Associação Protectora dos Pobres

What Associação Protectora dos Pobres does

Associação Protectora dos Pobres (APP), doing business as APP-IPSS, is a Portuguese Private Institution of Social Solidarity (IPSS) founded on May 2, 1889, and headquartered at Rua Frigorífico 9/13 in Funchal, Madeira. The organization provides integrated social support services to people experiencing poverty, social exclusion, and homelessness across the Funchal municipality. Its service portfolio spans a 24-bed night reception center (plus 4 emergency beds), a dedicated street team (ERSA) for homeless outreach, an occupational workshop for skills development, a social support office, bathhouse and laundry facilities, a daily canteen serving breakfast through dinner, nursing and psychology consultations, and specialized projects including 'Porto Seguro', 'Viver + Vida', and 'A Minha Casinha'. On average, APP delivers 370+ free social supports per day to beneficiaries.

The institution's core technology stack is standard nonprofit business IT infrastructure, with no proprietary platforms, AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or software products; ECAM serves as a contracted IT/data-processing partner for the Sendys Portal client zone. APP is GDPR-compliant under Portuguese CNPD supervision and publishes policies via a WordPress-based website (app-ipss.pt). All services are provided free of charge at the point of use.

APP's revenue model is a mix of voluntary public donations (monetary and in-kind: clothing, food, hygiene products, furniture), the Portuguese fiscal consignment mechanism (1% of taxpayers' IRS contributions, NIF 511 022 859), and government grants — most notably PRR (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência) funding. In 2024, APP secured approximately €46,000 in PRR funds for the 'Intervir+ para agir melhor' project and is separately advancing the 'Acrescentar Valor' project to construct 18 independent housing units. The organization operates with 9 employees and is governed by an independent board; it has no parent company, subsidiaries, or external equity ownership.

Name

Associação Protectora dos Pobres

Legal name

APP-Associação Protectora dos Pobres

Website

https://app-ipss.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Associação Protectora dos Pobres (APP-IPSS) is a 135-year-old Portuguese nonprofit IPSS in Funchal, Madeira, delivering free integrated social services — shelter, meals, hygiene, healthcare, and reintegration programs — to approximately 370 people in poverty and homelessness daily.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Funchal

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Donations: Accepts monetary and in-kind donations (clothing, footwear, appliances, furniture, linens, food, hygiene products, cleaning products, kitchen utensils) from companies, organizations and individuals. Tax deduction declarations available under Portuguese Mecenato law.
2. IRS 1% Consignment: Receives 1% of taxpayers' IRS contributions through the Portuguese fiscal consignment mechanism (Lei do Mecenato). Taxpayer NIF: 511 022 859. No cost to the taxpayer.
3. PRR Funding: Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR) funding for social response strengthening projects including 'Intervir+ para agir melhor' (€46,000 electric vehicle) and 'Acrescentar Valor' for facility expansion.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Associação Protectora dos Pobres is a nonprofit social solidarity institution (IPSS) founded in 1889 and headquartered in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. It delivers free integrated social support services to homeless and deprived populations, including emergency shelter, meals, hygiene facilities, clothing, and social reintegration programs aimed at restoring autonomy and dignity.

