Annually, the Philanthropy Network holds the Inter -American Strategic Philanthropy Forum (FIFA), one of Brazil's main management and social innovation meetings. In 2025, the event landed in Curitiba - and, for the first time, I had the opportunity to participate in person, representing the Big Major Movement, the forum's institutional partner.
I participate in the construction of industry guidelines for some time, but being in FIFA went closely to live the pulse of the Brazilian philanthropic ecosystem - and also to miss Curitiba, a city that I've had the opportunity to visit many times, both for work and for a walk. I share below some reflections that this experience brought me:
Corporate governance in the third sector
The event impresses with volume and diversity: more than 1,300 people, 100 panels and an intense circulation of leaders, social organizations, professional and experts. This mobilization demonstrates the strength and amplitude of the Brazilian third sector, increasingly professional and articulated around contemporary themes.
Continuous search for professionalization
The setting of the booths - with law firms, specialized audits, digital platforms and management solutions - reflected an important movement: professionalization has been consolidating itself as a lever to strengthen sustainability, maturity and reach of social organizations. More than a differential, investing in qualified management is an essential step for those seeking to make work perennial and expand the positive impact on the territory.
The importance of strategic performance in COP 30
One of the most exciting moments was the conversation wheel about COP 30 , led by Francinaldo Santos Jr , Erika Bechara , Fabiana Dias and Jairo Malta . Reflections on the role of Brazilian social organizations at the World Conference, and the risk of having a “global south” COP, brought to light the need to reinforce political incidence strategies, advocacy and visibility for the third sector. To deepen the theme, I leave a recent article from Erika Bechara published on Folha .
The very bigger future in evidence
I had the honor of presenting, firsthand, the institutional case of the Big Fotal Future - an important milestone for our strategy for strengthening community organizations. Even more special was to rediscover organizations that went through the program, now present at the event and engaged in the discussions. See these leaders deepening knowledge, expanding connections and occupying spaces such as FIFA reinforces what we always believe: lasting impact is born of trust relationships, built with presence and real partnership.
A sector connected to the great global transformations
Topics such as climate crisis, artificial intelligence, tariff war and geopolitical changes permeated many of the discussions throughout the event, reflecting a third sector aware of the transformations of our time. It was inspiring to perceive how social organizations are appropriating these agendas and seeking answers in their way.
Upon being interviewed by the event team at one of the programming intervals, I was asked which word would synthesize the FIFE experience. I answered without hesitation: communion. In addition to networking or training, FIFE consolidates itself as a space where knowledge, experience and purpose intertwine, expanding the boundaries of social action. It was a privilege to represent MBM in this fertile environment - reaffirming that it is from our collaboration value that we build the impact we want for the future.
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This post was written by:
Guilherme Mattoso, Communication Manager of the Movement Big Maior
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