Cáritas Brasileira

What Cáritas Brasileira does

Cáritas Brasileira, founded on November 12, 1956, by Dom Helder Camara as an organism of the Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil (CNBB), is a Brazilian non-profit civil society organization dedicated to humanitarian action, social protection, and advocacy on behalf of populations in vulnerable situations. It operates as one of 170+ member organizations of the global Cáritas Internationalis confederation, providing a coordinated platform across 198 member entities organized into 13 regional divisions (Norte 2, Norte 3, Nordeste 2, Nordeste 3, Ceará, Maranhão, Piauí, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul) and 3 articulations (Norte 1, Noroeste, Rio de Janeiro). The organization's beneficiary population spans migrants and refugees (notably Venezuelans), traditional peoples and communities, children, adolescents and youth (PIAJ program), women facing gender-based violence, family farmers, waste pickers (catadores), and communities affected by socio-environmental disasters.

The organization's core operating model is a decentralized humanitarian service network rather than a technology platform. Its portfolio includes the Rede Cáritas (national member-entity network), Resposta Emergencial (emergency response and multipurpose cash transfers), the Nhandereko-há Amazon cooperation program with Cáritas França, Projeto Comunidade Ativa in partnership with Itaipu Binacional, and program areas covering Economia Popular Solidária, Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional, Migração/Refúgio, Meio Ambiente/Gestão de Riscos e Emergências (MAGRE), and the Infância/Adolescência/Juventude (PIAJ). The reported headcount is 501–1,000 paid staff complemented by 15,000+ volunteer agents mobilized through dioceses, parishes, and community organizations. No proprietary technology platform is described; underlying infrastructure is human-network based, with digital channels (website, social media, podcast, transparency portal) supporting communications and donations rather than service delivery.

Cáritas's revenue model rests on two streams: donations and financial contributions from individuals, organizations, and parishes via PIX, bank deposit, and credit card; and project-based partnerships with international funders (CRS, BMZ/Misereor, EU, USAID, Cáritas France/Germany/Switzerland/Spain, OIM) and Brazilian partners (Itaipu Binacional, Banco do Brasil, Ministério da Cidadania, CIMI, CPT, CNBB's Campanha da Fraternidade). Emergency campaigns such as SOS Venezuela, É Tempo de Cuidar (COVID-19, 2020), and #SOS Bahia/Minas Gerais function as episodic fundraising events. The organization is governed by a board elected every four years (current mandate 2024–2027), led by President Dom Mário Antônio (Archbishop of Aparecida), and certified by Cáritas Internationalis under the Estândares de Gestão framework as of June 2024.

Name

Cáritas Brasileira

Legal name

Cáritas Brasileira

Website

https://caritas.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cáritas Brasileira, founded in 1956 as an organism of Brazil's Catholic Bishops' Conference (CNBB), is a nationwide humanitarian network of 198 member entities serving vulnerable populations—including migrants, traditional communities, disaster-affected families, women, youth, and family farmers—through emergency response, social programs, and advocacy across Brazil.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Emergency response programs
• Disaster relief assistance
• Community development programs
• Social protection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brasilândia

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Financial Contributions: Cáritas raises funds throughPIX transfers, bank deposits, and credit card donations from individuals, organizations, and churches. The organization also receives institutional funding from partners for specific projects.
2. Project-Based Partnerships: Implementation of development and humanitarian projects funded by international organizations, governments, and Catholic institutions, with funds directed to specific programmatic activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Cáritas Brasileira is a Catholic non-profit organization that operates a nationwide network of 198 member entities across 13 regional divisions and 3 articulations in Brazil. It delivers humanitarian emergency response to communities affected by socio-environmental disasters, reception and integration support for migrants and refugees, food security and nutrition programs, social protection for children, adolescents and youth, solidarity economy initiatives, and advocacy for traditional peoples and vulnerable communities. The organization mobilizes more than 15,000 volunteer agents and coordinates with international Cáritas networks, government agencies, and faith-based partners to implement its programs.