Product overview

APP-IPSS is a Private Institution of Social Solidarity (IPSS) offering a comprehensive portfolio of social support services to the most disadvantaged populations in Funchal, Madeira. The organization operates as a single unified social services platform centered around the Centro de Acolhimento Nocturno (Night Reception Center) for homeless individuals, complemented by the Equipa de Rua para Pessoas Sem-Abrigo (ERSA) for street outreach. Core services include the Atelier Ocupacional for skills development, the Gabinete de Apoio Social for social counseling, and essential facilities such as Balneários, Lavandaria, Refeitório, and Rouparia. Health support is provided through nursing and psychology services. The institution also runs specialized projects including 'A Minha Casinha,' 'Porto Seguro,' 'Viver + Vida,' and PRR-funded initiatives 'Intervir + para agir melhor' and 'Acrescentar Valor.' With an average of 370 daily free social supports, the organization serves approximately 370 beneficiaries daily through integrated social intervention programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Services Provides temporary overnight accommodation and safe lodging for homeless individuals and families in crisis.
• Meal and Food Services Provides daily meals and food distribution to homeless and deprived individuals at the institution's facilities.
• Hygiene and Personal Care Facilities Offers access to showers, laundry facilities, and personal hygiene kits for homeless individuals.
• Social Reintegration Programs Provides structured programs to help homeless and deprived individuals regain social autonomy, including counseling, skills development, and pathways to stable housing and employment.
• Street Outreach Services Mobile outreach teams identify and engage homeless individuals on the streets of Funchal, connecting them with the institution's facilities and services.
• Clothing and Material Aid Distribution Distributes clothing, shoes, and basic material goods to homeless and deprived individuals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 370+ daily free social supports provided to beneficiaries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Secretaria Regional de Inclusão, Trabalho e Juventude (SRITJ)coreOthers · 1 January 2025Regional government department that analyzed and approved the association's PRR (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência) funding applications. Provided approximately €46,000 for electric vehicle acquisition under 'Intervir+ para agir melhor' project.
• Secretaria Regional de Educação (SRE)supportingOthers · 1 January 2004Regional Education department that assigned a 1st Cycle Basic Education teacher for continuing education programs at the institution since 2004.
• Centro de Saúde Bom JesussupportingOthers · 1 January 2000Public health center that assigned a Public Health Nurse to provide health support services at the institution since 2000, facilitating healthcare access for beneficiaries.
• ECAMsupportingOthersTechnology/data processing partner that handles personal data for the institution's operations. Manages the Sendys Portal client zone platform. Committed to not transferring or selling personal data.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa: Portuguese Red Cross chapter operating emergency social assistance, shelters, and humanitarian aid nationwide. Comparable as a major incumbent in emergency relief and social support services for vulnerable populations.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa: Portugal's largest historical IPSS operating shelters, social services, and healthcare across multiple regions. Directly comparable as an IPSS providing integrated social support to vulnerable populations, though at vastly larger national scale.
• Cáritas Portuguesa: National Catholic charity network providing emergency relief, food assistance, and social reintegration. Comparable as a Portuguese nonprofit offering basic-needs and social-inclusion services to deprived populations.

Emerging players

• Fundação Portuguesa «A Comunidade Contra a SIDA»: Portuguese foundation focused on vulnerable populations including those experiencing homelessness and social exclusion. Comparable as a nonprofit providing social support to marginalized groups.

Direct peers

• Misericórdia do Funchal: Local Funchal branch of the Santa Casa network providing social services in the Madeira region. Directly comparable as a regional IPSS operating in the same geography and serving similar beneficiary populations.
• Associação CAIS: Portuguese nonprofit dedicated to social reintegration of homeless and excluded people through housing-first programs. Directly comparable in mission (homeless reintegration) and integrated service model.
• Comunidade Vida e Paz: Lisbon-based nonprofit specialized in homeless outreach, night shelters, and reintegration programs. Directly comparable in core mission (homeless services) and operating model (street teams plus residential shelter).
• AMI - Assistência Médica Internacional: Portuguese humanitarian NGO focused on social exclusion, homelessness, and vulnerable populations. Comparable as a nonprofit providing integrated services to those in social exclusion, including shelter and reintegration.
• Cáritas Diocesana do Funchal: Madeira regional arm of Cáritas providing social support services in the same Funchal market. Directly comparable as a local competitor for donations, IRS consignments, and government social-services contracts in the same territory.

Regional players

• Centro Social Paroquial de São Martinho: Parish-based IPSS in Funchal providing social support services including food aid and elderly care. Comparable as a regional social services provider competing in the same Funchal donor and beneficiary pool.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associa%C3%A7%C3%A3o-protectora-dos-pobres

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Associação Protectora dos Pobres