Associação CAIS

What Associação CAIS does

Associação CAIS is a Portuguese non-profit social solidarity association founded in 1994 and headquartered in Lisbon at Rua do Vale Formoso de Cima 49-55, with a regional center in Porto at Rua da Ribeira Negra 55. Its mission is to improve the living conditions of people experiencing homelessness, social and economic vulnerability, and exclusion. The organization operates through three flagship programs: Revista CAIS (a monthly street magazine published since 1994 and sold by beneficiaries across Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, and Almada, with 70% of the €2 sale price paid directly to vendors), Futebol de Rua (a street football initiative launched in 2004 that prepares Portugal's national team for the Homeless World Cup, achieving 2nd place in Oslo in 2025 and 5th in Seoul in 2024), and CAIS Recicla (a Porto-based eco-design workshop launched in 2011 that transforms discarded corporate materials into notebooks and stationery). Over three decades the association has supported more than 18,000 beneficiaries and operates 38 reintegration projects through work and sport.

The service stack combines in-person support at its two physical centers with structured employability programs including PLAY (with BP Portugal), Bootcamp, REconectar (launched November 2024 with Central de Cervejas, Turismo de Portugal/EHTL, and AHRESP for the hospitality sector), CAIS CAPACITA+, and EUSOUDIGITAL digital literacy (financed by Portugal 2020/Fundo Social Europeu). Supporting programs include financial literacy sessions, the REFLEX photography prize (co-organized with novobanco), the recently launched PodCAIS podcast, and the Museu CAIS 30 Anos virtual museum. Technology is intentionally light: the CaisJOB digital employment-matching platform, a Mailchimp-based newsletter, Google Ads for campaign management, and email-based e-commerce for CAIS Recicla products.

CAIS is funded through a diversified mix of individual and corporate donations, magazine and CAIS Recicla product sales, EU and Portuguese government grants (Portugal 2020/FSE), corporate co-funding of training programs (BP Portugal, Central de Cervejas, Fundação "la Caixa" via the Incorpora program which CAIS coordinates in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area), and membership fees. Major institutional partners include BP Portugal, novobanco, BPI/Fundação "la Caixa," FIFA Foundation, UEFA Foundation, the Portuguese Football Federation, and Fundação Benfica. The organization employs approximately 34 staff and is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors, most recently renewed in January 2026 under President Matilde Cardoso. Impact data for 2024 reports 187 beneficiaries reintegrated into the labor market.

Name

Associação CAIS

Legal name

Associação CAIS

Website

https://cais.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Associação CAIS is a Lisbon-based non-profit founded in 1994 that combats social exclusion through street magazine sales, street football, eco-design workshops, and employability training programs serving vulnerable populations across Portugal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Inclusion & Employability Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Social inclusion programs
• Employability training services
• Street magazine publishing
• Social reintegration programs
• Community support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Revista CAIS Street Sales: The monthly CAIS Magazine is sold on the street by supported individuals. 70% of the €2 sale price goes directly to the vendor, providing a primary income source for many beneficiaries. Remaining revenue supports association operations.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The association accepts financial donations from individuals and companies to sustain its projects. Donations are explicitly referenced as an important revenue source.
3. CAIS Recicla Product Sales: The CAIS Recicla workshop produces and sells eco-design products (notebooks, cards, limited-edition collections) made from recycled/discarded materials, generating revenue while providing vocational training.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Companies such as BP Portugal, novobanco, BPI/Fundação la Caixa, and others provide financial support, in-kind contributions, and co-funded programs (PLAY, Bootcamp, REconectar) in exchange for CSR association with CAIS's social mission.
5. Membership Fees: Annual, semi-annual, or monthly membership fees from associates, generating financial documents and recurring revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Associação CAIS is a non-profit social solidarity association that delivers social inclusion services for people at risk of social and economic exclusion in Portugal. Its flagship offerings are the Revista CAIS monthly street magazine (70% of each €2 sale going to the vendor), the Futebol de Rua street football project producing the Portuguese national Homeless World Cup team, and the CAIS Recicla eco-design workshop transforming partner-company waste materials into notebooks and artisanal products. Complementary employability and digital-inclusion programs (PLAY-BP, Bootcamp, REconectar, CAIS CAPACITA+, EUSOUDIGITAL) and the CaisJOB platform connect beneficiaries with corporate partners.

