What Umane does

Umane (legal name Associação Umane) is an independent, nonprofit civil association certified by Brazil's Ministry of Health, headquartered in São Paulo and operating nationally across all 22 Brazilian states. It was established in 2016 using the full proceeds of the sale of Hospital Samaritano's assets, and is funded exclusively by the annual returns generated by a permanent endowment fund; it does not accept external funding from third parties or government institutions. Its mission is to strengthen Brazil's public health system (SUS) by supporting equity, quality, and access, organized around three programmatic areas: Comprehensive Care for Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases (NCDs), Primary Health Care (PHC) Strengthening, and Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health.

Umane's product and program portfolio combines direct-service operations, technology platforms, research, and grantmaking. Direct-service assets include the Central de Regulação Obstétrica e Neonatal (CRON), a 24-hour maternal-neonatal regulation center in São Paulo (with management transferred to IRSSL in 2025), and AMAS Umane, a pediatric outpatient clinic for children and adolescents aged 0-17. The two flagship technology platforms are the Observatório da Saúde Pública, an open digital platform aggregating Brazilian health databases and analyses, and the Plataforma de Inovação Aberta em Atenção Primária à Saúde (Open Innovation Platform in PHC), co-developed with Artemisia to test and scale technology-based PHC solutions. The research portfolio includes NutriNet Brasil (10-year study of 200,000 Brazilians), Coortes de Pelotas (birth cohorts since 1982), the AVISA COVID-19 study with Instituto Butantan, and the Health Equity: National and Global Observatory with CIES/UFPel. Advocacy and capacity-building programs include Prevenção DCNTs 360º, Mais Dados Mais Saúde, CARDIO (Cuidando de Todos), Líderes da Saúde (LIS), and the national PHC indicator system with FGV-IBRE.

Umane's business model is that of a private, endowment-funded philanthropic foundation: it generates no commercial revenue and does not charge for services or grantmaking. Resources flow outbound as donations to implementing partners (civil society organizations, nonprofits, and research institutions) via Donation Agreements with Obligations, plus Technical Cooperation Agreements with municipal, state, and federal public administrations that involve no financial transfers. As of 2025, Umane reported a network of 97 partners supporting 35 projects across 22 states, reaching 348,000+ people directly and 21+ million indirectly. Associates, board members, directors, and committee members serve without compensation, and the organization maintains a stated nonpartisan, non-electoral posture.

Name

Umane

Legal name

Associação Umane

Website

https://umane.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brazilian nonprofit civil association funding public health initiatives through an endowment derived from the 2016 Hospital Samaritano asset sale. It supports 35 projects across 22 states through 97 partners, addressing NCDs, Primary Health Care, and maternal-child health.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Philanthropy

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (923120), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) (BPADAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health Administration (BPAIAJAJ), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL)

Keywords

• Public health philanthropy
• Primary health care
• Noncommunicable disease prevention
• Maternal child health
• Health systems strengthening

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Endowment Fund Returns: Umane and its philanthropic activities are funded exclusively by the annual returns generated by its endowment fund, established using the full proceeds from the sale of Hospital Samaritano's assets in 2016. The fund's returns ensure the organization's long-term sustainability, preserve its patrimony, and support its social mission. Umane does not receive external funding from third parties.
2. Project Donations (Outbound): Umane channels its endowment returns as donations to civil society organizations and nonprofits through Donation Agreements with Obligations (Contratos de Doação com Encargos). It does not charge fees or receive compensation for its grantmaking activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Umane is a nonprofit philanthropic foundation that funds and co-funds public health initiatives in Brazil through grantmaking to civil society organizations, the operation of direct-service programs (CRON obstetric/neonatal regulation and AMAS Umane pediatric clinic), the curation of large-scale epidemiological research (NutriNet Brasil, Coortes de Pelotas), and the operation of data and open-innovation platforms (Observatório da Saúde Pública and Open Innovation Platform in PHC). Its activities focus on three programmatic areas: Comprehensive Care for Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases, Primary Health Care Strengthening, and Women's/Children's/Adolescents' Health.

