp support for Social Security requirements. KGSA authored the 'Guia das Exigências em Estabelecimentos de Apoio Social e IPSS'. KGSA founders (José Manuel Simões de Almeida and Inês Krusse Gomes) honored with Centro de Congressos KGSA naming at UNITATE Campus.
• Segurança Social (Instituto da Segurança Social)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2024Formal partnership with Segurança Social for operating social responses (creches, day centers, ERPI, SAD, etc.) under official protocols and co-financing agreements through PRR and Portugal 2030.
• Município de Vila ViçosacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for multiple initiatives including CLDS-5G Laços de Sabedoria project, donation of former Pardais primary school building for Palliative Care Unit, joint events including Christmas Concert at Santuário Nacional da Padroeira.
• Município de BorbacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership for UNITATE Campus development and local social infrastructure projects.
• Startup PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial accreditation of UNITATE Campus Incubation Center as member of Rede Nacional de Incubadoras (RNI), providing network access and support for social entrepreneurship.
• Centro Português de Fundações (CPF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Convention for Implementation of ODS (Sustainable Development Goals), joining 30+ foundations committed to UN global development goals. Signed June 3 at Museu do Oriente, Lisboa.
• Junta de Freguesia de PardaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Initial Palliative Care course delivery at parish facilities, and future operations of Palliative Care Unit São Carlo Acutis.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Castro MarimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Estrutura Residencial e Centro de Dia 'José Cabrita' for development of first Portuguese specialization in Aging, Mental Health and Dementias for IPSS professionals.
• Agrupamento de Escolas de Vila ViçosaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for presentation of Geração UNITATE volunteering program and intergenerational activities between foundation and school community.
• Centro Social Paroquial do CampinhominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-institutional partnership for São Martinho celebrations, promoting interaction between generations and community integration.
• Nespresso (Nestlé)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNespresso Corner established at UNITATE Campus providing café service for visitors and campus users, enhancing the hospitality aspect of the campus.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome: Portuguese food bank network supporting vulnerable populations through food distribution and social programs. Comparable as a national social services organization with broad community reach and volunteer-based programs.

Direct peers

• Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto: Regional IPSS in northern Portugal providing social services including elderly care, healthcare, and community programs. Comparable institutional model and service portfolio to Fundação UNITATE's Alentejo operations.
• AMI - Assistência Médica Internacional: Portuguese humanitarian NGO providing healthcare, social support, and capacity building for vulnerable populations in Portugal and abroad. Comparable as a non-profit social services organization with multi-vertical operations.
• Cáritas Portuguesa: National Catholic-inspired social services organization providing direct social assistance, training, and capacity building for vulnerable populations in Portugal. Closely comparable mission-driven model with similar focus on community empowerment and poverty alleviation.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa: One of Portugal's largest IPSS-equivalent organizations operating social services (elderly care, healthcare, social support) across multiple facilities. Directly comparable to Fundação UNITATE as both provide a multi-vertical social services portfolio under a centuries-old institutional model, though at significantly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa: Portuguese Red Cross chapter providing social services, healthcare, training, and emergency response nationwide. Larger incumbent with similar direct-service-plus-training model and broad community-facing programs.
• Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian: Portugal's largest private foundation with extensive grantmaking, social programs, arts/culture funding, and capacity building for civil society organizations. Comparable as a major Portuguese foundation but operates at far greater scale with broader thematic scope.
• Fundação EDP: Corporate foundation of EDP providing social investment, training programs, and community development across Portugal. Comparable as a Portuguese foundation with capacity building focus, though corporate-backed with broader energy sector mandate.
• Fundação Champalimaud: Portuguese foundation focused on biomedical research and healthcare, including palliative care programs. Comparable as a foundation operating in the palliative care space, though with very different scale and healthcare-research focus.

Others

• Centro Português de Fundações: Umbrella association representing Portuguese foundations, coordinating joint initiatives including the SDG Implementation Convention. Direct strategic partner of Fundação UNITATE and comparable as a sector-coordinating body for Portuguese foundations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/geracao.unitate
• Xx.com/unitate_pt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fundação UNITATE