Simple initiatives can also boost the institutional strengthening of social organizations. In this story from ETIV do Brasil, supported by the Futuro Bem Maior program, a conversation transformed the relationship with the territory and generated a new local partner.
In a tourist town on the coast of Bahia, a common scene repeats itself: children gather for movie screenings organized by ETIV do Brasil , a social organization focused on education, the environment, and international volunteering in Itacaré. What few know is that, behind each screening, there is now the support of a new partner: a local grocery store that had never connected with the organization before—until one question changed everything.
ETIV do Brasil is one of 45 organizations participating in the 5th edition of Futuro Bem Maior , our program to strengthen community-based organizations throughout Brazil. It was during this journey that a special connection emerged as a result of a simple yet powerful activity: the Empathy Interview, one of the capacity-building tools offered by the program.
During Module 1 of the management training program, the ETIV team decided to interview the owner of a traditional grocery store in the city. Despite the geographical proximity, there had never been a direct exchange between the organization and the establishment. The conversation changed that. Upon learning more about ETIV's work and discovering the movie screenings for children, the shopkeeper was delighted with the proposal and began supporting the project by donating the popcorn kernels that now accompany the screenings.
This story might go unnoticed, but it represents much more than a gesture of generosity. It's a concrete example of how a management tool applied with empathy can generate connections and strengthen ties between social organizations and their communities.
In the "Greater Future" program , we believe that strengthening management doesn't have to be complex or far removed from the reality of CSOs (Civil Society Organizations). Therefore, the program offers a structured training path in four modules, with practical content focused on the day-to-day operations of these organizations. Developed by the Phomenta Institute , the training includes group meetings, individual consultations, and tools that help deepen the understanding of the territory, institutional performance, and potential impact.
One of these tools is the Empathy Interview — a guided conversation that encourages organizations to actively listen to different local stakeholders, identifying points of connection, opportunities for collaboration, and new ways to engage with the community. More than a technique, it's a way to create genuine bonds.
This active listening, when incorporated into institutional practice, reveals another dimension of strengthening. When we talk about institutional development, it is common to associate it with spreadsheets, strategic meetings, or goals. But it also arises from dialogue. It is in listening to those who are close—but still outside the network of relationships—that new ideas, unusual partnerships, and unexpected support emerge.
The trajectory of ETIV Brazil was not part of the case study sample for the program (which focused on the first three editions), but it clearly represents the impacts identified throughout the journey. One of the strongest data points from the case shows that 80.95% of the organizations stated that they achieved greater visibility in the communities where they operate. This is not achieved solely through numbers, but through presence, recognition, and a relationship of trust, such as the one that was built between ETIV and the local grocery store.
By opening themselves up to conversations with people they had never interacted with before, ETIV took an important step towards mature, connected, and sensitive leadership. And this movement bore fruit—or rather, it produced popcorn!
What does this story tell us about what lies ahead?
ETIV's experience shows that institutional strengthening can begin with something simple: attentive listening, a question asked with empathy. This is the kind of movement we continue to encourage at Futuro Bem Maior — because believing in social organizations is, above all, believing in the power of the connections they build.
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