This article was originally published in Alliance Magazine on November 5, 2025

By Alejandro Álvarez von Gustedt, VP of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Europe

I was delighted to return to Sao Paulo to attend the Brazilian Philanthropy Forum that took place on October 1st. Organized by IDIS – Institute for the Development of Social Investment and the Global Philanthropy Forum, it offers an unique space for the philanthropic community to gather, exchange experiences and learn with their peers.

This year’s theme, ‘Hope in Action,’ could not have been more timely. It explored how philanthropy can respond to the immense social and environmental challenges confronting both Brazil and the world—challenges so complex that they can easily lead to inaction.

Alejandro speaking in the Brazilian Philathropy Forum. Photo: Caio Garça

It was an outstanding event – not only because it was extremely well-curated at a particularly beautiful venue, the Casa Melhoramentos, which unlike most conference venues features big open windows to the outside world, plenty of natural light and a much more conducive environment for connecting and letting serendipity work its magic.

The depth and breadth of the discussions was outstanding. Sessions covered a wide range of topics, and angles of how philanthropy can catalyze hope and real action at a time when the overwhelming scale of societal challenges can lead to paralysis. Each conversation and angles were so wide and rich that they cannot all be listed here but included such meaningful ones as the role of corporates, pathways for increasingly impactful family philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and the the role of new technologies.

I was honored to share the stage with such distinguished leaders such as Aron Zylberman, Executive Director of Cyrela Institute, and David Saad, President and Executive Director of Natura Institute, with the masterful moderation by Thais Nascimento, Program Coordinator at GIFE, a Brazilian association of institute, foundations and companies. Together, we explored how corporate philanthropy can be truly effective in catalyzing real, positive impact for a range of companies’ stakeholders, including the communities they operate within, and the companies and people involved in their value chains, and for society more broadly. Cyrela and Natura are in fact great examples of this.

Further, we also discussed how corporate philanthropy and social investment should be in the interest of any company as they ultimately not only generate social returns but also, as a result, tangible and intangible benefits for the companies themselves. A key takeaway from our conversation was the shared conviction is that true, sustainable impact begins with communities themselves. It requires recognizing their agency and engaging them with genuine deep listening and authentic collaboration.

On a purely personal level one of the most memorable moments for me was listening to and learning from Daniel Munduruku, from the Uka Institute –  House of Ancestral Knowledge, who so beautifully and almost poetically represented the indigenous people’s non-linear concept of time. His reflection about their focus is on the ‘now’, their living the present as precisely that: a present, as in a gift.

As always when I visit Brazil, I walked away with a big positive energy boost caused by the contagious optimism, dynamism, can-do mindset, creativity and resourcefulness of the philanthropy and social impact community there. I know Brazilians tend to be very self-critical and to look to ‘the North’ for inspiration but I honestly believe that those of us in the North have a few things to learn from Brazil’s social innovators, especially in reminding us what it takes to put ‘Hope in Action.

This article was originally published in Alliance Magazine on November 5, 2025

By Felipe Bogotá, executive director of TerritoriA

Hope is not a solitary feeling. It is something we build together. Across Latin America, philanthropy is discovering that resilience and transformation emerge not from isolated acts of generosity, but from collective infrastructures of trust. This spirit was palpable at the Brazilian Philanthropy Forum 2025, organized by IDIS, which brought together a vibrant network of leaders, organizations, and communities under one shared call: put hope into action.

During the Forum, I shared my views on how to enhance interdependence and resilience in philanthropy. My perspective draws inspiration from the growing Latin American movement of 56 Community Foundations, which by the end of 2024 had mobilized more than U$D 75 million to strengthen work in the field, catalyzing the local initiatives that have been caring, working, helping and dreaming their own territories.

Felipe Bogotá, executive director of TerritoriA, during the Brazilian Philanthropy Forum. Photo: Caio Garça

One of the moments that truly brought me hope was the Transforming Territories manifesto video, presented by the collective of Community Foundations participating in the homonymous project led by IDIS, with support from the Mott Foundation and Movimento Bem Maior. The web series features fourteen Community Foundations across Brazil that are strengthening local infrastructure in unique and inspiring ways—each one showing that hope becomes tangible when communities take the lead in shaping their own futures.

This movement reminds us that systemic transformation doesn’t start with scale; it starts with relationships, trust, and rootedness. Building on both the Forum’s discussions and the lessons emerging from these community foundations, I offer four concrete actions for the philanthropic ecosystem:

1. Fund local intermediaries as trust hubs
   Frontline organizations and community-based groups need an anchor—a place where donations, knowledge, and coordination converge. Territorial Foundations are built for this. Multi-year, core support to these hubs creates continuity beyond project cycles.
2. Adopt participatory governance by default
   Structures like community panels, citizen juries, or giving circles can determine where resources go—guided by clear criteria and community consent. When decisions are taken with people rather than for them, philanthropy evolves from charity into collaboration. Donors become partners, and beneficiaries become co-owners.
3. Shift to flexible and catalytic funding
   Trust and resilience grow when we finance learning, adaptation, and risk. General operating support, matching pools, first-loss guarantees, and recoverable grants signal, “We’re with you as you figure it out,” not “Prove it before you start.”
4. Institutionalize learning loops
   Share not only what succeeded but also what failed, what changed, and what’s next. When organizations narrate their uncertainty with rigor, they model honesty, and honesty is the soil of trust.

