Centro de Investigación y Estudios sobre Sociedad Civil

What Centro de Investigación y Estudios sobre Sociedad Civil does

Centro de Investigaci\u00f3n y Estudios sobre Sociedad Civil (CIESC) is a Mexican civil association (Asociaci\u00f3n Civil) founded in 2010 and headquartered in Tlalpan, Ciudad de M\u00e9xico. The organization functions as an academic research center focused on civil society, philanthropy, and volunteering in Mexico, and is directed by Dra. Jacqueline Butcher. CIESC created and operates 'Rutas para Fortalecer' (rutasparafortalecer.org), a free web-based directory and resource platform launched in March 2020 that connects 2,595 civil society organizations (OSCs) with 460 registered strengthening agents across Mexico.

The platform's core technology is a self-serve web application providing agent and OSC directory listings, a library of 170+ free resources (guides, manuals, infographics, studies), an events and webinars calendar with 260 archived sessions, and a recommendations system verified through OSC testimonials. CIESC currently co-operates the platform in alliance with Centro para el Fortalecimiento de la Sociedad Civil (CFOSC), with additional allied partnerships including Fundaci\u00f3n Merced, USAID's Programa para la Sociedad Civil, GIZ, PROFOSC, Dakshina A.C., and Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey Campus Ciudad de M\u00e9xico.

The business model is freemium: registration is free for all users (OSCs, agents, individuals), and CIESC generates revenue through paid premium membership plans for strengthening agents (Agente Fortalecedor) that charge contraprestaci\u00f3n fees for enhanced directory visibility, resource posting, and platform benefits. The organization operates on a national geographic scope (Mexico only), with no disclosed external investment, subsidiaries, or M&A activity, and a staff of approximately 5 employees. CIESC is compliant with Mexico's Ley Federal de Protecci\u00f3n de Datos Personales en Posesi\u00f3n de los Particulares.

Name

Centro de Investigación y Estudios sobre Sociedad Civil

Legal name

Centro de Investigación y Estudios sobre Sociedad Civil, A.C.

Website

https://rutasparafortalecer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CIESC is a Mexican non-profit research center that operates Rutas para Fortalecer, a free digital platform connecting 2,595 civil society organizations with 460 registered strengthening agents across Mexico. It generates revenue through paid premium membership subscriptions while distributing free resources, webinars, and directories for the Mexican civil society ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Capacity Building Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAFAO

Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Risk, Compliance & Governance Advisory

Keywords

• Civil society strengthening
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Civil society directory
• Organizational development services
• Third sector research

Headquarters

HQ city

Ciudad de México (Tlalpan)

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions (Agente Fortalecedor plans): The platform offers a free Basic tier for strengthening agents. Premium membership tiers generate revenue through paid subscriptions for enhanced visibility, resource posting, and other platform benefits.
2. Platform services for members: Members pay contraprestación (fees) for selected membership plans that allow them to publicize and offer products/services within the platform directory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Centro de Investigación y Estudios sobre Sociedad Civil (CIESC) operates the "Rutas para Fortalecer" web platform that serves as a directory connecting Civil Society Organizations (OSCs) with capacity-building service providers ("Agentes Fortalecedores") in Mexico. The platform hosts free resources (guides, manuals, studies, infographics), an events and webinars calendar, and profile listings for OSCs and strengthening agents, all focused on strengthening the institutional capacity of the Mexican civil society sector.

Product overview

Rutas para Fortalecer is a single unified web platform developed by Centro de Investigación y Estudios sobre Sociedad Civil (CIESC) for the strengthening of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Mexico. The platform serves as a directory connecting strengthening agents with CSOs, provides free resources including guides, manuals and studies, and hosts events and webinars on organizational capacity building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rutas para Fortalecer Platform A free, web-based directory and resource platform developed by CIESC to promote the strengthening of Civil Society Organizations (OSCs) in Mexico. Features include a directory of strengthening agents, a directory of OSCs, a calendar of events and webinars, and over 170 free resources (guides, manuals, infographics, studies, tools) tailored to the Mexican civil society context. Self-serve registration is free for OSCs and individuals, while strengthening agents may choose between a free Basic tier and paid premium membership plans with enhanced visibility and resource posting capabilities.
• Agente Fortalecedor Membership Plans Subscription-based membership plans offered to strengthening agents on the Rutas para Fortalecer platform. Includes a free Basic tier with limited features (basic profile, directory location, verified experience) and paid premium tiers that grant enhanced visibility, expanded resource posting capabilities, and the ability to publicize products and services within the platform directory.

