Fundação LIGA

What Fundação LIGA does

Fundação LIGA is a Portuguese private charitable foundation, constituted as an Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social (IPSS) with Utilidade Pública status, founded in 1956 and headquartered in Lisbon. It delivers disability and senior-services across four intervention areas: Saúde e (Re)Habilitação (Health and Rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration, and Snoezelen multisensory rooms), Desenvolvimento Pessoal e Social (personal/social development through CACI day programs, Clube Sénior, and Casa das Artes with the internationally active Plural inclusive dance company), Formação Profissional e Emprego (DGERT-certified vocational school, Centro de Recursos, and the OED employment operation), and Acessibilidade e Vida Autónoma (LIGA Acesso consulting, Selo Acesso, Casa Aberta housing adaptations, Tecnoteca assistive-equipment lending, Centro Prescritor SAPA prescriptions, and Serviço de Apoio Domiciliário home care). Sub-brands include Casa das Artes, Plural, LIGARTE, Galeria O Corredor, LIGA Acesso, Tecnoteca, Centro de Recursos, and OED.

The revenue model is hybrid and characteristic of a Portuguese IPSS: approximately €2.42M of total public financial support was received in 2024 from Instituto da Segurança Social, IEFP, and Câmara Municipal de Lisboa for core social responses and vocational training. This is supplemented by transaction-based catering and event services (integrating vocational-school trainees), subscription-based Casa das Artes classes (~€35/participant/month), transactional Loja Virtual sales of handcrafted products at comprasolidaria.pt, Clube dos Amigos memberships, IRS 1% taxpayer designations, and tax-deductible donations/legacies. Distribution is omnichannel: direct service delivery at Lisbon headquarters, home-visit services, mobile equipment lending, e-commerce, facility rental (auditorium, training rooms, polyvalent hall), and referral-driven intake through municipal, healthcare (SNS/ADSE), and education partners (Escola Superior de Dança, Instituto Superior Técnico). Customer segments span four primary personas (autonomous seniors 65+, children 0-6 with developmental needs, adults 16+ with severe functional limitations, job seekers with disabilities) plus secondary segments for corporate catering/CSR and accessibility consulting.

The organization's competitive position rests on regulatory certification (EQUASS Assurance Level I, DGERT training entity, IPSS, Utilidade Pública), deep institutional relationships (128 partner entities in 2015, including co-funding protocols with INR, IEFP, ISS, CML), durable commercial-artistic partnerships (Vista Alegre Atlantis since 2012, Fundação AGEAS, Escola Superior de Dança since 2000), and consistent mainstream-media visibility on Portuguese television networks. Key risks are funding concentration on two Portuguese public bodies, geographic concentration in the Lisbon metropolitan area, and structural nonprofit governance constraints on capital-raising flexibility. The foundation celebrated its 70th anniversary in April 2026 with the conference 'Capacitar Vidas, Transformar Futuros' and recently expanded the +Talento employment-readiness program across Centro de Recursos and CACI.

Name

Fundação LIGA

Legal name

Fundação LIGA

Website

https://fundacaoliga.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fundação LIGA is a 70-year-old Portuguese charitable IPSS in Lisbon delivering health, rehabilitation, vocational training, accessibility, arts, and senior services to children and adults with disabilities and seniors. Revenue relies primarily on government grants from Instituto da Segurança Social and IEFP, supplemented by catering, workshops, donations, and a virtual store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding - Instituto da Segurança Social: Co-funding from Centro Distrital de Lisboa do Instituto da Segurança Social for social responses including Intervenção Precoce na Infância, Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão, Serviço de Apoio Domiciliário, and Clube Sénior. Total public support in 2024: €2,424,091.76.
2. Government Funding - IEFP: Funding from Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional for professional training and employment insertion programs. In 2024: €1,132,691.74.
3. Catering and Event Services: Catering services for receptions, honor ports, group lunches and dinners, coffee breaks, parties, and other events. Includes product delivery to homes or companies. Integrates professionals and trainees from the vocational school.
4. Arts Classes and Workshops: Casa das Artes offers classes in Plastic Expression, Ceramics, and Contemporary Dance at approximately €35/participant/month. Open to general public.
5. Virtual Store Sales: Online and physical sales of artistic and handcrafted products from ateliers (plastic arts, ceramics, sewing, and cardboard), contributing to the foundation's self-sustainability.
6. Clube dos Amigos Membership: Monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual membership contributions supporting foundation activities for improving quality of life and empowerment of children, youth, or adults with functional limitations.
7. IRS 1% Donation: Portuguese taxpayers can designate 1% of their IRS to the foundation (NIF: 504 852 728) at no cost, with donations applied to programs and social responses.
8. Donations and Legacies: Monetary donations eligible for up to 25% IRS deduction for individuals and 140% cost deduction for corporate donors under Portuguese philanthropy law.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fundação LIGA is a Portuguese non-profit social solidarity institution (IPSS) providing comprehensive social services for people with disabilities and seniors across the Lisbon metropolitan area. Its core offerings span health and rehabilitation, personal and social development programs, vocational training and employment insertion, and accessibility consulting and assistive products. Commercial activities including catering services and a virtual store selling handcrafted products supplement government funding to support the foundation's social mission.

