Instituto Verdeluz

What Instituto Verdeluz does

Instituto Verdeluz is a Brazilian non-profit civil association founded in 2013 and headquartered in Fortaleza, Ceará, that operates a portfolio of four socioenvironmental programs: GTAR (sea turtle conservation including nest monitoring, hatchling release, and stranded turtle rescue), GRU/GRU (urban solid waste studies and beach cleanups), Clima de Urgência (climate justice advocacy targeting the Pecém thermoelectric complex), and Trilhando (environmental education for public school students in Conservation Units). The organization maintains two physical facilities inaugurated in 2023 — the Gabriel Chagas Environmental Education Base and the CAETM Marine Turtle Emergency Care Center — and organizes the CONCESA regional sustainability congress. Its operations are grounded in environmental education methodologies, marine conservation fieldwork, and community mobilization rather than any proprietary technology platform.

The business model is donation-driven with supplementary public funding proposals and corporate partnerships. Revenue streams include individual and organizational donations (processed via the Asaas payment platform on its website), a proposed R$200,000 parliamentary amendment via the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for 2026-2027, and institutional support from partners spanning academia (UFC, UECE, IFCE), government (Governo do Estado do Ceará, Secretarias), and private sector (TIM, Sicredi, Beach Park, M.Dias Branco). The organization holds 9 seats on Conservation Unit councils and participates in international climate conferences (COP 20, 21, 22), giving it policy influence in Ceara's environmental agenda.

The organization reaches approximately 100,000 people directly and indirectly through 50+ executed projects, 180+ monitored sea turtle nests, 20,000+ released hatchlings, 230+ rescued stranded turtles, 23,000+ items collected in beach cleanups, and 600 public school students in the Trilhando program. It relies on 800+ volunteers and a staff of 19 to deliver its programs, with the vast majority of operational capacity provided by volunteer labor. The organization is governed by President Carlos Tavares and Vice President Rosali Martins, holds a Título de Utilidade Pública Municipal from the Prefeitura de Fortaleza, and has received multiple regional sustainability awards including the Prêmio Lixo Zero (2023) and Selo ONG Transparente (2025).

Name

Instituto Verdeluz

Legal name

Instituto Verdeluz

Website

https://verdeluz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Instituto Verdeluz is a Brazilian non-profit founded in 2013 in Fortaleza, Ceará, that runs four socioenvironmental programs spanning sea turtle conservation, urban waste management, climate justice advocacy, and environmental education for public school students, relying on donations, volunteers, and public funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate, Environment & Natural Resource Management Aid Programs (BPADABAI), Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Programs (Water, Biodiversity Credits, PES) (IMAMAJAK)

Keywords

• Marine turtle conservation
• Environmental education programs
• Urban waste management
• Climate justice advocacy
• Biodiversity conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Fortaleza

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization relies on donations from individuals and organizations to fund its environmental programs and operations.
2. Public funding / Parliamentary amendments: The organization receives public funding through parliamentary amendments, such as a proposed R$200,000 amendment via the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for execution in 2026–2027.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Instituto Verdeluz is a non-profit socioenvironmental organization that operates a portfolio of environmental programs rather than commercial products. Its four core programs are GTAR (sea turtle monitoring, stranding rescue, and hatchling release on Ceará beaches), GRU (urban solid waste studies, beach cleanups, and awareness campaigns), Clima de Urgência (climate justice advocacy against fossil fuel-based thermoelectric operations in the Pecém complex), and Trilhando (immersion environmental education for public school students in Conservation Units).

