What Instituto Capim Santo does

Instituto Capim Santo is a Brazilian non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 2010 by chef Morena Leite, headquartered in São Paulo, with operations across five Brazilian regions. The organization uses gastronomy as a tool for social transformation, offering free professional qualification programs to socioeconomically vulnerable populations while simultaneously addressing food insecurity through community kitchens. Its core program portfolio includes Cozinha do Amanhã (a 200-hour, 4-month professional gastronomy certification), Programa Cozinha Escola (shorter-format courses in partnership with Fundação Paulistana at São Paulo CEUs), Energia que Alimenta o Amanhã (a R$12 million Petrobras-funded project serving 3,600 beneficiaries in Pernambuco), and Pare com a Fome (a food security initiative that has distributed over 4 million meals across three solidary kitchens in São Paulo). Since founding, the organization has certified 15,500+ students, with 80% of Cozinha do Amanhã graduates remaining in the gastronomy sector and 93% of certified students in 2025 being women.

The organization operates as a community-led social hub rather than a traditional technology platform. Its core 'technology' consists of a culinary education methodology centered on sustainable gastronomy, integral ingredient use, and food waste reduction, applied across all programs. The organization employs 24 staff led by President Luccio Oliveira and Chef Morena Leite, with specialized coordinators across education, gastronomy, communications, HR, finance, legal, sustainability, and operations. Revenue is generated through five streams: individual donations (via doe.institutocapimsanto.org.br), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (Petrobras, Camil, iFood, Sicao/Barry Callebaut), government grants (MDS, Petrobras Socioambiental), paid training and catering services (Palestras, Buffet Social), and fundraising events (annual beneficent dinner, Gala Trancoso in partnership with BrazilFoundation). Beneficiary acquisition is driven by community referrals, partner institutions, and social media rather than paid advertising, with demographic impact concentrated on women (93%) and Black/mixed-race individuals (78.5%) from low-income backgrounds.

Name

Instituto Capim Santo

Legal name

Instituto Capim Santo

Website

https://institutocapimsanto.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Instituto Capim Santo is a Brazilian non-profit founded in 2010 by chef Morena Leite that uses gastronomy education to deliver free professional certification and food security programs to vulnerable populations across five Brazilian regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Gastronomy Education and Food Security Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance (BPADAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Institutional & Commercial Kitchen Training (Schools/Healthcare/Corporate) (EDAOAKAL), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Social gastronomy education
• Vocational culinary training
• Food security programs
• Community kitchen operations
• Sustainable gastronomy methodology

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly and one-time donations from individuals via the organization's donation portal (doe.institutocapimsanto.org.br). Donors can choose support amounts for ongoing programs.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Financial and in-kind support from corporate partners such as Petrobras (R$12 million for the Energia que Alimenta o Amanhã project), Camil, iFood, and others. Includes donations of ingredients, equipment, uniforms, and professional services.
3. Government Grants and Public Funding: Funding from government bodies such as the MDS (Ministério do Desenvolvimento e Assistência Social) for solidary kitchen operations, and the Programa Petrobras Socioambiental for professional qualification projects. Also via public-term agreements (Termo de Fomento) with municipalities.
4. Training and Catering Services: The organization offers paid training sessions, lectures, and social buffet services to organizations and companies, utilizing students and graduates of its programs to generate extra income and provide practical experience.
5. Events and Galas: Annual beneficent dinners (Jantar Beneficente 'Receitas que Mudam Vidas') and other fundraising events that charge for attendance, with proceeds supporting educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Instituto Capim Santo is a Brazilian non-governmental organization that delivers free professional gastronomy training to people in socioeconomic vulnerability and operates community kitchens that produce and distribute meals to food-insecure populations. Its programs include the 200-hour Cozinha do Amanhã certification, the shorter-format Programa Cozinha Escola in partnership with Fundação Paulistana, the R$12 million Petrobras-funded Energia que Alimenta o Amanhã project in Pernambuco, and the Pare com a Fome food security initiative, supplemented by paid lectures and a social catering (Buffet Social) service.

