Instituto Cores do Mará
Instituto Cores do Mará is a Maranhão-based non-profit founded in 2018 that delivers free, protagonist-centered socio-emotional education and literacy programs to children and adolescents in underserved communities, operating from its São Luís headquarters and through partnerships with public schools statewide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSão Luís, Brazil
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Instituto Cores do Mará does
Instituto Cores do Mará is a non-profit social organization founded in 2018 by social worker Duci França in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. It designs and delivers socio-emotional education and literacy programs for children and adolescents from underserved communities in Maranhão, using a protagonist-centered pedagogy that combines creative, active, and humanizing approaches with cultural content drawn from the identity and traditions of the local territory. The organization operates two delivery channels: directly from its headquarters in the Anil neighborhood of São Luís, and embedded within public schools across Maranhão through partnerships with the Municipal Secretary of Education (SEMED) and the State of Maranhão's IEMA.
The core "product" is a methodology rather than a software platform: codified in a published Methodology document and supported by an in-house team of approximately 20 educators, coordinators, analysts, assistants, and volunteers. The organization publishes audited financial statements and activity reports covering 2020–2025 on a public Transparency Portal, and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 NGOs in Brazil and the Best NGO in Maranhão in 2025 by the Best NGOs Award.
The business model is a donation-and-grant funded non-profit: all programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries, with revenue sourced from individual donations (recurring via Mercado Pago), institutional partnerships (notably Criança Esperança and Instituto Ultra), and government and foundation grants managed by a dedicated Incentivized Projects and Grants function. The organization is governed by an Advisory Council and Ethics Committee and holds the State Public Utility Title from CMDCA/MA, conferring eligibility for tax-advantaged donations and public funding.
Instituto Cores do Mará firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Instituto Cores do Mará
- Legal name
- Instituto Cores do Mará
- Website
- https://coresdomara.org.br
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Instituto Cores do Mará is a Maranhão-based non-profit founded in 2018 that delivers free, protagonist-centered socio-emotional education and literacy programs to children and adolescents in underserved communities, operating from its São Luís headquarters and through partnerships with public schools statewide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Instituto Cores do Mará industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Non-profit Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- School Climate, Culture & Belonging Initiatives (DEI-Aligned) (EDAKAMAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)
Keywords
Where Instituto Cores do Mará is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- São Luís
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Instituto Cores do Mará business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Accepts donations through Mercado Pago subscription platform, enabling recurring support from individual donors.
- Partnerships and Grants: Receives support from institutional partners including Criança Esperança, Instituto Ultra, and others for project implementation.
- Incentivized Projects and Grants: Manages incentivized projects and grant applications through dedicated staff for government and private foundation funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free educational programs for children and adolescents |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Instituto Cores do Mará product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Instituto Cores do Mará delivers free socio-emotional education and literacy programs, combined with artistic and cultural projects, for children and adolescents from underserved communities in Maranhão, Brazil. Programs are offered both at the organization's headquarters in São Luís and through partnerships with public schools, using creative, active, and humanizing approaches rooted in the cultural identity of the territories served.
Product overview
Instituto Cores do Mará is a non-profit social organization founded in 2018 that provides educational, artistic, and cultural programs for children and adolescents in Maranhão, Brazil. The organization operates through its core Educational Programs focused on socio-emotional education and literacy, supplemented by Artistic and Cultural Projects that explore local traditions and history. Programs are delivered both at the organization's headquarters and in partnership with public schools, using creative, active, and humanizing approaches that consider the identity and cultural elements of the territories served.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Educational Programs (Socio-emotional Education and Literacy) Free socio-emotional education and literacy programs for children and adolescents from underserved communities in Maranhão, Brazil, delivered at the organization's headquarters in São Luís and in partnership with public schools. Uses creative, active, and humanizing approaches rooted in the cultural identity of the territories served.
- Artistic and Cultural Projects Artistic and cultural programs that immerse children and adolescents in the traditions and history of Maranhão, enriching their knowledge of local culture, strengthening identity, and supporting holistic development.
Quantifiable outcome
- 175+ students impacted
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Instituto Cores do Mará
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Instituto Cores do Mará technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Instituto Cores do Mará partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Criança EsperançamajorInstitutional partnership providing support for educational projects for children and adolescents in Maranhão.
