Associação Salvador

What Associação Salvador does

Associação Salvador is a Portuguese private social-solidarity institution (IPSS) founded in 2003 by Salvador Mendes de Almeida, headquartered in Lisbon with a delegation in Porto. Its mission is to promote the inclusion and improve the quality of life of people with motor disabilities through direct financial support, employment integration, adapted sports, psychosocial services, accessibility consulting, and awareness programs. Core programs include Destino: Emprego (employment integration, with 42 labor-market placements in H1 2023), Ação Qualidade de Vida (direct grants totaling over €1.75M to 599 people across 16 editions), Desporto Adaptado (65 athletes across 7 modalities including a competitive paracycling team), Respostas e Apoios Sociais (psychosocial support and referral), and Sensibilização em Escolas (which reached 6,628 students in H1 2023). Academia Salvador commercializes corporate training, diversity-and-inclusion consulting, and the Selo de Acessibilidades certification.

The technology backbone is the Map4Accessibility / +Acesso Para Todos mobile and web application for crowdsourced mapping of physical accessibility in public spaces, deployed across 15 Portuguese municipalities (Norte, Centro, Alentejo) and extended to 4 European cities under the EU-co-funded Map4Accessibility project. Revenue mechanics are diversified across (i) tiered corporate mecenas (Platinum: Fundação Pedro Queiroz Pereira, Grupo Brisa, Santander Fundação, Semapa; Gold: novobanco, Stannah, REN; multiple Silver/Bronze sponsors), (ii) EU co-financing via Portugal Inovação Social / POISE / Erasmus+, (iii) one-time donations through MBWay, Multibanco and credit card, (iv) annual 'Amigo' memberships, (v) merchandise sales through an online store, and (vi) B2B consulting/training fees. The organization also pursues systemic change through a 2024-launched Advocacy area and through institutional partnerships such as the CP – Comboios de Portugal accessibility working team, Fundação INATEL, Porto Business School, and international consortia including Better to Include (Spain/Italy), Inclusion 4 All (Ireland), and Call4Action (Spain/North Macedonia).

Name

Associação Salvador

Legal name

Associação Salvador

Website

https://associacaosalvador.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Associação Salvador is a Portuguese nonprofit, founded in 2003, that promotes inclusion and quality of life for people with motor disabilities through direct financial support, employment integration, adapted sports, accessibility consulting, and advocacy programs across Portugal and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Inclusion and Social Support Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB), Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

Keywords

• Disability inclusion services
• Adapted sports programs
• Accessibility consulting
• Employment integration services
• Social support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Associação Salvador is a Portuguese non-profit organization that delivers programs and services to promote the inclusion of people with motor disabilities. Its core offerings include direct social and financial support (Respostas e Apoios Sociais, Ação Qualidade de Vida), employment integration (Destino: Emprego), adapted sports (Desporto Adaptado, InSports), training and accessibility consulting for companies and municipalities (Academia Salvador), advocacy for systemic change, and awareness programs in schools and communities.

Product overview

Associação Salvador operates as a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of social programs and services for people with motor disabilities. The core offerings include: direct support programs (Respostas e Apoios Sociais, Ação Qualidade de Vida) providing financial assistance and psychosocial support; employment integration through Destino: Emprego; adapted sports via Desporto Adaptado and InSports; community events; and advocacy for systemic change. Academia Salvador delivers training, consulting, and awareness programs including Choose to Include for corporate clients and Sensibilização em Escolas for educational institutions. The organization runs international projects (Inclusion 4 All, Better to Include, Map4Accessibility, Call4Action) co-funded by Erasmus+ and participates in EU-funded initiatives. Key resources include the Manual para Pessoas com Deficiência Motora and awareness campaigns like Quebra Degraus and Sem Acessibilidade, Mal Empregada a Lei. An online store and donation mechanisms (MBWay, Solidary Birthday Movement) support funding. The portfolio spans knowledge, integration, awareness, and growth/engagement areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Academia Salvador: Training and consulting division offering programs on diversity, inclusion, recruitment, accessibility consulting, inspirational experiences, and teambuildings for companies and municipalities.
• Advocacy

