What Instituto Alok does

Instituto Alok is a Brazilian nonprofit organization founded in 2020 by internationally renowned DJ and social investor Alok, headquartered in Brasília. The institute operates across Brazil, three African countries (Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi), and India, addressing structural racial inequality affecting Black and Quilombola communities, the erosion of indigenous cultures and languages, and environmental degradation through three programmatic pillars: Human Development (healthcare, education, food security, entrepreneurship), Nature and Communities (reforestation, conservation), and Indigenous Peoples (cultural preservation, rights defense).

Its core outputs include direct financial grants and technical advisory services to grassroots partner organizations in Brazil, voluntary knowledge-exchange programs (without resource transfers) in Africa and India, and a flagship cultural product: the Coleção SOM NATIVO — a series of 8 professionally produced albums featuring indigenous musicians from 8 Brazilian ethnicities (Yawanawa, Huni Kuin, Kariri Xocó, Guarani Kaiowá, Guarani Mbya, Kaingang, Nhandewa, Xakriabá), launched in 2024–2025 on global streaming platforms with all monetization reverting to the artists. Notable operational projects include the Preservação das Araucárias initiative (25,000 seedlings planted across the Xokleng Laklãnõ Indigenous Land in 2024) and the Quilombola Baby Week health security program with UNICEF (2021).

The institute generates no commercial revenue and is sustained through philanthropic donations, corporate alliances (Airbnb, Banco do Brasil, Vivo, Altafonte), and institutional partnerships (UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, KPMG as auditor). It maintains a lean 8-person operational team and a network of 80+ partner organizations. Its go-to-market is entirely earned-media and partnership-driven, leveraging the founder's celebrity platform for awareness and donor acquisition rather than paid advertising.

Name

Instituto Alok

Legal name

Instituto Alok

Website

https://institutoalok.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Instituto Alok is a Brazilian nonprofit founded in 2020 by DJ Alok that funds social, environmental, and indigenous cultural preservation projects across Brazil, Africa, and India, primarily through donor-supported grants and the Coleção SOM NATIVO music initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Impact Foundation

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Reporting for Donor Programs (BPADAOAL), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• Nonprofit foundation
• Social impact programs
• Indigenous rights
• Cultural preservation
• Environmental conservation

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations & Institutional Support: Instituto Alok raises funds from corporate alliances and institutional partners to support social assistance projects in Brazil and learning-exchange programs in Africa and India. Resources flow through financial donations and technical advisory services provided to partner organizations. The institute does not generate commercial revenue.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Instituto Alok is a nonprofit foundation that funds and supports social, environmental, and cultural initiatives across Brazil, Africa, and India. The institute channels donations and provides technical advisory to projects serving Black/Quilombola communities, Indigenous peoples, and vulnerable populations, with direct financial support in Brazil and voluntary learning exchanges in three African countries and India. Its flagship cultural initiative, Coleção SOM NATIVO, produces and distributes indigenous music albums on global streaming platforms with all monetization returning to participating artists and peoples, in cooperation with UNESCO as a contribution to the UN Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032).

Product overview

Instituto Alok is a social investment organization focused on human development, nature conservation, and indigenous peoples' rights. The organization operates across Brazil, Africa (Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi), and India. Its main programmatic offerings include the Coleção SOM NATIVO music collection for indigenous cultural preservation, Human Development projects (healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, food security), Nature and Communities environmental initiatives (reforestation, conservation), and Indigenous Peoples support programs. The organization supports social assistance projects with financial donations and technical advice in Brazil, and maintains learning exchanges (voluntary and free, without resource transfers) in three African countries and India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coleção SOM NATIVO A music collection launched by Instituto Alok comprising 8 albums featuring indigenous Brazilian musical traditions from 8 ethnic groups (Yawanawa, Huni Kuin, Kariri Xocó, Guarani Kaiowá, Guarani Mbya, Kaingang, Nhandewa, and Xakriabá). All albums are distributed globally through major streaming platforms with all monetization reverting to the participating indigenous artists and peoples. Lyrics are available in indigenous languages, Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
• Preservação das Araucárias (Araucaria Preservation) Reforestation project supporting the creation and planting of 25,000 Araucaria seedlings, nursery renovation, harvest tools, and indigenous women's gatherings for the Xokleng people across the Terra Indígena Laklãnõ/Xokleng in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The project engaged over 2,000 indigenous community members in reforestation activities and supported Instituto Zág's work recognized with the UNDP Equatorial Prize in 2023.
• Ancestors Of The Future Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• 424 individuals and 300 children reached through the Quilombola Baby Week initiative in 2021
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

