Why coalitions are strategic for philanthropy

Coalitions drive new co-investment experiences by connecting different actors around common causes.

Some of Brazil's main challenges, from food insecurity to productive inclusion, share a common characteristic: no organization can tackle them alone. This observation helps explain why coalitions have gained relevance on the agenda of philanthropy and private social investment.

Not by chance, coalitions appear among the trends highlighted by the publication "Perspectives for Philanthropy in Brazil 2026," produced by IDIS. The publication emphasizes the advancement of collaborative models capable of bringing together different resources and mobilization power around shared objectives. It also draws attention to the importance of expanding the participation of territories and communities in decisions related to social investment.

This agenda points to an important shift. There is a growing understanding that more consistent results depend on coordination, collective learning, and solutions connected to local realities.

The rise of coalitions in Brazilian philanthropy

Collaboration already occupies a significant place in the Brazilian philanthropic ecosystem. According to the Benchmarking of Corporate Social Investment (BISC) 2025, 77% of responding companies participate in initiatives developed in partnership with other actors.

At the same time, the debate is evolving. Financial collaboration remains important, but it is no longer sufficient to meet contemporary challenges. Shared governance, social participation, joint knowledge production, and the strengthening of local leadership are becoming increasingly strategic on the agenda of social investors.

In this scenario, coalitions emerge as structures capable of bringing together different skills around the same cause or territory. In addition to preventing the dispersion of investment, they promote strategic alignment, coordination of efforts, and the collective construction of solutions.

What differentiates a coalition from a traditional investment model?

In conventional models, each investor defines priorities, selects organizations, and monitors results, or even executes the activities. In coalitions, the logic is different. Different institutions combine complementary capabilities and share a common vision.

Financial resources are important, but they represent only part of the equation. Networks of relationships, technical knowledge, and institutional influence also come into play. This articulation favors more informed decisions, reduces the fragmentation of efforts, and strengthens organizations that already have legitimacy within the communities where they operate.

Furthermore, it creates environments for continuous learning. Companies, philanthropists, civil society organizations, academia, and the public sector contribute from different perspectives, broadening the understanding of the challenges and the quality of the solutions developed.

The growth of co-investment models reinforces a dynamic of collaboration and shared responsibility from the outset. In this model, risks, knowledge, and execution capacity are shared among partners, enabling results that would be difficult to achieve individually.

The territory as a starting point

As coalitions and co-investment models become more established, the understanding that solutions depend on the participation of those who experience the challenges on a daily basis.

National and international experiences show that initiatives built with the active participation of communities are more aligned with local needs, strengthen existing capacities, and generate more consistent results.

Our community-based strengthening program, Futuro Bem Maior, also reinforces this perception, which also appears in the IDIS study. Therefore, the challenge becomes less about sharing resources and more about building relationships that can incorporate different perspectives in defining strategies.

Beyond the effectiveness of this approach, placing territory at the center of decision-making helps reduce historical power imbalances and strengthens the role of civil society as a protagonist in building solutions to complex problems.

How does Redes put coalitions into practice in the territories?

It is precisely from this vision that the Redes, a new front of the Bem Maior Movement focused on building territorial co-investment platforms.

Its goal is to connect social investors, civil society organizations, community leaders, and strategic partners around shared challenges, creating conditions for resources and efforts to act in a coordinated manner.

The pilot project will be developed in Ceará, a state recognized for its capacity for innovation in public policies, the presence of active social organizations, and an environment conducive to collaboration between different sectors. At the same time, it still faces significant challenges related to food insecurity, informality, and social vulnerability.

According to data presented in an initial survey, approximately 3.4 million people live in a situation of food insecurity in the state, and more than 500,000 face severe hunger.

Redes Ceará will initially focus its efforts on the municipalities of Fortaleza (in the neighborhoods of Grande Bom Jardim and Mucuripe) and Maracanaú. The strategy articulates productive inclusion, food security, and integrated territorial development, supporting organizations with a strong local presence and capacity for community mobilization.

The initiative was launched with Somos Um, Instituto Localiza , and Movimento Bem Maior as the implementing bodies; and Pacto contra a Fome and Fundação Dom Cabral as technical partners; resources have already been mobilized, and there is a fundraising goal of R$ 10 million by 2027. The structure combines shared governance, results monitoring, and knowledge production, contributing to the strengthening of future co-investment experiences in other states through these lessons learned.

A path to amplifying collective impact

If coalitions are gaining ground in philanthropy, it is because they offer a concrete alternative to the dispersion of efforts that still characterizes part of Brazilian social investment.

It is important to recognize that working together does not eliminate differences. On the contrary, it requires coordination, trust, and a willingness to build common agendas among actors with different perspectives and priorities. Even so, it offers one of the most promising responses to increase the effectiveness of resources and strengthen the impact ecosystem in Brazil.

The Redes initiative stems from this understanding. Its purpose is to create conditions for organizations, investors, local philanthropists, and leaders to act in a more connected way, strengthening collaborative practices that have been gaining ground in the field of philanthropy.

We know that complex problems require collective solutions. How much is this conviction already reflected in the way we invest?