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Home About the Brazil Fund

About the Brazil Fund

We are an independent, non-profit foundation created by activists to strengthen civil society organizations in the fight for human rights

Our mission

The Brazil Fund’s mission is to promote respect for human rights in Brazil, building innovative and sustainable mechanisms that channel resources to strengthen civil society organizations and to develop social justice philanthropy.

Our mission

Who we are

We are an independent, non-profit foundation created by activists to strengthen civil society organizations, mainly those led by people and communities directly affected by rights violations.

At the Brazil Fund, we understand that a strong civil society is a fundamental component of democracy.

Our support consists of resource grants; facilitation of learning, mobilizing and networking opportunities; and individualized monitoring of each supported organization and collective’s work. All that is done with respect to the autonomy and strategies of each group, aiming to offer technical support and to heighten the impacts of each group.

Autonomy of the supported groups and a leading role for people and communities directly affected by rights violations are fundamental values to the Brazil Fund

We support fights for racial and gender justice, for the rights of indigenous peoples’, quilombolas and local populations, for climate justice in the Amazon and other biomes of the country, for children’s and youth’s rights, for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, for those of rural workers in precarious conditions, for communities impacted by infrastructure works and urban enterprising, for victims of State violence and their families and communities, the fight against mass incarceration and torture in the prison system, among others. 

To maintain that work, we raise funds to allocate them to organizations and communities that fight for fundamental rights and against inequalities, institutional violence and discrimination throughout the country. In that manner, we act as a bridge connecting donors to social transformation projects.