59 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KPMGcoreOthersKPMG provides auditing services for the institute's financial statements (audited from 2020 to 2024). The KPMG logo appears on the institute's website footer as the official auditor.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF collaborated with Instituto Alok on health security initiatives in schools in Maranhão, including the Quilombola Baby Week (December 2021) and other public health interventions targeting Black and Quilombola children.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColeção SOM NATIVO is a contribution to the Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032) in cooperation with UNESCO. The collection features indigenous languages with translations in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, supporting UNESCO's mission to preserve endangered indigenous languages.
• KPMGminorOthersListed as a corporate ally alongside other partners.
• PNUD / UNDP (Equator Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Equator Initiative, PNUD/UNDP awarded the Equatorial Prize to Instituto Zág, a partner organization supported by Instituto Alok for its Preservação das Araucárias project protecting the Xokleng people and the araucária tree.
• Instituto Zág (Guardiões da Zág)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Alok financially supported Instituto Zág's 'Preservação das Araucárias – Guardiões da Zág' project, funding the creation and planting of 25,000 araucária seedlings, nursery renovation, harvest tools, and a gathering of Xokleng indigenous women in 2024.
• Instituto AshokacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAshoka, a global organization supporting social entrepreneurs, is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• Instituto Feira PretacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Alok partnered with Instituto Feira Preta to launch the 'Pretas Potências' program strengthening ventures led by young Black and Afro-indigenous women in the digital creative economy, with support from Black Princess Beer.
• WAAW Foundation (Waaw by Alok)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaaw by Alok, a social startup, partnered with Instituto Alok and SAS Brasil to serve approximately 2,000 children across three Brazilian states through eye care and vision correction programs.
• SAS BrasilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAS Brasil partnered with Instituto Alok, GasLive, and Fotona Laser on the 'Light in Health' project in Rio de Janeiro (UPA do Alemão, August/September 2023) to reduce waiting queues in the Unified Health System (SUS).
• GastromotivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Alok partnered with Gastromotiva Association to promote everyone's right to adequate food, support food and nutrition education, and provide professional qualification for low-income youth and adults.
• Associação GastromotivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociação Gastromotiva (Gastromotiva) collaborated with Instituto Alok to represent and endorse everyone's right to adequate food and to support food and nutrition education.
• Retratos de EsperançacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Alok partnered with NGO Retratos de Esperança and quilombola communities to develop sustainable hydroponic food production gardens in rural areas of semi-arid Bahia.
• Aliança Amazônia ClimacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAliança Amazônia Clima is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok, working on climate and Amazon-related initiatives.
• Prefeitura de São Paulo (Health Secretariat)minorOthersListed as a partner institution, with the Health Secretariat collaborating on health programs in São Paulo.
• CUF AminorOthersCUF A, a central de artes and cultural organization, is listed as a partner institution.
• Centro AmazôniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentro Amazônia is listed as a partner institution working on Amazon-related social and environmental initiatives.
• SOS AmazôniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOS Amazônia, an organization dedicated to Amazon conservation, is listed as a partner institution.
• SOS Mata AtlânticaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOS Mata Atlântica is listed as a partner institution supporting Atlantic Forest conservation.
• Univaja (Universidade Indígena do Vale do Javari)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnivaja, the Indigenous University of the Javari Valley, is listed as a partner institution.
• APIB (Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPIB, the national indigenous peoples' articulation body, is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• API BcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPI B is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• Ação da CidadaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAção da Cidadania partnered with Instituto Alok on Christmas Without Hunger solidarity actions in 2020.
• WaterAidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterAid is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok, working on water access initiatives.
• Team WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeam Water is listed as a partner institution working on water-related social projects.
• RecodeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecode, a Brazilian nonprofit focused on social technology, is listed as a partner institution.
• Associação CaatingaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociação Caatinga, an environmental organization working in the Caatinga biome, is listed as a partner institution.
• Fraternidade sem FronteirasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraternidade sem Fronteiras is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• Solano Trindade Agency (Agência Solano Trindade)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Alok formed an alliance in 2021 with the Solano Trindade Agency (Campo Limpo – SP) to support projects linking field and periphery, encouraging income generation for family farming producers.
• Satyarthi (Nobel Peace Prize Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSatyarthi, founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi, is listed as a partner institution.
• WAAW FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAAW Foundation (Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women) is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• Amigos do BemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmigos do Bem, an NGO focused on transforming lives in Brazil's northeast, is listed as a partner institution.