Product overview

Fundação LIGA is a private social solidarity institution (IPSS) with 70 years of history offering a comprehensive range of social services for people with disabilities and their families. The organization operates as a multi-service platform organized into four main intervention areas: Saúde e (Re)Habilitação (Health and Rehabilitation), Desenvolvimento Pessoal e Social (Personal and Social Development), Formação Profissional e Emprego (Vocational Training and Employment), and Acessibilidade e Vida Autónoma (Accessibility and Autonomous Living). The services portfolio includes specialized programs such as the Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão (CACI), Clube Sénior, Casa das Artes with its PLURAL dance company and LIGARTE artist program, Escola de Produção e Formação Profissional, Centro de Recursos, and LIGA Acesso accessibility consulting. Additional services encompass Tecnoteca equipment lending, Catering, and a Virtual Store. The organization also provides home care, assistive products prescription, and employment support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LIGA Acesso: Accessibility consulting service providing expertise in physical, communicational, and equipment accessibility domains.
• Casa das Artes
• PLURAL | Companhia de Dança
• LIGARTE
• Galeria O Corredor
• Tecnoteca
• Centro de Recursos
• OED - Operação de Emprego para Pessoas com Deficiência

Products and services

• Saúde e (Re)Habilitação Health and rehabilitation program providing clinical and therapeutic services to people of any age with temporary or permanent functional alterations, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, functional rehabilitation, and autonomy. Includes specialty consultations, therapeutic interventions, and agreements with SNS (National Health Service) and ADSE.
• Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão (CACI) Program directed at people over 16 years with alterations in body functions and structures and severe limitations in personal and social autonomy, focusing on the singularity of each person through various therapeutic and occupational activities, autonomy training, and social inclusion.
• Clube Sénior Social program for people aged 65 or over who remain physically and mentally autonomous, providing psychosocial support, recreational activities, cultural events, community participation, and intergenerational volunteering in western Lisbon.
• Casa das Artes Cultural and artistic sector promoting opportunities for creative development of people regardless of age or functional condition, encompassing ateliers in ceramics, plastic arts, and contemporary dance, the PLURAL dance company, and the LIGARTE artist program with regular exhibitions at Galeria O Corredor.
• Escola de Produção e Formação Profissional Vocational training school for qualification and economic-social insertion of young people and adults with disabilities, operating under DGERT certification. Offers certified courses in areas such as textile, restoration, graphic arts, hospitality, and administration.
• Centro de Recursos para a Qualificação e o Emprego Accredited resource center providing Information, Assessment, Orientation and Qualification for Employment (IAOQE) services, Job Placement Support (AC), and Post-Placement Follow-up (APC) for people with disabilities. Includes the Estágio +Talento program supporting social inclusion.
• Operação de Emprego para Pessoas com Deficiência (OED) Employment operation resulting from a protocol between Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, IEFP, and Fundação LIGA, focused on professional insertion of people with disabilities in various economic sectors.
• LIGA Acesso Accessibility consulting service ensuring quality of access in physical, communicational, and equipment domains, developing partnerships for action implementation. Includes the Selo Acesso project identifying accessibility characteristics in organizations.
• Centro Prescritor de Produtos de Apoio Prescription center for assistive products, integrated in the Sistema de Atribuição de Produtos de Apoio (SAPA) network as a specialized center for motor disabilities.
• Serviço de Apoio Domiciliário Home care service providing individualized and personalized care at home and outside for people with disabilities or conditional mobility, including hygiene, meals, and accompaniment.
• Programa Casa Aberta Program resulting from a cooperation protocol between Fundação LIGA and Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, adapting Lisbon city housing and access for people with conditional mobility.
• Tecnoteca Equipment lending service providing temporary loans of assistive products such as walkers, wheelchairs, articulated beds, crutches, and bathroom chairs.
• Serviço de Catering Catering service for receptions, honored ports, group lunches and dinners, coffee breaks, parties and other events, integrating professionals and trainees from the vocational school.
• Loja Virtual (Virtual Store) Online store selling artistic and craft products made by clients at the ateliers (plastic arts, ceramics, sewing, and cardboard), contributing to the self-sustainability of Fundação LIGA.
• Intervenção Precoce na Infância (SNIPI) Early childhood intervention program for children 0-6 years with severe functional alterations, covering Cascais, Amadora, Sintra, Oeiras, Odivelas, and Loures through Local Intervention Teams (ELI). Family-centered intervention includes psychology, social work, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% participant satisfaction in Capacitar é Ganhar Saúde health project
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fundação AGEAScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Long-standing partnership with Fundação AGEAS for the 'Adote um Avô' (Adopt a Grandfather) initiative, which combats social isolation in seniors through volunteer telephone companionship. AGEAS has reinforced support for those in need and homeless people through partnerships and initiatives targeting isolated elderly populations.
• Fundação REPSOL and REPSOL PortuguesacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Funding partnership for the Sala Snoezelen project inaugurated July 24, 2015. The multisensory therapeutic room serves youth and adults with severe functional alterations through sensory stimulation.
• Vista Alegre AtlantiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership since 2012 to promote visibility of LIGARTE artists through reproduction of their works on Vista Alegre Atlantis products. Developed partnerships with various companies for commemorations, events, and employee gifts.
• Escola Superior de Dança/Instituto Politécnico de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Regular partner since 2000 for the Plural inclusive dance company. Joint development of inclusive dance projects including Palcos da Diversidade, Dança+, and DIVER.CIDADE. The partnership integrates performers with and without functional alterations.
• Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional (IEFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment employment and training institute providing funding and credentialing for Centro de Recursos and professional training programs (OED - Operação de Emprego para Pessoas com Deficiência).
• Instituto da Segurança SocialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial security institute co-funding multiple social responses including Intervenção Precoce na Infância, Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão, Serviço de Apoio Domiciliário, and Clube Sénior. €1,280,025.02 in 2024 support.
• Câmara Municipal de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLisbon municipal government partner for Casa Aberta housing adaptation program and OED employment operation. Also partnered for Projeto DIVER.CIDADE and Dança+ dance projects.
• Instituto Nacional para a Reabilitação (INR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational rehabilitation institute co-funding multiple projects including Palcos da Diversidade (2015), Dança+ (2014), DIVER.CIDADE (2013), Acessibilidades Bibliotecas (2012), DOCacesso (2014), Mais Participação (2012), and Alavanca.
• Centro Português de DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial co-developer of the Selo Acesso project, later taken over exclusively by Fundação LIGA. The project identifies accessibility characteristics in organizations and distinguishes good practices.
• Fundação PTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the 'Produtos de Apoio: uma perspetiva habilitadora para crianças e jovens com necessidades especiais' project (2013-2014) supporting assistive products for children and youth with functional alterations.
• Direção-Geral da SaúdecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded the Capacitar é Ganhar Saúde project (2010-2014) promoting health and functionality for clients with rheumatic disease history through therapeutic groups and health education sessions.
• Missão Sorriso and Associação D. Pedro VminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded the Espaço de Integração Sensorial project inaugurated in November 2014, creating a specialized space for sensory integration therapy for children and adolescents.
• Instituto Superior TécnicominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical university partner in the Acessibilidades Bibliotecas project (2012) for accessibility assessments of 15 libraries in Lisbon.
• Observatório da Deficiência e Direitos Humanos/ISCSPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for acessoDIREITOS project developing accessible video content about UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with active participation of people with intellectual disabilities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Fundação Champalimaud: Portuguese philanthropic foundation operating in health and science. Adjacent as a similarly scaled Portuguese foundation with public utility status and significant government/grant funding, though focused on medical research and cancer rather than disability services.