Leadership and team

  • Founders
  • Board of directors
  • Fiscal council
  • Advisory board
  • Executive office
  • Abdias do Nascimento
    Abdias do Nascimento
    Abdias do Nascimento
    1914-2011
    He was one of the most important Brazilian activists in the fight against racial prejudice. Engaged in the Brazilian Black Front, he fought racial segregation. An artist, writer and poet, he founded the Black Experimental Theater. As the first afro brazilian congress representative, he dedicated his term to the fight against racism. He was also a senator and secretary for Defense and Promotion of Afro Brazilian Populations in Rio de Janeiro. He passed away in 2011, at 97 years old.
  • Margarida Genevois
    Margarida Genevois
    Margarida Genevois
    She is a reference for the defense of human rights in Brazil. She fought the military dictatorship’s violations during two decades. She was the president of the Peace and Justice Commission at the Archdiocese of São Paulo and a member of the Human Rights Commission at USP. During her resistance trajectory, she aided political prisoners and reported cases of disappearances and torture to international organizations. After the re-democratization, she remained engaged in social movements. She presides over the Conectas Deliberative Council.
  • Rose Marie Muraro
    Rose Marie Muraro
    Rose Marie Muraro
    1930-2014
    She was an important activist of the feminist movement in Brazil. Throughout her life, she wrote 44 books and edited 1600 publications. One of her books, “Sexuality of the Brazilian Woman: body and social class in Brazil” from 1996, is a classic study on the sexuality of Brazilian women from their class situation. As an editor, she became known for her resistance to the dictatorship by publishing authors considered damned by the government. She worked alongside her friend Leonardo Boff at Vozes Publisher and, from that partnership, were born the Woman’s Liberation Movement and the Liberation Theology. She passed away in June 2014, at 83 years old.
  • Dom Pedro Casaldáliga
    Dom Pedro Casaldáliga
    Dom Pedro Casaldáliga
    1928-2020
    Catalan from Barcelona, Spain, he joined the Claretian Order, wherein he was ordained a priest in 1943. He arrived in Brazil in 1968 and, three years later, was ordained bishop in São Félix do Araguaia (MT). He dedicates his life to fighting injustices, especially slave labor in the Brazilian Amazon. An adept of the Liberation Theology, he is also a defender of agrarian reform. Throughout his entire trajectory he faced death threats. He is the founder of the Land Pastoral Commission and the Missionary Indigenist Council. A writer and a poet, he lives a simple life as bishop emeritus of São Félix do Araguaia.
  • Mafoane Odara | Presidente
    Mafoane Odara | Presidente
    Mafoane Odara | Presidente
    A Psychologist and master in Social Psychology by the University of São Paulo, she is an executive in Human Resources. Dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of social transformation processes through the development of political leaders and the support and coordination of the public, social and business sectors. She integrates the council for the Brazilian Institute of Studies and Communitary Support and the Council of Diversity at FGV-SP.
  • Gersem Luciano Baniwa
    Gersem Luciano Baniwa
    Gersem Luciano Baniwa
    He holds a degree in Philosophy by the Federal University of Amazonas, a masters and doctorate in Social Anthropology by the University of Brasília. Currently he’s an associate professor in the Anthropology Department of the University of Brasília. He was the Director for the Federation of Indigenous Organizations from Rio Negro/FOIRN and General Coordinator for the Network of Indigenous Organizations in the Brazilian Amazon/COIAB. He was a Councillor for two terms in the National Council of Education and a General Coordinator of Indigenous School Education at MEC (CGEEI/SECAD/MEC). He was the President-Director of the Indigenous Center of Studies and Research (CINEP).
  • Janiele de Paula
    Janiele de Paula
    Janiele de Paula
    Is licenced in Languages by the Federal University of Minas Gerais and was an english language teacher for 11 years in Belo Horizonte, acting in Poland. She is currently a Master’s student in Public Policies Management by FGV, and since 2017 she has worked with projects of impact in public administration, in which she was a Trainee and Manager of Penitentiary Support and Humanization at the Secretary of Penitentiary Administration in Maranhão.
  • Rafael Lins Bezze
    Rafael Lins Bezze
    Rafael Lins Bezze
    Graduated Economist by PUC-RJ, Rafael Bezze has a post-graduation in Financial Administration and an MBA in Financial Management at IBMEC. He is a partner and responsible for the management area of Family Office and the financial consultancy Expresso Planejamento.
  • Susy Yoshimura
    Susy Yoshimura
    Susy Yoshimura
    She is the director of Sustainability at the Carrefour Group Brazil. She is also an advisor for the social organization Entrepreneurs Alliance. Graduated in administration by the São Paulo School for Business Administration of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation, she has in her trajectory almost 20 years of work in the fields of sustainability and private social investment such as Natura Cosmetics, Grupo Pão de Açúcar, Via and social organizations such as Ashoka.
  • Veriano de Souza Terto JR.
    Veriano de Souza Terto JR.
    Veriano de Souza Terto JR.
    He holds a degree in Psychology by the State University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, a masters in Psychology (Clinical Psychology) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and a doctorate in Collective Health by the State University of Rio de Janeiro (1997). He was a projects coordinator and general coordinator at ABIA (1989-2012), focusing on the following themes: hiv/aids, public policies, human rights, homossexuality and sexuality. Currently, he’s the vice president of ABIA.
  • Karla Battistella | Presidente
    Karla Battistella | Presidente
    Karla Battistella | Presidente
    Graduated in Law by PUC-SP, specializing in Environmental Law with an extension in Macroeconomy by the London School of Economics and MBA in Business Administration by FIA-USP. She is a director of Operations at the World Resources Institute / WRI Brazil and is part of the Fiscal Council of Amnesty International.
  • Erica Pereira de Souza
    Erica Pereira de Souza
    Erica Pereira de Souza
    Administrator, bachelor of law, administrative-financial coordinator at the Geledés Black Women’s Institute. She has experience with regulatory frameworks and financial management for the third sector, businesses’ social responsibility and strategic planning for black organizations.
  • Gisela Sales Cordeiro
    Gisela Sales Cordeiro
    Gisela Sales Cordeiro
    She originates in the financial field and has professional experience in the corporate world. In the second half of her professional life, she dedicates to the third sector, promoting an interchange between the experience acquired in the private sector and the third sector. She is a manager of operations for the Arapyaú Institute.
  • Marta Elizabete Vieira Santana | Suplente
    Marta Elizabete Vieira Santana | Suplente
    Marta Elizabete Vieira Santana | Suplente
    Marta Vieira is an administrator, with 20 years experience in the administrative and financial field in civil society organizations, with a post graduation in social projects management for civil society organizations and in accounting and controllership. Currently she’s the financial coordinator at Repórter Brasil.
  • Jorge Eduardo Durão
    Jorge Eduardo Durão
    Jorge Eduardo Durão
    A lawyer, he holds a post graduation degree in Social Anthropology. He is an executive board advisor at Fase – Solidarity and Education. He was the president of Abong (Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations).
  • Marisa Peres
    Marisa Peres
    Marisa Peres
    A lawyer with 25 years of experience, including 10 years with emphasis in compliance. An internationally certified professional by SCCE with CCPE - I, as well as CPC-A by LCB. Currently she’s the Compliance director for Nissan South America & Data Privacy Officer at Nissan Brazil, a member of the Consultive Council for Collective Actions at the Brazil Network of the Global Pact and a founding member of Jurídico de Saias.
  • Paulo Carbonari
    Paulo Carbonari
    Paulo Carbonari
    Graduated in Philosophy at the Berthier Institute (IFIBE) with acknowledgement by the University of Passo Fundo (1993), he is a master by the Federal University of Goiás and a doctor by the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos. He is a professor at the Berthier Institute (IFIBE). He is a militant for the National Human Rights Movement and the Human Rights Commission of Passo Fundo (CDHPF). Member of the State Council of Human Rights in Rio Grande do Sul.
  • Viviane Menezes Hermida
    Viviane Menezes Hermida
    Viviane Menezes Hermida
    Graduated in Psychology, with a masters in Anthropology and Development and a doctorate in the Post Graduation Program in Interdisciplinary Studies on Women, Gender and Feminism at UFBA – The Federal University of Bahia. She is a feminist and militant for the right to the city. An advisor at Fondo de Acción Urgente.
  • Marina Marçal do Nascimento
    Marina Marçal do Nascimento
    Marina Marçal do Nascimento
    A lawyer, head of diplomacy for cities in the C40, researcher in climate policy at the Washington Brazil Office, human, social and environmental rights rapporteur for the DHESCA Brazil platform (2023-2025), and member of the advisory board of the Environmentalist Parliamentary Front. She acted as a head advisor in the environment and climate secretary for the prefecture of Rio de Janeiro and was the coordinator of the climate policy portfolio for the Climate and Society Institute. She was a visiting researcher in the environment and ecology program at Columbia Law School in New York (2022). Marina is a doctorate student and master in Sociology and Law by the Fluminense Federal University, where she took her degree, and is also a master in Ethno-Racial Relations by CEFET-RJ.
  • Eloísa Machado de Almeida
    Eloísa Machado de Almeida
    Eloísa Machado de Almeida
    She is a professor of the Lato Sensu Post Graduation Program at FGV Law SP (FGV LAW), advisor to the Pro Bono Institute, lawyer and advisor in international projects. A Doctor in Human Rights by the Law School of the University of São Paulo (USP) and Master in Constitutional Politics by the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-
    SP). She holds a degree in Law by PUC-SP and another in Social Sciences by USP.
  • Ana Valéria Araújo | Diretora executiva
    Ana Valéria Araújo | Diretora executiva
    Ana Valéria Araújo | Diretora executiva
    A lawyer graduated in the Law School of UERJ (State University of Rio de Janeiro), she’s a master in international law by American University and specializes in indigenous rights and the defense of socio-environmental rights. She’s a founding-partner at ISA (Instituto Socioambiental). She was executive director for the Rainforest Foundation US, in New York (EUA).
  • Allyne Andrade e Silva | Diretora executiva adjunta
    Allyne Andrade e Silva | Diretora executiva adjunta
    Allyne Andrade e Silva | Diretora executiva adjunta
    A lawyer graduated in the Law School of UERJ (State University of Rio de Janeiro), she’s a master and doctor in law by USP (University of São Paulo). She has obtained the LL.M (Master of Laws) in the area of Radical Critical Theory by UCLA (University of California in Los Angeles). Author of the book Direito e Políticas Públicas Quilombolas.