- SG CompliancecoreCompliance partner providing integrity and governance support. Hosts the organization's compliance portal. Awards the Integrity Highlight Award to Cores do Mará.
- VitalmedminorInstitutional partner supporting educational and social programs.
- CopiarminorInstitutional partner providing support for organizational activities.
- HRmioneminorInstitutional partner supporting human resources and organizational development.
- IEMAmajorEducational institution partner in Maranhão for implementing and delivering educational programs to students.
- SEMEDmajorMunicipal Secretary of Education partner for implementing programs in public schools throughout São Luís and Maranhão.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Instituto Cores do Mará competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gerando Falcões: Brazilian non-profit operating in favelas and underserved communities with education, leadership, and citizenship programs for children and youth — directly comparable mission, target population, and community-based delivery model to Cores do Mará.
- Associação Nova Escola: Brazilian education non-profit producing teacher resources and classroom content focused on public-school quality — comparable target audience and methodology emphasis on the same public-school network Cores do Mará operates within.
Broad incumbents
- Instituto Unibanco: Brazilian institute focused on youth education and public-school innovation, including socio-emotional competencies — directly comparable SEL-in-public-schools methodology at greater scale.
- Instituto Natura: Brazilian institute focused on education, socio-emotional development, and youth protagonism in public schools — strongly aligned methodology with Cores do Mará's protagonist-centered SEL approach.
- Fundação Lemann: Major Brazilian education foundation funding public-school reform and leadership development — operates as a funder and capacity-builder with overlapping focus on quality public education for underserved youth.
- Fundação Roberto Marinho: Major Brazilian foundation investing in education, culture, and youth development — overlapping mission around socio-emotional and cultural education for youth from low-income communities.
- Instituto Ayrton Senna: One of Brazil's largest education-focused NGOs, working with public schools on socio-emotional development, literacy, and youth leadership — comparable in methodology (SEL in public schools) but operates at a national scale far above Cores do Mará.
- Todos pela Educação: Brazilian education advocacy movement focused on quality public basic education — comparable public-policy focus on improving educational outcomes for the same underserved populations.
- Ashoka Brasil: Brazilian arm of global social-entrepreneurship network supporting changemakers in education and community development — comparable in mission to support innovative social leaders like founder Duci França.
Others
- Criança Esperança: Long-running Brazilian UNICEF/TV Globo partnership that funds youth-development projects across Brazil — directly comparable as a peer funder/ecosystem partner already supporting Cores do Mará.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Instituto Cores do Mará social profiles
Digital presenceInstituto Cores do Mará financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Instituto Cores do Mará leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Instituto Cores do Mará funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Instituto Cores do Mará 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 Instituto Cores do Mará
What does Instituto Cores do Mará do?
Instituto Cores do Mará delivers free socio-emotional education and literacy programs, combined with artistic and cultural projects, for children and adolescents from underserved communities in Maranhão, Brazil. Programs are offered both at the organization's headquarters in São Luís and through partnerships with public schools, using creative, active, and humanizing approaches rooted in the cultural identity of the territories served.
Is Instituto Cores do Mará a public or private company?
Instituto Cores do Mará is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Instituto Cores do Mará founded?
Instituto Cores do Mará was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Instituto Cores do Mará based?
Instituto Cores do Mará is headquartered in São Luís, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
How does Instituto Cores do Mará make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are partnerships and Grants and incentivized Projects and Grants.
Who are Instituto Cores do Mará's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gerando Falcões and Associação Nova Escola. Broad incumbents are Instituto Unibanco, Instituto Natura, Fundação Lemann, Fundação Roberto Marinho, Instituto Ayrton Senna, Todos pela Educação and Ashoka Brasil. Criança Esperança is listed as an others.
Does Instituto Cores do Mará have an API?
No public API is recorded for Instituto Cores do Mará.
What industry is Instituto Cores do Mará in?
Instituto Cores do Mará's product category is Non-profit Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAMAM, School Climate, Culture & Belonging Initiatives (DEI-Aligned), with a secondary code of EDALAHAF, Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.