Product overview

Instituto Capim Santo is a non-governmental organization founded in 2010 by chef Morena Leite that operates as a hub of sustainable social gastronomy. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs: Cozinha do Amanhã (200-hour professional gastronomy training), Programa Cozinha Escola (shorter-format qualification courses in partnership with Fundação Paulistana), and Energia que Alimenta o Amanhã (larger-scale formation project with Petrobras). Complementing these training programs are the Pare com a Fome initiative (food distribution via community kitchens and partner NGOs) and additional services including social catering (Buffet Social) and specialized training sessions. Together these offerings form a comprehensive ecosystem using gastronomy as a tool for social mobility, food security, and sustainable development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cozinha do Amanhã: Free gastronomy social and sustainable training course with 4 months duration for people in social vulnerability.
• Pare com a Fome
• Programa Cozinha Escola
• Energia que Alimenta o Amanhã

Products and services

• Cozinha do Amanhã A 200-hour, 4-month professional training program in social and sustainable gastronomy for people in social vulnerability, combining culinary techniques, sustainable practices, and behavioral skills with technical certification; over 2,600 graduates to date, with 80% working in the gastronomy sector and 210% growth in 2025 applications.
• Programa Cozinha Escola Free professional qualification program in gastronomy offered in partnership with Fundação Paulistana at CEUs across São Paulo, with three modalities: 8-hour quick income workshops, 20-hour technical qualification courses, and 60-hour professionalizing courses focused on immediate income generation.
• Pare com a Fome Food security initiative that produces and distributes meals to families facing food insecurity through community restaurants and solidary kitchens; has delivered more than 4 million meals since the pandemic across Trancoso, Itacaré, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.
• Energia que Alimenta o Amanhã Professional and entrepreneurial training program in gastronomy, entrepreneurship, and hospitality for people in socioeconomic vulnerability, implemented in partnership with Petrobras in Cabo de Santo Agostinho and Ipojuca, Pernambuco; R$12 million investment over 3 years targeting 3,600 people with a 60% labor insertion goal.
• Palestras e Treinamentos em Gastronomia Social Paid training sessions and lectures on social gastronomy, food education, and sustainable culinary practices delivered by the organization's specialized team to partner organizations and companies.
• Buffet Social Social catering service for corporate events and families, providing meals prepared by program students and graduates to provide practical experience and generate additional income for the organization and trainees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,500+ certificates delivered across Brazil; 4+ million meals distributed; 80% of graduates work in gastronomy sector; 60% labor insertion target for Energia que Alimenta o Amanhã
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Fundação PaulistanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundação Paulistana is the primary institutional partner for the Cozinha Escola program, offering free professional qualification in gastronomy at CEUs across all four macro-regions of São Paulo. The partnership integrates public policy with civil society expertise.
• Instituto BaccarellicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Baccarelli partners with Instituto Capim Santo to manage the community restaurant in Heliópolis, São Paulo, producing 100 meals daily for the local community. The partnership is a key pillar of the Pare com a Fome program.
• Sicao (Barry Callebaut Group)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSicao, a Brazilian brand of the Barry Callebaut Group with 180+ years of chocolate expertise, partners with Instituto Capim Santo to support chocolate production training for informal entrepreneurs. This aligns with the Sicao e Você program (3rd year in Brazil) to professionalize chocolate makers.
• CamilsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCamil, a Brazilian food company, is a sponsor and supporter of Instituto Capim Santo's beneficent dinner and other programs, providing food supplies and corporate sponsorship for social initiatives.
• Solar Fábio PradominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolar Fábio Prado hosts the annual beneficent dinner 'Receitas que Mudam Vidas' at its São Paulo venue (Av. Brig. Faria Lima 2705), providing the physical space for the fundraising event.
• Universidade Anhembi MorumbisecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides infrastructure and academic environment for Cozinha do Amanhã courses in São Paulo, supporting inclusive and quality gastronomy education in partnership with Instituto Capim Santo.
• IBRM (Instituto Brasileiro de Medicina de Reabilitação)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBRM provides facilities and academic support for Cozinha do Amanhã courses in Rio de Janeiro, in partnership with Instituto Capim Santo.