Product overview

Umane is a nonprofit civil association focused on strengthening Brazil's public health system. Its product portfolio centers on the Observatório da Saúde Pública (Public Health Observatory) platform, which aggregates health databases and analyses, and the Plataforma de Inovação Aberta em Atenção Primária à Saúde (Open Innovation Platform in Primary Health Care), which fosters technology-based solutions for primary care improvement. Umane also operates two direct service programs: the Central de Regulação Obstétrica e Neonatal (CRON), a 24-hour maternal-neonatal care coordination center, and the AMAS Umane pediatric outpatient clinic. Complementing these core offerings are programmatic initiatives including the Prevenção DCNTs 360º advocacy platform, the Mais Dados Mais Saúde digital survey program, Cardio for chronic disease management, NutriNet Brasil and Coortes de Pelotas epidemiological research studies, and various capacity-building and training programs. These initiatives work together to address non-communicable diseases, strengthen primary health care, and improve maternal-child health outcomes across Brazil.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CRON - Central de Regulação Obstétrica e Neonatal: Obstetric and Neonatal Regulation Center maintained by Umane since 2009 to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in São Paulo
• AMAS Umane - Atendimento Multiassistencial de Saúde
• Observatório da Saúde Pública (OSP)
• Rede de Parceiros Comunidades+Saúdáveis

Products and services

• Central de Regulação Obstétrica e Neonatal (CRON) A 24-hour regulation center that manages referrals and hospitalizations for pregnant women, women in labor, and newborns requiring intensive care or surgery in São Paulo and the metropolitan region. In 2025, CRON achieved a 91.1% request resolution rate and was attributed with a 262% reduction in maternal mortality during the 2021 pandemic through its interventions.
• Atendimento Multiassistencial de Saúde (AMAS Umane) A pediatric outpatient clinic providing early diagnosis, timely treatment, prevention, and comprehensive care for children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 in São Paulo, managed in partnership with IRSSL and recognized with ONA Level 1 accreditation in 2025.
• Observatório da Saúde Pública (Public Health Observatory) A digital platform that aggregates databases and provides analyses on public health in Brazil, making health data and research findings from initiatives such as Mais Dados Mais Saúde, Coortes de Pelotas, and Equidade em Saúde publicly accessible to support evidence-based decision-making by researchers, managers, and the general public.
• Plataforma de Inovação Aberta em Atenção Primária à Saúde (Open Innovation Platform in Primary Health Care) An open innovation platform developed with Artemisia that funds pilot projects to verify applicability, field effectiveness, and scalability of technology-based solutions for Primary Health Care, with Umane funding selected pilots to drive public health impact.
• Prevenção DCNTs 360° An advocacy and communication initiative supporting integrated public policies for the prevention of non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular, obesity, diabetes, cancer) based on the 360-Degree Prevention concept addressing modifiable risk factors.
• Mais Dados Mais Saúde A public health data innovation program co-implemented with Vital Strategies that conducts digital surveys on health topics including primary care user experience, discrimination, and climate-health relationships, with support from Instituto Devive on NCD data collection.
• Cardio (Cuidando de Todos) An initiative strengthening the screening, early diagnosis, treatment, and control of chronic non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cholesterol) in Basic Health Units, implemented by Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo in partnership with Fundação Novartis.
• NutriNet Brasil A 10-year epidemiological study following 200,000 Brazilians to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases, implemented by NUPENS/USP.
• Coortes de Pelotas Birth cohort studies examining the development of diseases and health conditions across the lifespan, implemented by Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel) with four active cohorts and global impact on health policies.
• Enfrentamento da Obesidade Infantojuvenil A project developed by Instituto Desiderata that addresses childhood and adolescent obesity in Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, and Recife through professional training, care pathways, regulatory actions, data collection, and knowledge dissemination.
• Equidade em Saúde: Observatório Nacional e Global A partnership with CIES/UFPel that improves monitoring of health indicators for Brazilian women, children, and adolescents with a focus on social, gender, ethnic, and geographic inequalities, producing the Centro Internacional de Equidade em Saúde's health inequality analyses.
• Líderes da Saúde (LIS): Atenção Primária A training program for health leaders on Primary Health Care planning and improvement of Health Care Network organizational processes, implemented with Conass and PAHO/WHO Brazil, and delivered by implementing partner Motriz.
• Síntese de Evidências Sobre Saúde no Município de SP A study by Insper's Arq.Futuro laboratory analyzing maternal, cardiovascular, and diabetes mortality in São Paulo from 2010 to 2019, identifying territorial inequalities associated with socioeconomic profiles across the city's 96 districts.
• Estudo AVISA - Covid-19 A study investigating SARS-CoV-2 transmission, immunity duration after infection, and medium-term consequences of COVID-19 to inform vaccination strategies, implemented with Instituto Butantan and Fundação Butantan across 11 research centers in Brazil.
• Indicadores de Referência para a Atenção Primária à Saúde no Brasil An indicator system developed with FGV-IBRE to monitor and evaluate the performance of Primary Health Care in Brazil using national databases (DATASUS, IBGE, SISAB).

