We know: there’s a lot to read out there.
We all wish we had time in the day to curl up in bed with a good white paper. In this series, we read the latest research, reports, and white papers that advance the grassroots grantmaking movement so that they can read to as wide an audience as possible. And we try to keep it short, so you can know what’s worth a long read later on.
This guide is aimed at companies, institutions, funders and foundations interested in reducing the impact of inequality from the "inside" to the "outside" of giving in Brazil. In other words, it speaks directly to those who are willing to look inside their own organizations, to stop "sweeping the dust under the rugs" and to understand that it is time for an ecosystemic review of philanthropy and private social investment (PSI) in Brazil.
Why Proximate chose it: at its core, it is a reversal of the premise that whoever is at the center of power is also at the center of knowledge. An opportunity for donors to learn from those who make it happen.
Using a mixed-methods approach, it provides an overview of the 834 Black organizations that work with philanthropic funding and private social investment institutions, analyzing both access to funding and the distribution of resources. Using a bibliographic survey, online forms and interviews with philanthropic leaders, the research highlights the importance of directing philanthropic resources so that Black organizations develop their activities in a sustainable way, promoting deep and lasting social change rooted in ancestral knowledge and the challenges of their territories. The study was led by Luana Braga Batista, who writes for Proximate in the April 2025 issue.
Why Proximate chose it: Cross-referencing data on Brazilian philanthropy and race helps reveal the paradigms of thinking that make it much more difficult for black organizations to receive funding.
In addition to its services and contributions to society, the Third Sector plays a significant role in the Brazilian economy. Civil society organizations account for more than 4% of GDP, thanks to their various economic activities, their production chains, and the generation of jobs.
This is revealed by the study "The Importance of the Third Sector to GDP in Brazil," an initiative led by the Movement for a Culture of Giving, coordinated by Sitawi Finanças do Bem and carried out by the Institute for Economic Research Foundation (Fipe). The research aims to obtain solid data on the Third Sector's contribution to relevant economic indicators.
Why Proximate chose it: little is known about the size of the Brazilian social sector inside and outside Brazil, and this study is an important step toward educating the Brazilian population and the international funding community.
The suspension of US funding for the third sector in Brazil and worldwide has created uncertainty and challenges for various social and environmental initiatives. To give more visibility to this scenario, strengthen coordination between actors, and seek joint ways to overcome it, Sitawi Finanças do Bem listened to organizations directly affected by the cuts in US foreign aid and gathered unpublished data on this new reality.
Why Proximate chose it: It sheds light on the consequences of the changes in the geopolitical context in the United States, helping the field understand the challenges and help international funders find ways of providing support.
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