• Unifacs (Universidade Salvador)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnifacs provides university facilities for Cozinha do Amanhã courses in Salvador, supporting the program's presence in northeastern Brazil.
• Instituto Terra FirmesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Cozinha do Amanhã operations in Salvador and Brasília in partnership with Instituto Capim Santo, providing local institutional coordination.
• Instituto LocalizaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Cozinha do Amanhã in Trancoso, Bahia, providing resources for gastronomy training in the region.
• Instituto Bia RabinovichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Instituto Capim Santo in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to support the Cozinha do Amanhã program.
• Quebrada Alimentada and MTSTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebrada Alimentada and MTST (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Teto) partner with Instituto Capim Santo to manage the daily distribution of 500 ready meals to the Jardim Julieta community in extreme east São Paulo, as part of the Pare com a Fome program.
• BrazilFoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBrazilFoundation, a philanthropic foundation with 25 years of operation and ~US$58 million invested in 1,000+ initiatives, partners with Instituto Capim Santo to host the Gala Trancoso — a philanthropy event uniting filantropia, culture, and social impact. Resources benefit BrazilFoundation's civil society network and ICS programs in Trancoso.
• INDEX ConectadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerINDEX Conectada, led by Taciana Veloso, Silvia Vidigal Ramos, and Letícia Veloso, handles public relations and image for the Gala Trancoso event in partnership with BrazilFoundation and Instituto Capim Santo.
• Eu EntregominorOthersProvides logistics and transportation services for food donations, enabling efficient delivery of supplies to solidary kitchens for the Pare com a Fome program.
• Princesa do OesteminorOthersDonates fresh vegetables to support meal production in the solidary kitchens, contributing to the nutritional quality of meals distributed to vulnerable populations.
• Instituto Amelia LeeminorOthersDonates vegetables for meal preparation in the solidary kitchens of the Pare com a Fome program.
• CamilminorOthersDonates food ingredients and supplies for meal production in the Pare com a Fome solidary kitchens.
• Sociedade de Amigos do Parque VeredasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Instituto Capim Santo to manage the solidary kitchen at Jardim Nélia in São Paulo's Zona Leste, supporting community mobilization and meal distribution.
• iFoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and supporter of Instituto Capim Santo's social programs, visible in the partner logo section of the website.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gastromotiva: Brazilian non-profit that uses gastronomy as a tool for social inclusion, training vulnerable youth in professional cooking. Directly comparable in mission, target beneficiary, and culinary-training model.
• Favela Orgânica: Rio de Janeiro-based NGO addressing food insecurity and sustainability in low-income communities through urban agriculture and food education. Comparable in combining food security, sustainability focus, and vulnerable-community beneficiaries in Brazil.
• DC Central Kitchen: US non-profit that combines culinary job training for vulnerable adults with large-scale meal distribution for food-insecure communities. Closest international analog to Instituto Capim Santo's integrated training-plus-meals model.

Broad incumbents

• Mesa Brasil SESC: SESC's national food security and redistribution program operating across Brazil with much larger scale. Comparable in mission to combat food insecurity and food waste among vulnerable populations in Brazil.
• CUFA - Central Única das Favelas: Large Brazilian social-impact organization operating in favelas with education, food security, and cultural programs. Comparable in serving similar beneficiary populations and operating across multiple Brazilian regions, though with a much broader mandate.
• Gerando Falcões: Brazilian social-impact organization working in favelas with education, employability, and development programs. Comparable in scale ambition and target beneficiary populations, though broader than culinary focus.

Others

• Fundação Lemann: Major Brazilian philanthropic foundation focused on education and social impact. Comparable as an institutional peer in scale, governance, and Brazilian social-impact ecosystem, though not a direct program-delivery competitor.

Emerging players

• Instituto Mundo Aflora: Brazilian social organization working on food, nutrition, and sustainability with vulnerable communities. Comparable in food-security mission and community-led distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmQVb2vMZkltlTjYix7g1mg
• Facebookfacebook.com/institutocapimsanto
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institutocapimsanto
• Instagraminstagram.com/institutocapimsanto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Instituto Capim Santo