Products and services

• Destino: Emprego Employment integration program that supports people with motor disabilities in finding and maintaining employment, with dedicated areas for both companies and candidates. Integrated 42 people into the labor market in the first half of 2023.
• Desporto Adaptado Adapted sports program offering 7 modalities with 65 regular athletes, including a paracycling team competing in national competitions.
• Respostas e Apoios Sociais Social support services providing psychosocial support, information guidance, and referral to social services for people with motor disabilities.
• Ação Qualidade de Vida Annual program providing direct financial support to people with motor disabilities with limited financial resources, covering home modifications, education/employment, and adaptive sports equipment. Has supported 599 people totaling over €1.75 million across 16 editions; awards ~€130,000 to ~28 people per year.
• Advocacy Systemic change initiative focused on research and political influence regarding accessibility and assistive products, working annually on two themes to change public and private policies for people with motor disabilities.
• Academia Salvador Training and consulting division offering programs including In Culture, In Leadership, In Recruitment, In Awareness, In Schools, In Accessibility, In Local, and In Communication, plus teambuilding experiences (Peddypaper Corporate, Crossability Corporate, Sunset Corporate), accessibility consulting (Consultoria de Acessibilidades, Consultoria em Diversidade & Inclusão, Cliente Mistério), and the Selo de Acessibilidades certification for companies and municipalities.
• InSports Erasmus+-funded European project promoting adaptive sports participation for people with motor disabilities, developed with MAD for Europe and Lisbon Naval Association.
• Inclusion 4 All Erasmus+-funded school awareness and self-advocacy project developed with the Irish Wheelchair Association for people with disabilities in Ireland and Portugal.
• Better to Include Erasmus+-funded international project with Fundación Integralia (Spain) and Cooperativa Social Mestieri Lombardia (Italy), creating a guide of good practices for labor inclusion of people with disabilities.
• Map4Accessibility European accessibility mapping application developed in partnership with universities, companies, NGOs and municipalities to provide information about accessibility of public spaces in 4 European cities.
• Call4Action Largest European accessibility project, co-funded by Erasmus+, partnering with Impulsa Igualdad (Spain) and Poraka Nova (North Macedonia), focused on evaluating public space accessibility.
• +Acesso Para Todos – Por Comunidades Mais Inclusivas Social accessibility awareness project present in 15 municipalities across Portugal (Norte, Centro, Alentejo regions), supported by Portugal Inovação Social and EU funds. Completed over 700 actions impacting more than 12,000 people.
• Sensibilização em Escolas School awareness program using puppet theaters, peddypapers, and lectures with personal testimonies to educate children about motor disabilities and inclusion. Includes teacher training (Formação de Professores). Impacted 6,628 students in the first half of 2023.
• Solidary Birthday Movement Birthday donation program allowing supporters to designate their birthday celebrations to support the association's mission.
• Loja Online Online store selling merchandise to support the association's mission, accepting MBWay, Multibanco, and Credit Card payments. Shipping €2.40 for 100-500g, €4.80 above 500g; free shipping for purchases ≥€50.
• Selo de Acessibilidades (Accessibility Certification Seal) A certification awarded to establishments that meet accessibility standards, promoting best practices and informing the public about accessible spaces.
• Eventos de Convívio e Partilha Social events and community gatherings that bring together people with motor disabilities for recreational and cultural activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,758 people supported
• +6 more outcomes

