On October 20th, Brazil celebrates National Philanthropy Day, a special date that celebrates generosity and the spirit of solidarity. Philanthropy, derived from the Greek "philos" (love) and "anthropos" (human being), is an altruistic act that involves the donation of time, resources, or knowledge to social and humanitarian causes. The date, established by Law No. 13.925/2019, aims to give visibility to the philanthropic sector and the practice of philanthropy in Brazil, which involves more than 16 million volunteers and contributes to social development and the reduction of inequalities in the country.
Philanthropy plays an important role in Brazil by strengthening social cohesion, supporting important social causes, and driving the country's socioeconomic development. It acts in a complementary way to governmental efforts, allowing social organizations and individual and corporate donors to act in an agile and innovative manner to address complex social challenges.
Furthermore, philanthropy is fundamental in promoting education, health, culture, the environment, and many other areas, contributing to the construction of a more just, inclusive, and compassionate society. Todos Pela Educação, for example, works to promote quality basic education in Brazil. The José Luiz Egydio Setúbal Foundation, in turn, is a family organization dedicated to the cause of children's and youth health in the country. Another example is the Sustainable Amazon Foundation, which focuses on the sustainable development of the Amazon through initiatives in the areas of education, citizenship, health, and environmental conservation, among others.
According to data from the 2022 Brazil Donation Survey, conducted by IDIS, the practice of donating is gaining increasing momentum in Brazil. Last year, for example, 84% of Brazilians over 18 years of age with a family income higher than one minimum wage made at least one type of donation, whether of money, goods, or time, in the form of volunteering. Two years earlier, the average was 66%.
On the side of major philanthropists, the Filantropando, organized by the Beja Institute, highlights that donations in Brazil are growing, but the amounts could increase. According to information from the publication, the estimated total of donations in the country is US$4 billion per year, and the forecast is US$20 billion, based on its share of global GDP, or US$28 billion if the number of Brazilian billionaires is taken into account.
The Greater Good Movement and philanthropy
In the Bem Maior Movement, we believe in philanthropy as a tool for exercising active citizenship and strengthening a society based on social justice. Furthermore, for us, strategic philanthropy is the social investment thesis upon which our philanthropic resource allocation choices are based. The goal is to make informed decisions to generate effective actions.
We consider investment based on objectives, relevant evidence, field observation, and available social technologies. In addition, we rely on effective evaluation models and the use of consistent data in formulating plans for the use of resources obtained, in order to optimize results and processes, and effectively solve social problems.
The idea of leveraging investments collaboratively and expanding the impact of actions, with efficient management of resources and human capital, guides our actions.
To learn more about how the Bem Maior Movement has been contributing to the strengthening of philanthropy in the country, access our 2022 Annual Report.
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