• Brigada AlterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrigada Alter is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• FunaturaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunatura, a foundation focused on environmental conservation, is listed as a partner institution.
• Instituto Cora (Governo de Goiás)minorOthersInstituto Cora, linked to the Government of Goiás state, is listed as a partner institution.
• IEB (InstitutoEthos de Beleza)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEB (InstitutoEthos de Beleza) is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• Vini Jr. InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Vini Jr. is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• AliantminorOthersAliant is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• BMA (Browne Muller & Associates)minorOthersBMA is listed as an institutional supporter of Instituto Alok.
• Lokaa FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLokaa Foundation is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok, operating in India.
• Anelo InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnelo Institute, a music school with a racially inclusive approach, is listed as a partner institution. Instituto Alok supports the Pretas & Pretos band originating from Anelo.
• Cavagna GroupminorOthersCavagna Group is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• CGR EnergiaminorOthersCGR Energia is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• Clínica RomanaminorOthersClínica Romana is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• CPAPminorOthersCPAP is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• Eccon (Docol)minorOthersEccon (Docol) is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• Estrella GaliciaminorOthersEstrella Galicia is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• GasliveminorOthersGaslive is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• Grupo RezekminorOthersGrupo Rezek is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• Loco RecordsminorOthersLoco Records is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• WAP (Instituto WAP)minorOthersWAP (Instituto WAP) is listed as a corporate ally of Instituto Alok.
• Hospital São MarcosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital São Marcos is listed as a partner institution working on health initiatives (Mais Vida, Menos Dor project).
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• Unidos pela VacinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn May 2021, Instituto Alok joined the 'Unidos pela Vacina' (United for Vaccines) movement to support COVID-19 vaccination mobilization, providing refrigeration equipment and supplies.
• Pacto Global (UN Global Compact)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Alok is listed as a signatory of the UN Global Compact's Pacto Global, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Agência Solano TrindademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Alok formed an alliance with the Solano Trindade Agency in 2021 to support projects linking urban periphery and rural areas, encouraging income generation for family farming.
• InnspiraminorOthersInstituto Nacional de Nanismo (Innspira) is listed as a partner institution.
• RSCminorOthersRSC is listed as a partner institution of Instituto Alok.
• Instituto Preto (Feira Preta)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Preto partnered with Instituto Alok to establish two units of BLACK EMBASSY (previously PretaHub House), an accelerator and incubator for Black entrepreneurship in the digital creative economy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Instituto Vini Jr. (Vini Jr. Institute): Foundation of Brazilian footballer Vini Jr. focused on social impact. Listed as a partner of Instituto Alok and structurally very comparable as a celebrity-athlete-founded Brazilian nonprofit leveraging personal platform for social causes targeting vulnerable youth.
• Ashoka: Global organization supporting social entrepreneurs — listed as an Instituto Alok partner. Operates a comparable changemaker-network model, supporting social ventures across Brazil and Latin America with funding and visibility.
• Instituto Socioambiental (ISA): Major Brazilian nonprofit focused on indigenous peoples' rights, environmental protection, and socio-environmental policy advocacy. Directly comparable to Instituto Alok in mission (Indigenous + Amazon + Brazil), programmatic approach (partner-funded grassroots projects), and target communities (Indigenous and traditional populations).
• Gastromotiva: Brazilian nonprofit tackling food security and culinary education for low-income youth. Listed as a core partner of Instituto Alok and comparable as a Brazilian NGO delivering social-assistance programming with corporate sponsorship and culinary-focused impact.
• Amigos do Bem: Brazilian nonprofit transforming lives in Brazil's northeast (sertão). Listed as a partner of Instituto Alok; comparable as a domestic Brazilian NGO serving vulnerable populations through corporate-supported social programs.
• Instituto Zág (Guardiões da Zág): Brazilian nonprofit of the Xokleng Indigenous people, a core partner of Instituto Alok. Directly comparable in operating model (Indigenous-led, environmental reforestation, cultural preservation) and has been jointly recognized via the UNDP Equatorial Prize.

Broad incumbents

• UNESCO: UN agency partnering with Instituto Alok on the Decade of Indigenous Languages via Coleção SOM NATIVO. Overlapping mandate on cultural and linguistic preservation at a global, multilateral scale — a strategic institutional counterpart rather than a competitor.
• UNICEF Brazil: UN agency collaborating with Instituto Alok on Quilombola health and education in Maranhão. Comparable as a much larger institutional actor in the same beneficiary space (Black and Quilombola children, education, health) but operating at national scale.
• WWF-Brasil: Large Brazilian environmental NGO working on conservation in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest. Comparable in nature-conservation program area (e.g., araucária reforestation) but operates at substantially larger scale with a more diversified donor base.
• Survival International: Global NGO dedicated to indigenous peoples' rights and tribal peoples' land defense. Comparable mission focus on indigenous rights, cultural preservation, and territory defense, but operates globally with advocacy rather than direct program funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/institutoalok
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institutoalok

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Instituto Alok