BNDES stands out in the initiatives, with almost 38% of the total
By Marília de Camargo Cesar — From São Paulo
BNDES is consolidating itself as a major promoter of private social investment in Brazil, through its matchfunding programs, which have been attracting more and more companies to support socio-environmental, education and health causes. Donation Monitor, a platform that tracks publicly announced contributions worth R$3,000 or more, exceeded R$1.1 billion in donations last week, of which almost 38% come from programs linked to BNDES.
According to João Paulo Vergueiro, executive director of the Brazilian Association of Fundraisers (ABCR), the entity that created the monitor, “public companies account for almost 60% of all donations announced this year, and the BNDES is the largest donor so far. now".
With a total of R$412.60 million in contributions, the development bank overtook Petrobras, which until the beginning of the week occupied first place. The oil company announced R$280.9 million in shares, followed by the State Water and Sewage Company – Cedae, with R$70 million, and Cargill, with R$56.2 million. In total, there were 331 donors, of which 93 were companies, 207 were individuals, 23 were non-profit organizations and eight were miscellaneous, such as churches or unions.
“It is not new that the BNDES also attracts philanthropic resources for the country's development, and this serves as an inspiration for other banks”, observes Vergueiro. He explains that, as this is the first year of the monitor's historical series, there is no way to compare previous values. The tool was created to track philanthropy initiatives specifically linked to the health sector during the pandemic, but this year it became an instrument for measuring the donation movement in general.
The list of individual donors includes Lia Maria Aguiar, shareholder of Bradesco, president of the foundation that bears her name and biggest philanthropist in Campos do Jordão (SP), with R$40 million in contributions; Bernardo Paz, founder of Instituto Inhotim, with R$25 million, Ribeiro family, linked to the media sector in Rio Grande do Sul, with R$10 million, Elie (founder of Cyrela) and Susy Horn, R$1.4 million . Among the NGOs, Movimento Bem Maior, R$9.2 million , Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, R$7 million, and Fundação José Luiz Egydio Setubal, R$3.17 million.
Bruno Aranha, director of productive and socio-environmental credit at BNDES, highlights the bank's strong performance in the last three years in socio-environmental initiatives, with a total mobilization of R$ 2.5 billion for health, during the pandemic, recovery of historical heritage, education , socio-environmental recovery and, more recently, in the area of training professionals linked to education.
The Resgatando a História program, for example, raised R$300 million for restoration works on national historical heritage, with the participation of Ambev Brasil, EDP, Instituto Cultural Vale, Instituto Neonergia and MRS Logística. According to Aranha, the model of this matchfunding was innovative by offering greater compensation from the bank for recovery projects in the North and Northeast regions. “Instead of contributing R$1 for every R$1 from the partner, we put R$3 for R$1”, says Aranha. The restoration of the Complex Mercedários de Belém (PA), a 17th century building, is an example of projects that are part of this program.
Floresta Viva, an initiative linked to sustainability, was launched in November 2021 with the goal of raising R$500 million, half from BNDES and half from partners, but in six months it had already exceeded R$700 million in budgeted investments. “We should reach R$1 billion in the first quarter of 2023”, projects Aranha.
He clarifies that the bank now has less than 50% of the fund, remaining with the R$250 million initially budgeted. Partners include Cedae, Coopercitrus, Energisa, Eneva, Heineken Group, Government of Rio de Janeiro, Minerva Foods, Norte Energia, Petrobras, Philip Morris and Vale.
A program launched in August, at the request of companies, is Novos Rumos, providing professional training for people in socially vulnerable or low-income situations, in the areas of industry 4.0, information technology and green economy. R$60 million has already been committed, according to Aranha, half from the bank and the other half from partners such as TIM, Totvs, Ifood, Accenture and XP. “We are now selecting the institution that will manage this program,” he says.
. . .
Article originally published in Valor Econômico. To read in full, go here .
