Associação Vida Norte

What Associação Vida Norte does

Associação Vida Norte is a Portuguese non-profit organization (IPSS — Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social) founded in 1999 and headquartered in Porto, with a second regional delegation in Braga. The organization provides psycho-social accompaniment and material support to pregnant women and families in vulnerability situations, operating a small team of approximately 11 psychology and social-work professionals supplemented by an extensive volunteer base. Its core service portfolio includes free psychological counseling via a SOS hotline (939 900 900), office appointments and home visits during pregnancy and the first months of infancy, parenting education workshops, and material assistance (baby products, clothing, food baskets). In 2025, the organization supported 440 families, witnessed 101 births, and conducted 790 attendances; since founding it has reached over 13,500 people.

Vida Norte's product surface combines direct human services with a digital platform, @mum_on_cv (mumoncv.vidanorte.org), developed in partnership with technology firm ARMIS Group and funded by Portugal Inovação Social / POISE. The platform connects mothers with employer partners (Mercer, Missão Continente, Primavera/Cegid and others, totaling 30+ organizations) and supports professional reintegration through CV preparation, mentoring, image consulting, and digital skills training. Adjacent programs include @mum_power (employability bootcamps), @mum_do_it (sewing and digital workshops), and recently launched initiatives such as Projeto Ma-terna (maternal mental health, 2025), Cres(ser)+ (child development, 2023), and Parentalidade com Vida (parenting education, 2022). The organization also operates a small social enterprise reselling surplus second-hand baby clothing.

The revenue model is diversified across five streams: monthly recurring donations from 'Regular Friends' starting at €5, annual associate memberships at €60, project grants from BPI Foundation awards (2017, 2022, 2024) and EU social funds (POISE, Fundo Social Europeu), corporate social-investor contributions (Missão Continente, CUF, Câmara Municipal do Porto), and event-based fundraising (Sunset Solidário, Solidarity Dinner). Vida Norte explicitly operates as 100% privately funded without state operating subsidies, accepting IRS tax designations (1% via Quadro 11) and offering a €1,000 Baby Sponsorship unit-priced giving tier. Services to beneficiaries are provided free of charge.

Name

Associação Vida Norte

Legal name

Associação de Promoção e Defesa da Vida e Família - Vida Norte

Website

https://vidanorte.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Associação Vida Norte is a Porto-based Portuguese non-profit (IPSS) founded in 1999 that provides free psycho-social counseling, home visits, a SOS hotline, and material support to pregnant women and families in vulnerability, operating across Porto and Braga with ~11 staff and the @mum_on_cv digital platform for professional reintegration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal and Family Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGACAF

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAEAC

Family & Parenting Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYEDACALAH

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services

Education/Early Childhood Education/Parent Education & Family Engagement Programs

SECONDARYHSAAAGAB

Newborn/Infant Mother’s Helper Support

Home & Personal Services/Childcare, Babysitting & Nanny Services/Mother’s Helper & In-Home Child Supervision

Keywords

• Psychosocial support services
• Maternal health assistance
• Nonprofit family services
• Pregnancy counseling support
• Social solidarity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Porto

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations from individuals and companies: One-time or regular donations from individuals who become 'Regular Friends' (starting at €5/month) or corporate partners. The organization receives donations of money, baby products, clothing, and other goods.
2. Member quotas: Annual membership fees of €60 (€5/month) for associates who can participate in General Assemblies. Not tax-deductible.
3. Government contracts and grants: Contracted support from the Portuguese state and EU funds including POISE, Fundo Social Europeu, and various municipal grants for specific social projects.
4. Social business - second-hand baby clothes: The organization operates a social business reselling second-hand baby clothes. Unsold or surplus donations are sold below market price with proceeds reinvested in the mission.
5. Event fundraising: Annual fundraising events including Sunset Solidário, Solidarity Dinner, and concerts. Revenue from ticket sales, donations, and sponsorship of these events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Associação Vida Norte is a Portuguese nonprofit IPSS that delivers free psychosocial support, counseling, parenting education, and material assistance to pregnant women and families in vulnerable situations across Porto and Braga. Its core services include individual psychological and social-service accompaniment, home visits, a 24-hour SOS hotline for pregnant women, the @mum_on_cv platform for professional reintegration of mothers, baby-sponsorship ("Apadrinhamento de Bebés") and recurring-friend ("Seja Nosso Amigo") fundraising programs, and a Social Business unit that resells donated baby clothing to fund operations.

Product overview

Associação Vida Norte is a non-profit organization (IPSS - Private Institution of Social Solidarity) that provides social support services to pregnant women and babies in vulnerable situations. Their primary offerings include: direct social support services through a helpline (Linha SOS para grávidas), the Mum on CV digital platform for professional reintegration, educational programs (@mum_power bootcamps, @mum_do_it digital and sewing workshops, @mum_in employer outreach), and various donation programs (Apadrinhamento de Bebés, Seja Nosso Amigo recurring donations). They also operate social projects like the Ma-terna maternal mental health project, Cres(ser)+ child development program, and Parentalidade com Vida. The organization is not a technology company but provides services supported by digital platforms, primarily the Mum on CV website for connecting mothers with employers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• @mum_on_cv (Mum on CV): Digital platform for empowerment and professional (re)integration of mothers, developed as a project by Associação Vida Norte. Focuses on promoting employability, work-family reconciliation, and connecting mothers with employer partners.