Direct peers

• CERCICA: Cooperative for the education and rehabilitation of citizens with disabilities in Cascais, Portugal. Directly comparable as a regional Portuguese IPSS offering early intervention, vocational training, employment support, and accessibility services to a similar beneficiary population.
• Fundação AFID Diferença: Portuguese non-profit foundation focused on disability rehabilitation, vocational training, and supported employment. Directly comparable in service mix (rehabilitation, training, employment placement) and IPSS funding model, with a similar mission of integrating people with functional limitations.
• APPACDM (Federação Portuguesa): Portuguese national federation of associations for parents and friends of citizens with intellectual disabilities. Directly comparable as an IPSS operating vocational training, residential, and inclusion services for people with disabilities across Portugal, with similar government co-funding and EQUASS-equivalent quality frameworks.
• Centro de Paralisia Cerebral Calouste Gulbenkian: Portuguese rehabilitation center specializing in cerebral palsy and neuromotor conditions. Comparable as a Lisbon-based IPSS offering intensive rehabilitation, early intervention, and accessibility services to a similar beneficiary population, with EQUASS-equivalent quality standards.
• CERCIPÓVOA: Portuguese cooperative for education and rehabilitation of disabled citizens, operating in Póvoa de Varzim. Directly comparable as a regional Portuguese disability IPSS with early intervention, vocational training, and employment placement services under similar government frameworks.
• Centro de Reabilitação Profissional de Gaia (CRPG): Portuguese rehabilitation and vocational training center serving people with disabilities. Directly comparable in professional qualification, employment insertion, and accessibility services, with similar IEFP and ISS co-funding dynamics.

Emerging players

• Special Olympics Portugal: Portuguese chapter of Special Olympics offering adapted sports programming for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a Portuguese disability non-profit operating in the adapted sports space, intersecting with Fundação LIGA's adapted sports offering within CACI.

Regional players

• Associação Salvador: Portuguese non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities, with strong corporate partnership and fundraising focus. Comparable as a Portuguese disability non-profit, though more concentrated on spinal cord injury and mobility, with greater corporate CSR emphasis than service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa: One of Portugal's largest and oldest charitable institutions, providing health, social, and inclusion services across Lisbon. Comparable as a broad IPSS incumbent with overlapping programs (senior services, disability support, training) though operating at significantly larger scale and across more service categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/funda-o-liga

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fundação LIGA