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 15 Câmaras Municipais (Torres Vedras, Porto, Amarante, Maia, Gondomar, Guimarães, Leiria, Batalha, Tomar, Santarém, Rio Maior, Grândola, Ourique, Almodôvar, Castro Verde)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 202215 municipalities acting as social investors in the +Acesso para Todos project, collaborating on accessibility awareness and municipal accessibility planning.
• Via DiretaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVia Direta provides transportation/mobility services supporting the organization's operations. Partnership was renewed in 2026.
• CP – Comboios de PortugalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on establishing a CP working team dedicated to accessibility. Associação Salvador participates in awareness actions at railway stations to promote inclusive mobility.
• Fundación Integralia (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the Better to Include project, promoting inclusion of people with disabilities in the labor market across Spain and Portugal.
• Cooperativa Social Mestieri Lombardia (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the Better to Include project, bringing expertise on social and labor inclusion from Italy.
• Irish Wheelchair AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the Inclusion 4 All project (Erasmus+), focused on school awareness and self-advocacy for people with disabilities in Ireland and Portugal.
• MAD for Europe (MAD4EU, Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the InSports project, implementing adaptive sports practice sessions for people with physical disabilities.
• Associação Naval de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the InSports project, contributing expertise in water sports and adapted sailing.
• Impulsa Igualdad (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Call4Action project, the largest European accessibility project, evaluating and promoting accessibility across public spaces.
• Poraka Nova (North Macedonia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Call4Action project, contributing to the European accessibility evaluation and awareness network.
• Instituto Nacional de Reabilitação (INR)minorOthersGovernmental institute providing information on accessibility programs such as PRR Acessibilidades 360º and national accessibility policy.
• Fundação INATELminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hosting the Dia do Desporto Adaptado event and supporter of adapted sports initiatives.
• Porto Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing educational and research collaboration.
• Dentsu Creative PortugalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative agency that developed the 'Sem Acessibilidade, Mal Empregada A Lei' campaign and 'Quebra Degraus' campaign for the organization.
• Partners (Creative Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative agency that developed the Quebra Degraus awareness campaign.
• 78 FilmesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company responsible for creating campaign films for the Quebra Degraus and related campaigns.
• 78minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company that produced campaign materials for accessibility awareness campaigns.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de LisboaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing scientific meetings on spinal cord injuries, providing the Prémio Melo e Castro.
• ICVS / Universidade do MinhominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner collaborating on spinal cord injury research meetings and projects.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• International Paralympic Committee: Global governing body of the Paralympic Movement, organising elite para-sport competition and supporting member National Paralympic Committees — comparable on the para-sport organising/governing axis, though at a far larger scale.
• Special Olympics International: Global movement providing year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities — overlaps Associação Salvador's adapted-sport programme (Desporto Adaptado / InSports) at a much larger international scale.

Others

• European Disability Forum: EU-level umbrella organisation representing over 100 million Europeans with disabilities, focused on advocacy and policy influence — overlaps with Associação Salvador's 2024-launched Advocacy area of activity at the EU rather than national level.

Direct peers

• APPC – Associação Portuguesa de Paralisia Cerebral: Portuguese national association supporting people with cerebral palsy and motor disabilities through rehabilitation, employment, school support and advocacy — operates in the same Portuguese disability ecosystem with overlapping service lines.
• Fundación Adecco: Spanish foundation dedicated to labour inclusion of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, offering training, awareness programmes and corporate consulting — directly comparable to Associação Salvador's Destino: Emprego and Academia Salvador lines.
• Irish Wheelchair Association: Ireland's national disability services organisation covering wheelchair users and people with physical disabilities, offering employment, sport, advocacy and accessibility services — structurally the closest peer to Associação Salvador and already a project partner on Inclusion 4 All.
• Fundación ONCE: Spain's largest disability foundation, operating employment (Fundación Inserta), accessibility consulting, adapted sport and training programmes for people with physical and organic disabilities — directly comparable in mission, programme mix and mécenas model.
• Fundación Integralia: Spanish foundation dedicated to the labour inclusion of people with disabilities, providing training, job placement and accessibility consulting to corporates — already a project partner (Better to Include) and directly comparable on the employment-integration side.
• Fundação LIGA: Portuguese foundation promoting the social and professional inclusion of people with disabilities, focused on adapted work and supported employment — comparable on the Portuguese employment-integration and assistive-tech axis.

Regional players

• Cooperativa Social Mestieri Lombardia: Italian social cooperative focused on labour and social inclusion of disadvantaged groups including people with disabilities — a co-developer on the Better to Include project and directly comparable on the European employment-inclusion mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@associacaosalvador
• Facebookfacebook.com/associacaosalvador
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associacaosalvador
• Instagraminstagram.com/associacaosalvador

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Associação Salvador