Product overview

Cáritas Brasileira operates as a unified charitable and humanitarian service network rather than a technology platform. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of social programs through its national network of 198 member entities, organized across 13 regional divisions and 3 articulations. Core offerings include emergency humanitarian response (Resposta Emergencial), migration support services, community development initiatives (such as Projeto Comunidade Ativa), and thematic program areas covering solidarity economy, food security, environmental management, and youth protection. Special initiatives like the Nhandereko-há Amazon program and SOS Venezuela campaign provide targeted interventions. All programs are delivered through direct social service delivery, volunteer coordination, and partner collaboration—not through a software platform or digital product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 340 families (approximately 1,360 people) assisted with emergency financial transfers of R$ 1,600 each in Porto Velho and Humaitá disaster response
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil (CNBB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cáritas Brasileira is a formal organism of CNBB, the national conference of Catholic bishops. This structural relationship provides institutional framework, access to dioceses and parishes nationwide, and alignment with the Church's social teaching and pastoral priorities.
• Cáritas InternacionalisflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCáritas Brasileira is one of 170 member organizations in the global Cáritas confederation. The relationship includes adherence to international management standards, participation in global humanitarian response coordination, and access to the worldwide network of Cáritas organizations.
• Cáritas FrançacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partnership implementing the Nhandereko-há program for coexistence with the Amazon biome, supporting traditional peoples and communities through international solidarity cooperation.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and technical support for emergency response operations, including disaster relief in Porto Velho (RO) and Humaitá (AM), providing multipurpose financial assistance to affected families.
• Itaipu BinacionalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Projeto Comunidade Ativa in Northern Minas Gerais, promoting community organization through formation, network articulation, and local initiative support over an 18-month implementation period.
• Cáritas AlemanhacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner providing support for programs including the Global Territories for Life initiative, with funding through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
• Cáritas SuíçacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization providing international cooperation and solidarity funding for Brazilian programs.
• Cáritas EspanholacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Cáritas organization engaged in international cooperation and program support.
• Organização Internacional para Migrações (OIM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN migration agency partnership for migration programs, particularly supporting Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Brazil.
• Ministério da Cidadania - Governo FederalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Brazilian federal government ministry for social programs and citizen support initiatives.
• Conselho Indigenista Missionário (CIMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for indigenous rights advocacy and support for indigenous communities.
• Comissão Pastoral da Terra (CPT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Catholic land rights pastoral organization for agrarian issues and rural community support.
• Conferência Episcopal Latino-Americana (CELAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Latin American bishops' conference for regional coordination and shared initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Action Against Hunger: International humanitarian organization focused on hunger, food security, nutrition, and emergency response. Directly comparable to Cáritas Brasileira's Food Security / Segurança Alimentar program area and emergency operations.
• Save the Children: International NGO focused on children's rights and wellbeing with emergency and development programming. Overlaps with Cáritas Brasileira's PIAJ program and broader protection mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Oxfam: Global confederation focused on poverty alleviation, humanitarian response, and advocacy on inequality. Comparable to Cáritas Brasileira on development, disaster response, food security, and rights advocacy.
• World Vision International: Large Christian humanitarian organization focused on child welfare, disaster response, and long-term development with active presence in Brazil. Overlaps with Cáritas on emergency response, child protection (PIAJ), and food security programming.
• Cáritas Internacionalis: Global confederation of 170+ Catholic humanitarian organizations that manages the Estândares de Gestão certification Cáritas Brasileira holds. Functions as both parent network and broader incumbent across the same humanitarian category.

Direct peers

• Catholic Relief Services (CRS): US-headquartered Catholic humanitarian agency operating internationally on emergency response, migration, and development. CRS is currently a direct funding/implementing partner of Cáritas Brasileira, making them direct peers in Catholic humanitarian delivery.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major international humanitarian NGO operating in crisis and post-crisis contexts with migration, emergency response, and recovery programs. Highly comparable to Cáritas Brasileira's emergency response and migration/refugee operations.
• Mercy Corps: International humanitarian and development NGO operating in multiple high-vulnerability regions with comparable emergency response, food security, and resilience programming. Comparable in scale and program diversity to Cáritas Brasileira.

Regional players

• Pastoral da Criança: Brazilian Catholic social action organization focused on children, families and community development, affiliated with CNBB. Sister Catholic organization in Brazil operating with a similar faith-rooted, community-mobilized model.
• Brazilian Red Cross (Cruz Vermelha Brasileira): Brazilian branch of the International Red Cross movement providing emergency response, disaster preparedness, and humanitarian aid throughout Brazil. Directly comparable as a national Brazilian humanitarian responder.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caritasbrasil
• Facebookfacebook.com/caritasbrasileira

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Cáritas Brasileira