Product overview

Associação CAIS is a non-profit social solidarity institution founded in 1994, with no commercial technology product offering. Its portfolio consists entirely of social programs aimed at improving the living conditions of people at risk of social exclusion. The core offerings include the Revista CAIS (a monthly street-vended social magazine, 1994), the Projeto Futebol de Rua (street football for social inclusion, 2004), and CAIS Recicla (a social workshop transforming waste into ecodesign products, 2011). Employability programs include CAIS Job (digital employment platform), Formação PLAY–BP Portugal, Bootcamp, REconectar, EUSOUDIGITAL (digital literacy), CAIS CAPACITA+, and financial literacy sessions. Special projects include the Museu CAIS 30 Anos, the REFLEX photography award, and PodCAIS podcast. CAIS also coordinates the Incorpora Portugal program of Fundação 'la Caixa' in Lisbon. The organization's social programs are delivered through two physical centers in Lisbon and Porto, supplemented by digital and outreach initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PLAY: Training program for employment in partnership with BP Portugal, providing personal, social, and technical-professional skills to people at risk of social exclusion.
• Bootcamp
• REconectar
• Museu CAIS
• REFLEX - Prémio de Fotografia CAIS
• CaisJOB
• EUSOUDIGITAL

Products and services

• Revista CAIS (Street Magazine)

Quantifiable outcome

• 187 people reintegrated into the labor market in 2024
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• novobancocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 January 2025novobanco has partnered with CAIS since the inception of the REFLEX photography prize. As co-sponsor, novobanco hosts the annual exhibition on Campus Taguspark, provides prize awards, and benefits from CSR association with CAIS's social mission.
• Central de Cervejas e BebidascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2024Central de Cervejas co-founded the REconectar program with CAIS, Tourism of Portugal (EHTL), and AHRESP to train and employ vulnerable people in the hospitality sector. The pilot edition had 10 participants with 44 hours of training followed by 160 hours of internship.
• BP PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2020BP Portugal sponsors the PLAY training program at CAIS centers, which equips vulnerable people with personal and professional skills for employment at BP service stations. BP also sponsors CAIS Bootcamp programs.
• Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPF partners with CAIS on the Street Football project, providing institutional support, training facilities, and recognition. FPF's Gala Quinas de Ouro awarded the project the Prémio Futebol Inclusivo in 2017. The Foundation Benfica facility was used for national team preparation for HWC 2025.
• Fundação BenficacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundação Benfica provides training facilities for the Portuguese Street Football national team ahead of international competitions (HWC). The partnership includes hosting team preparation and providing sporting infrastructure.
• IPDJ (Instituto Português do Desporto e da Juventude)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIPDJ supports the Street Football project through the Programa Nacional de Desporto para Todos and the European Week of Sport initiatives.
• Adecco PortugalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdecco actively supports CAIS's employability mission, collaborating on placement of vulnerable individuals into the labor market.
• Turismo de Portugal / Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Lisboa (EHTL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEHTL provides certified training for the REconectar program, offering course certification in Restaurant/Bar Service including food safety, for CAIS participants entering the hospitality sector.
• AHRESP (Associação da Hotelaria, Restauração e Similares de Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHRESP participates in the REconectar program as an industry association, facilitating connections between CAIS-trained participants and hospitality employers.
• Grupo DiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrupo Dia partnered with CAIS for the 'Comer melhor cada Dia' food literacy initiative, conducting 5 workshops at CAIS Lisbon with chef Igor Martinho and creating a social grocery with Minipreço products.
• Metro do PortominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMetro do Porto collaborated with CAIS Recicla to produce new products under the CAIS Recicla seal, using Metro's discarded materials for eco-design items.
• EPAL (Águas de Lisboa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPAL partnered with CAIS for the 'Make a Circular Wave' project, transforming obsolete EPAL materials (lonas, books, flyers) into sustainable merchandise products through the CAIS Recicla workshop.
• Homeless World Cup Foundation (HWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHWC organizes the annual Street Football World Cup. CAIS is responsible for selecting and preparing the Portuguese national team for the championship since 2004. Portugal has participated in all HWC events since 2004.
• Palácio do Correio VelhominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with CAIS for the CAIS Urbana art auction, hosting the physical presentation at Museu Nacional dos Coches and facilitating the online auction of urban art pieces.
• Street Soccer USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreet Soccer USA co-hosted the 2023 Homeless World Cup in Sacramento with California State University and the HWC Foundation.
• Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (ARAF) – Associação Portuguesa de Árbitros de FutebolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAF works with CAIS on the Street Football project, providing referees and arbitration training. Luciano Gonçalves (APAF President) has over 15 years of involvement and serves on CAIS's Consultative Council.
• Aliança ODS Portugal / United Nations Association – UNA Portugal / APEEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCAIS formalized membership in the Aliança ODS Portugal in 2023 and signed the Compromisso GPP (Governance for People and Planet) at the UN Association Portugal ceremony, committing to SDGs 1, 4, 12, and 16.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/associacaocais
• Instagraminstagram.com/caisfutebolderua
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associacao-cais

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Associação CAIS