The invisible infrastructure that makes resilience possible

As a member of the Community Foundations movement in Colombia, an organization dedicated to philanthropic infrastructure at the local level, I am convinced that mechanisms, channels, and scenarios with incentives and enablers are essential for the future of philanthropy and well-being in local communities.

The region (I think the world too) will continue to face shocks—economic, climatic, political. Resilience is not only about having more money; it is about having trusted local institutions able to act quickly, include many, and stay accountable. When trust infrastructure is strong, a funding cut or a storm doesn’t paralyze the system; it re-routes energy through existing, legitimate channels.

Finally, I believe that philanthropy could contribute to big problems in the world; for example, the lack of trust that has been impacting our democratic systems. If we develop a strong philanthropic ecosystem we will inspire different actors to mobilize actions to enhance transparency, relationships and share vision. I am convinced that those things can help to build not only a more effective philanthropy, but also a more cohesive and hopeful society, committed to the common good.

This article was originally published in Alliance Magazine on November 5, 2025

By Fátima Lima, Sustainability Director at MAPFRE and Representative of Fundación MAPFRE in Brazil

There are moments in one’s professional journey that touch us more deeply, awakening not only our technical gaze but also the human sense of the mission we carry. Being present at the 14th edition of the Brazilian Philanthropy Forum, promoted by IDIS, was precisely that: a passage. More than an institutional participation, my presence there, representing Fundación MAPFRE, was the living expression of a commitment that, for 50 years, has transcended discourse and materialized into concrete actions that create lasting social impact.

It was an atmosphere of listening, courage, and collective willingness to face the challenges of our time. The theme chosen for this year — “Hope in Action” seemed to echo in every word, gesture, and exchange that took place. But this verb was not conjugated in the future tense; it was lived in the present. The ‘hope in action’ we spoke of at the Forum is daily action, movement, a political and ethical choice not to conform.

As the representative of Fundación MAPFRE in Brazil and a guest on the panel ‘Companies Sowing Transformation’, I had the privilege of sharing our vision of Fundación MAPFRE’s role — founded by MAPFRE and celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — in building long-term social impact through a consistent global strategy adapted to local realities.

The IDIS Forum is a convergence point for worlds that often operate in silos: the corporate sector, civil society, traditional philanthropy, and new forms of social investment. Listening to Indigenous writer Daniel Munduruku in the opening session reminded me that time is not a straight line — it is ancestry and also seed. And that, in order to hope in action genuinely, we must recognize our history and decide with whom we truly wish to walk.

Brazilian Philanthropy Forum 2025 during the panel Companies Sowing Transformation. Photo: Andre Porto

A growing trend in philanthropy continues to move me deeply whenever it is publicly voiced: the shift from a logic of charity to a logic of justice. Philanthropy is maturing as it recognises that donating is not enough — structures must be transformed. Intervention alone is insufficient — we must listen. Helping is not enough — we must walk alongside.

On our panel, together with colleagues from Fundação Bradesco, Fundação Sicredi, and L’Oréal, we discussed what it means to be a company that sows. Sowing requires time, patience, and a long-term vision. At Fundación MAPFRE, we believe that investing in social impact also means investing in our own organizational culture. Projects that promote education, inclusion, and safety are not only beneficial for the community — they are transformative for everyone involved, driven by our Corporate Volunteering Program. Engaged people transform environments, and healthy environments generate exponential impact.

One statement that stayed with me, made by a panelist on climate change, was: ‘Philanthropy must stop being reactive and become preventive. We cannot wait for a disaster to act.’ The climate crisis and the social inequality we face demand that we be more than donors — we must be allies, co-creators, co-responsible agents.

This perspective of generating truly lasting social impact, especially in crisis contexts, reflects our purpose of acting with empathy and responsibility. In the face of major climate disasters, such as the one that struck Rio Grande do Sul, we mobilized efforts to support those most in need — donating more than R$ 1.6 million to affected families. This swift response demonstrates the importance of philanthropy as a driving force for social transformation and community rebuilding in times of adversity.

Looking out over the auditorium filled with diverse leaders — from corporate institutes to grassroots organizations — I realized that an important maturation is taking place in Brazil’s social sector. We are indeed acknowledging that real impact requires collaboration, humility to recognise that no one transforms anything alone, and courage to keep turning hope into action as a daily practice, even when the world outside challenges us constantly.

This month, Fundación MAPFRE is also honoring maestro João Carlos Martins with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Madrid — recognising not only his musical genius but also his tireless dedication to social projects through the Bachiana Foundation. His life journey embodies values that inspire us: courage, resilience, and a deep belief in the transformative power of art as a path toward a more just and humane society.

Finally, I see that Fundación MAPFRE’s support of this powerful gathering reflects much of who we are. After all, we are present where dialogue happens. We stand alongside those who build bridges. We believe that philanthropy cannot be reduced to numbers — it must embody listening and connection. It must inspire and be inspired.

I carry with me stories of transformation, reflections that continue to resonate, and, above all, the certainty that hope is not illusion — it is strategy. When we sow together, the impossible becomes the horizon. And may we all continue to ‘Hope in action’.