Quantifiable outcome

• 91.1% request resolution rate at CRON (Obstetric and Neonatal Regulation Center) in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 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

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACT – Aliança de Controle do TabagismocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT is listed among Umane's implementing partners, working on tobacco control and health culture advocacy initiatives.
• Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo (BP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBP has been a partner in the CARDIO (Cuidando de Todos) initiative since 2024, implementing cardiovascular disease prevention in UBS (Basic Health Units) in São Paulo.
• Instituto de Responsabilidade Social Sírio-Libanês (IRSSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRSSL manages AMAS Umane (pediatric multi-care services in São Paulo) and since 2025 has taken over management of CRON (Obstetric and Neonatal Regulation Center).
• Vital StrategiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-investing and implementing partner, Vital Strategies co-implements the Mais Dados Mais Saúde program with Umane, conducting digital health surveys and data collection on NCD risk factors.
• Núcleo de Pesquisas Epidemiológicas de São Paulo (NUPENS/USP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNUPENS/USP is the implementing partner for NutriNet Brasil, a 10-year study following 200,000 Brazilians to investigate dietary patterns and NCDs. Also developed the Nova food classification system.
• Instituto DesideratacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for the Enfrentamento da Obesidade Infantojuvenil project in Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, and Recife, working on childhood obesity prevention through PHC training, care pathways, and advocacy.
• Fundação Altino Ventura (FAV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAV implements the V.E.R. – Visão Em Rede project in Serra Talhada, PE, using AI-powered portable devices for vision screening and ophthalmological care organization.
• Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUFPel is a key research partner, implementing the Coortes de Pelotas (birth cohort studies since 1982) and the Centro Internacional de Equidade em Saúde (CIES), which monitors health inequalities across Brazil and globally.
• IDIS – Instituto para Elaboração e Desenvolvimento de Projetos SociaiscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIDIS manages the Juntos pela Saúde fund (with BNDES and Umane) and supports project selection and monitoring for public health strengthening initiatives.
• Grupo Mulheres do BrasilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for the Unidos pela Eliminação do Câncer do Colo do Útero project in Caucaia, CE, working on HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and care continuity.
• Conass – Conselho Nacional de Secretários de SaúdecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical and strategic partner, collaborating on the Líderes da Saúde (LIS) program and Health Care Planning initiatives to strengthen PHC and health networks.
• ImpulsoGovcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner and co-investee (with BNDES) working on PHC innovation, data tools, and municipal health system strengthening.
• IEPS – Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de SaúdecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing and co-investing partner producing research on SUS policy, health inequalities, and the political dimensions of public health.
• Folha de S.PaulocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner hosting the Projeto Saúde Pública independent health journalism desk, supported by Umane to inform Brazilians about public health issues through daily reporting.
• ArtemisiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner co-developing the Open Innovation Platform in Primary Health Care, identifying and scaling impact-driven technology solutions for public health.
• Insper – Laboratório Arq.FuturocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner producing the Síntese de Evidências Sobre Saúde no Município de SP study analyzing maternal, cardiovascular, and diabetes mortality disparities across São Paulo's 96 districts.
• Instituto Butantan / Fundação ButantancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner implementing the AVISA Study on COVID-19 immunity and vaccination strategies, recruiting 3,077 participants across 11 research centers in Brazil.
• FGV-IBRE – Instituto Brasileiro de EconomiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner developing a national indicator system for monitoring and evaluating PHC performance in Brazil using DATASUS, IBGE, and SISAB data.
• MotrizcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for the Líderes da Saúde (LIS) training program, delivering 60 hours of training to 27 municipal, regional, and state health managers in Pernambuco.