The Brazil Human Rights Fund has an Ethics Committee, responsible for ensuring adherence to the Integrity Policy, Code of Ethics, and Conduct Guidelines.

The fund also includes an Investment Committee, responsible for guiding the foundation’s investments within the framework of its Endowment Fund.

Our impact

19.4 million USD

19.4 million USD

granted to human rights organizations

46

46

general and themed calls for proposals and 4 emergency funds

1.860

1.860

projects supported throughout the country

36

36

training meetings for members of supported projects

209

209

visits to supported projects in their locations, in all 5 regions of the country

61

61

public sensibilization events (themed seminaries, musical shows, among others)

93

93

campaigns and product of communication

19.4 million USD

19.4 million USD

granted to human rights organizations

46

46

general and themed calls for proposals and 4 emergency funds

1.860

1.860

projects supported throughout the country

36

36

training meetings for members of supported projects

209

209

visits to supported projects in their locations, in all 5 regions of the country

61

61

public sensibilization events (themed seminaries, musical shows, among others)

93

93

campaigns and product of communication

Institutional support

Transparency

We promote clarity and access to information about the management of resources monitored by independent audits.
Bylaws

Titles and Certifications

CEBAS – Certification of Social Assistance Benevolent Entities

CEBAS – Certification of Social Assistance Benevolent Entities

Doar Seal Certificate for Management and Transparency A+

Doar Seal Certificate for Management and Transparency A+

CEBAS – Certification of Social Assistance Benevolent Entities

CEBAS – Certification of Social Assistance Benevolent Entities

Certificate of Federal Public Utility

Certificate of Federal Public Utility

Certificate of promoting entity of Human Rights

Certificate of promoting entity of Human Rights

Private: Document of ITCMD exemption

Private: Document of ITCMD exemption

COMAS Registration

COMAS Registration

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Fundo Brasil is part of the Comuá Network - Philanthropy that Transforms

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