Products and services

• Linha SOS para grávidas (SOS Hotline)
• @mum_on_cv — Plataforma de Integração Profissional
• Apadrinhamento de Bebés (Baby Sponsorship Program)
• Programa Seja Nosso Amigo (Become Our Friend Program)
• Social Business — Revenda de Roupa Infantil
• Acompanhamento Psicossocial (Psychosocial Accompaniment)

Quantifiable outcome

• 440 families supported, 101 babies born, 790 attendances in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hospital CUF PortocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership providing bi-weekly sessions for Vida Norte families, offering professional medical support in maternal and infant health.
• UCC CuidarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing regular sessions for families supported by Vida Norte, contributing to maternal and child health education.
• Mercer PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the 'Guide me in' Mentoring Program for professional integration support. Provides corporate volunteering and mentorship for Vida Norte mothers entering the workforce.
• ARMIS GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloped the @mum_on_cv digital platform in partnership with Vida Norte. Technical partner for the professional integration platform connecting mothers with employers.
• Primavera (Cegid)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing digital skills training for mothers through employee volunteering in the @mum_on_cv project.
• Oficinas da AlegriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hosting sewing workshops for mothers in the @mum_do_it program, providing space and guidance for creative skills development.
• PRO BONO PortugalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal support partnership providing free legal advice to Vida Norte families through pro bono legal services.
• Santos Carvalho e Associados, SROC, SAminorOthersExternal auditing firm conducting annual financial audits of Vida Norte accounts since 2017, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• City SightSeeing PortominorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided complimentary city tours for pregnant women and mothers on International Women's Day, demonstrating corporate social responsibility.
• Hotel Cristal PortominorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for Vida Norte Mother's Day celebrations, providing space for family events.
• Junta de Freguesia de São VítorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal government partner hosting Vida Norte Mother's Day event in Braga.
• MinderaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company providing the Motherboard Course as part of the @mum_do_it program, offering digital skills training for mothers.
• Magda Gomes Dias - Escola da Parentalidade e Educação PositivasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing parenting education sessions for the @mum_power bootcamp program.
• Teresa Ayres Pereira - Consultoria de ImagemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImage consulting partner for @mum_power professional integration bootcamp.
• Pedro Caramez - Linked2PowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinkedIn and professional networking expert providing training for @mum_power bootcamp participants.
• MJP - Recursos HumanosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHR consulting partner contributing to the @mum_power employability bootcamp.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cáritas Portuguesa: Portuguese Catholic social services organization delivering family support, social assistance, and community-based programs. Directly comparable as a Portuguese nonprofit providing social support to vulnerable families with similar funding model (donations, grants, government contracts).
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto: One of Portugal's oldest and largest social solidarity institutions, headquartered in Porto, providing social services including family and maternal support across the same geographic region as Vida Norte. Directly comparable as a Porto-based IPSS delivering community social services.
• Save the Children Portugal: Portuguese affiliate of the international Save the Children organization, focused on child rights and family support including maternal and infant wellbeing programs. Comparable as a child- and family-focused NGO with similar beneficiary profile (vulnerable children and mothers) and corporate/donor funding model.
• Casa do Gaiato: Portuguese nonprofit organization supporting children, youth, and families in vulnerable situations through residential and community-based social services. Comparable as a Portuguese IPSS delivering family and youth support services through a similar community-based psychosocial accompaniment model.
• Every Mother Counts: US-based nonprofit founded by Christy Turlington Burns focused on maternal health and pregnancy support globally. Comparable as a mission-aligned maternal health organization supporting pregnant women in vulnerable situations through direct services and advocacy.
• APAV (Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima): Portuguese NGO providing free, confidential support to victims of crime and their families, including psychosocial counseling. Comparable as a Portuguese nonprofit delivering psychosocial accompaniment and social support services to vulnerable populations.
• AMI (Assistência Médica Internacional): Portuguese humanitarian NGO founded in 1984 providing medical and social assistance to vulnerable populations in Portugal and abroad. Comparable as a Portuguese nonprofit combining social and health-adjacent services for vulnerable groups.
• Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa (Portuguese Red Cross): Portuguese branch of the International Red Cross providing humanitarian aid, social support, and family assistance programs nationwide. Comparable as a Portuguese social services NGO operating under a similar nonprofit model with donor and government funding streams.
• March of Dimes: US-based nonprofit focused on maternal and infant health, supporting pregnant women and families through pregnancy and early childhood. Comparable as a mission-aligned maternal and infant health organization with similar psychosocial support and family accompaniment focus.

Broad incumbents

• Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian: Largest Portuguese foundation, funding social, educational, and health programs across Portugal and internationally. Comparable as a Portuguese nonprofit organization that funds maternal and family support initiatives, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope than Vida Norte.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/associacaovidanorte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associa%C3%A7%C3%A3o-vida-norte
• Instagraminstagram.com/vidanorte

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Associação Vida Norte