• Fundação Amazonas Sustentável (FAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for SUS na Floresta project, bringing healthcare to riverine and indigenous communities in the Amazon region.
• VeredasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an implementing partner working on public health strengthening initiatives.
• NoHarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for patient safety intelligence tools integrated into Primary Health Care workflows, developed under the JPS program.
• Instituto DevivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical support partner in the Mais Dados Mais Saúde program, contributing to NCD data collection and health survey methodology.
• Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de São PaulocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic sector partner in CRON management (since 2016) and CARDIO implementation. Technical Cooperation Agreements without financial transfers support public health initiatives.
• Governo do Estado do CearáminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic sector partner collaborating on health initiatives including the Unidos pela Eliminação do Câncer do Colo do Útero project.
• Governo do Estado de PernambucominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic sector partner collaborating on health initiatives including the Líderes da Saúde (LIS) program.
• Prefeitura da Cidade do RecifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic sector partner collaborating on health initiatives including the Enfrentamento da Obesidade Infantojuvenil project.
• Ministério do Desenvolvimento SocialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government partner listed among Umane's public sector partnerships.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Vital Strategies: Global health organization that partners with governments to address NCDs, including cardiovascular disease, cancer prevention, and tobacco control. Co-implements Mais Dados Mais Saúde with Umane; directly comparable focus on NCD data and policy in low- and middle-income settings.
• BrazilFoundation: Brazilian-American foundation mobilizing resources for civil society organizations across health, education, and rights. Comparable mission around grantmaking to strengthen Brazilian public-interest organizations and vulnerable populations.
• IDIS - Instituto para o Desenvolvimento do Investimento Social: Brazilian reference institution for strategic social investment, managing funds and supporting social impact organizations. Functions as Umane's implementation partner on the Juntos pela Saúde program; comparable mission around strengthening Brazilian public systems through philanthropy.
• Instituto Unibanco: Brazilian institute funded by a private endowment (Itaú Unibanco), supporting public education system strengthening through partnerships with state secretariats. Highly comparable operating model to Umane: endowment-funded, public-sector strengthening, partner-network delivery, evidence-based programs - applied to education rather than health.
• Artemisia: Brazilian social impact accelerator that builds and invests in businesses solving social and environmental challenges. Co-develops Umane's Open Innovation Platform in PHC; comparable mission around deploying capital and innovation to strengthen Brazilian public systems.
• Fundação Lemann: Brazilian philanthropic foundation funded by a private endowment, supporting public-sector strengthening initiatives (education, health) through grantmaking to civil society partners. Closely comparable structure, mission, and operating model to Umane, though focused primarily on education.

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: One of the world's largest charitable foundations, funding global health research and policy. Listed as a Umane co-investor; comparable model of an endowment-driven foundation backing population health and biomedical research at scale, though with a much larger balance sheet.
• Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz): Brazil's leading public health research and development institution, affiliated with the Ministry of Health. Functions as a Umane technical partner; comparable focus on Brazilian public health research, SUS strengthening, and epidemiological studies (e.g., Coortes de Pelotas).
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Large U.S. philanthropic foundation focused on health system strengthening, health equity, and public health research. Closest international analog to Umane's mission of strengthening a national public health system through evidence-based, equity-focused grantmaking.
• Co-Impact: Global collaborative philanthropy initiative funding health, education, and economic opportunity programs in low- and middle-income countries. Listed as a Umane co-investor; comparable role as a co-funder alongside national foundations on systems-change initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/somosumane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/somosumane

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Umane