Quantifiable outcome

• 460 strengthening agents and 2,595 civil society organizations registered on the platform
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centro para el Fortalecimiento de la Sociedad Civil (CFOSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrently operates Rutas para Fortalecer in alliance with CFOSC. CFOSC is a key operational partner in managing and co-developing the platform alongside CIESC.
• Fundación MercedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of the Rutas para Fortalecer project, which was originally planned as an alliance between CIESC and Fundación Merced, and remains part of the project's ally network.
• USAID / Programa para la Sociedad CivilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIESC participated in USAID's Programa para la Sociedad Civil through research and the Rutas platform. Rutas hosts and disseminates 26 materials produced by the program, fulfilling a logistics and content partnership role.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with PROFOSC to organize a cycle of webinars on public advocacy for civil society organizations (August–October 2020) at GIZ's request.
• PROFOSCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with GIZ on organizing the webinar cycle on public advocacy of civil society organizations.
• Dakshina, A.C.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRutas collaborated with Dakshina to host recordings and materials from the 4th OSC Encounter on financial and fiscal strengthening. Dakshina is a financial and fiscal strengthening organization for social projects.
• Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Ciudad de MéxicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough a collaboration agreement, Tecnológico de Monterrey and CIESC work together on generating knowledge for social action. CIESC's director is affiliated with this institution.
• Centro para el Fortalecimiento de la Sociedad Civil (CFOSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFOSC collaborated with CIESC to develop the practical guide for collecting, elaborating, and presenting cases in social organizations, adapting academic case study methodology to the civil society context.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Candid (formerly Foundation Center and GuideStar): Research and data platform providing nonprofit information, research, and resources — directly comparable to CIESC's research-driven approach to civil society capacity-building, though Candid operates at substantially greater scale in the US market.
• Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía (Cemefi): Mexican nonprofit support organization that promotes philanthropy and strengthens civil society in Mexico, offering directories, capacity-building, and accreditation programs for OSCs — directly comparable to CIESC's mission and Mexican market focus.
• NetHope: Consortium of international nonprofits working on technology and capacity-building for civil society — shares CIESC's focus on strengthening OSCs through knowledge, resources, and partnerships, though NetHope focuses specifically on technology enablement.
• WINGS (Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support): Global network supporting philanthropy infrastructure organizations — directly comparable to CIESC's role as a civil society infrastructure organization, particularly in fostering knowledge sharing, research, and capacity-building across the third sector.
• TechSoup Global: Global nonprofit that helps other nonprofits and civil society organizations access technology, resources, and capacity-building — operates a directory and resource model closely analogous to Rutas para Fortalecer, though at much larger scale and geographic breadth.
• GlobalGiving: Crowdfunding and nonprofit support platform that connects civil society organizations with donors and resources — comparable as a digital platform supporting OSC capacity and visibility, though focused on fundraising rather than institutional strengthening.
• Idealist: Online directory connecting nonprofits, volunteers, and job seekers with mission-driven organizations — shares the directory/community-platform model with Rutas para Fortalecer, including self-serve registration and free basic access.

Regional players

• Instituto para el Desarrollo de Inversiones (IDI) / Alternativas y Capacidades A.C. Mexican civil society organization focused on sustainability, institutional development, and capacity-building for OSCs in Mexico — comparable to CIESC's mission and Mexican geographic focus, with overlapping audiences and a similar nonprofit support role.

Broad incumbents

• Charities Aid Foundation (CAF): Established UK-based charity support organization providing advisory, grant-making, and workforce-giving services — broadly comparable as a civil society infrastructure player, though with a corporate and donor focus rather than OSC-direct.
• Benevity: Larger corporate social responsibility and employee-giving platform serving a broad range of companies and nonprofits — adjacent to CIESC's space but operating at much greater scale and with a corporate-buyer rather than nonprofit-buyer focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciescorg

Compliance1 record

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 Centro de Investigación y Estudios sobre Sociedad Civil