Product overview

Instituto Verdeluz is a non-profit socioenvironmental organization established in 2013 that operates as a portfolio of environmental programs rather than a single commercial product. The organization manages four main programs: Gtar (sea turtle conservation), GRU (urban waste studies), Clima de Urgência (climate justice), and Trilhando (ecotourism and environmental education). Additionally, it operates two physical facilities—the Gabriel Chagas Environmental Education Base and the CAETM marine turtle care center—and organizes the CONCESA sustainability congress. The organization connects science with community action through environmental education, biodiversity conservation, public policy advocacy, and scientific research and dissemination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GTAR - Programa Tartarugas Marinhas (Sea Turtle Conservation Program) Sea turtle conservation program focused on monitoring nests, assisted hatching, rescuing stranded turtles on Fortaleza beaches, and performing necropsies to study marine turtle species in Ceará. The program has monitored 180+ nests and released 20,000+ hatchlings.
• GRU - Grupo de Estudos e Articulações sobre Resíduos Urbanos (Urban Waste Studies Group) Urban waste studies group that conducts beach cleanings, scientific dissemination, environmental awareness campaigns, and monthly study sessions on solid waste management solutions. GRU activities have collected 23,000+ items and reached 2,000+ people.
• Clima de Urgência (Climate Justice Program) Climate justice program focused on mitigation and adaptation to climate change, producing knowledge and advocacy against fossil fuel burning in thermoelectric plants of the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex (CIPP), and promoting energy transition.
• Trilhando: Ecoturismo e Educação Ambiental (Environmental Education and Ecotourism) Environmental education project that transforms Conservation Units in Fortaleza into living classrooms, using nature immersion as a pedagogical tool for public school students. The program benefits 600 students annually.
• Gabriel Chagas Environmental Education Base Environmental education base serving as a physical space for environmental education activities, inaugurated in 2023.
• CAETM - Centro de Atendimento Emergencial de Tartarugas Marinhas (Marine Turtle Emergency Care Center) Marine Turtle Emergency Care Center inaugurated in 2023 for the rescue and rehabilitation of stranded sea turtles along the Fortaleza coastline.
• CONCESA - Congresso Cearense de Sustentabilidade Aplicada (Cearense Congress on Applied Sustainability) Sustainability congress first held between 2019-2021, bringing together discussions on applied sustainability practices in Ceará.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ people directly and indirectly impacted by environmental programs
• +4 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUFC was the founding partner of Instituto Verdeluz, which originated from a university extension project. The university provides academic guidance and student involvement across biological sciences, environmental engineering, and other disciplines supporting conservation programs.
• Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUECE collaborates with the GTAR program, providing student volunteers and academic oversight for sea turtle conservation research and activities.
• Governo do Estado do CearácoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government entity that partners with the institute across environmental, urban, and social policy initiatives.
• Instituto Clima e SociedadecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the Clima de Urgência program, contributing to climate justice advocacy and energy transition initiatives.
• Secretaria das Cidades do CearácoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState secretariat collaborating on urban development and environmental policy initiatives.
• Secretaria do Meio Ambiente de FortalezacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal environmental secretariat with which the institute collaborates on conservation unit councils and environmental policies.
• Corpo de Bombeiros do Estado do CearácoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState fire department collaborates with the GTAR program on sea turtle stranding rescue and emergency response along the coastline.
• Instituto Federal do Ceará (IFCE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal institute of education providing student volunteers and academic collaboration for environmental projects.
• CAGEECEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater and sewage company of Ceará, partnered on water quality and environmental management initiatives.
• Sesc CearáminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial service for commerce providing support for community events and environmental education activities.
• SocrelpminorOthersPartner organization listed on the institute's partners page.
• Grupo MarquiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness group listed as a partner supporting the institute's environmental initiatives.
• Beach ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism and leisure group listed as a partner on the institute's partners page.
• Hotel SonataminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel listed as a partner contributing to sustainable tourism and environmental initiatives.
• Colégio LiceuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution listed as a partner supporting environmental education programs.
• BPMA-CEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental and social partner organization listed on the partners page.
• Transforme Serviços VerdesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen services company listed as a partner supporting environmental projects.
• Transforme CoworkingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoworking space providing operational support for the institute.
• TIMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelecommunications company listed as a partner on the institute's partners page.
• SicrediminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative financial institution listed as a partner supporting the institute.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International Brasil: Brazilian operations of a global conservation organization. Comparable in biodiversity protection, climate advocacy, and partnerships with academic and governmental bodies, but with substantially larger scale and funding base.
• WWF-Brasil: Brazilian arm of a global conservation network. Comparable in advocacy, biodiversity protection, and policy influence, but operates at national scale and across multiple biomes rather than focusing on a single coastal region.
• Greenpeace Brasil: Brazilian arm of global environmental advocacy organization. Comparable in climate justice advocacy (parallel to Verdeluz's Clima de Urgência program) and participation in international policy forums, though operating at national scale with paid campaign staff.
• Fundação Grupo Boticário: Established Brazilian environmental foundation supporting biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental education nationwide. Comparable as a multi-program conservation nonprofit with broader geographic and thematic reach than Verdeluz.
• SOS Mata Atlântica: Long-standing Brazilian environmental NGO focused on Atlantic Forest protection, policy advocacy, and citizen mobilization. Comparable in combining policy influence, public campaigns, and field conservation work.

Direct peers

• Instituto Ecofaxina: Brazilian nonprofit focused on urban waste and marine debris cleanup, including beach cleanups and solid waste studies. Direct peer to Verdeluz's GRU program, operating with similar volunteer-driven cleanup methodology in Brazilian coastal cities.
• Projeto TAMAR: Brazil's flagship sea turtle conservation program. Direct functional peer to Verdeluz's GTAR program, operating marine turtle monitoring, nest protection, and public education across Brazilian coastlines with a similar volunteer and academic partnership model.
• Instituto Baleia Jubarte: Marine conservation nonprofit focused on humpback whales off the Bahia coast. Comparable as a Brazilian marine conservation organization combining field research, environmental education, and tourism-adjacent public engagement.

Emerging players

• Instituto Mar Urbano: Brazilian nonprofit focused on marine and coastal ecosystem conservation with educational and community engagement components. Comparable as a younger, community-driven marine conservation organization with overlapping program structure.

Regional players

• Apremavi: Regional environmental association in Santa Catarina focused on reforestation, environmental education, and conservation unit management. Comparable in combining Conservation Unit engagement, environmental education, and community-based program delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@verdeluzorg1292
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institutoverdeluz
• Instagraminstagram.com/institutoverdeluz
• TikToktiktok.com/@institutoverdeluz?lang=pt-BR

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Verdeluz