Listening and collaboration: creating systemic changes

By Joana Noffs, project analyst at IDIS

Life stories and experiences trace paths that can help us face complex collective challenges. When it comes to philanthropy, one of the knots faced is the concentration of the resources and the power of decision making in the hands of few. What can we do so that more voices are heard? Should the ones who donate talk about the practice of philanthropy?

These where some of the questions that interlaced the session ‘In conversation with…’ at the Brazilian Philanthropy Forum 2024. Paula Fabiani, CEO of IDIS, invited three women whose philanthropic practices have standout in terms of innovation and collaboration to share a little bit about their paths: Cristiane Sultani, founder of Beja Institute; Ticiana Rolim, founder of Somos Um; and Marlene Engelhorn cofounder of Taxmenow, a movement that advocates for the taxation of large fortunes, who participated through video.

The conversation began with Marlene’s deposition, which brought some provocations that helped shape the debate. A multimillion-dollar heiress, the young Austrian chose to donate the biggest part of the money she received in the “birth lottery”. The decision came after she questioned herself how she could redistribute her wealth, once her country does not tax inheritances – what, according to her, would be the democratic and transparent way of proceeding. The solution she found was to create a council with the participation of 50 people, chosen randomly at first, and then by representative criteria, who were responsible to collectively allocate 25 million euros to chosen causes.

 

See Marlene’s entire deposition

 

In her speech, Marlene highlighted the need for long-term changes so that the people being currently supported by the donations can stop depending on the power and wealth holders to establish a collective decision process to allocate the resources.

“Ask the people that are affected by the decision that I take, to be the ones to take the decision. (…) We don’t have to remain classical philanthropists. We can redistribute power, we can step back as wealth holders, learn to listen and become one of many, such as it should be in a democracy”, she states.

Reinforcing the importance of acting collectively and hearing different actors, Cristiane Sultani talked about how, in her philanthropic path, meeting, listening and collaborating with people were the key aspects that transformed her journey in the field. Since she founded Beja Institute, in 2021, she has tried ‘to philanthrope’, as she likes to say, in a strategic and collaborative way, although she recognizes that she is not always able to do so. The hearing of the sector’s demands, researching global philanthropic tendencies and inspirational success stories helped her along her own process. “I chose to to help the philanthropic sector through a mindset change”, she says.

Cristiane also uses her time, influence and abilities to support advocacy actions that favor the regulations for philanthropy in Brazil, as well as supporting causes such as racial and climatic justice. She states that the process of hearing throughout the articulation with different actors is a key element for the development of trust.

For Ticiana, the transition from a position at the family business to philanthropy was marked by a constant inconformity with social inequalities and the place she occupied. “I made myself this brave question: what is my role in the world? What can I do with these privileges? How will I be an instrument? How can I use this to serve society?”. Influenced by economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus, she chose social business as the way to fight against poverty, creating Somos Um, an impact business coordinator. This choice also considered the potential of countless existing projects, with a focus on collaboration.

“Nothing about us without us”. This is a motto used by the movements fighting for the rights of people with disabilities, which Ticiana uses to illustrate the importance of including those affected by decisions in the co-creation of solutions and joint action, also aiming to scale its impact. “From this place of privilege, we sometimes arrive in vulnerable territories or in some project full of certainties. And today I say that is arrogant and ignorant on our part.”

Another challenge that Ticiana, from Ceará – a northeast Brazilian state – set to herself was, on one hand, to bring the northeast of Brazil to the center of the philanthropic debate and, on the other hand, to bring the debate about systemic philanthropy to the northeast of Brazil.

 

“I understood that I can be a bridge, inspiring people in the northeast, where inequality levels are very high, and they many are not questioning it. They are doing charity work, which is important, is urgent, is necessary, but will not solve the social problem because it does not bring social justice, and then we preserve this place of power, which is not ideal, that we want to change and let people free, with the power of choosing for themselves”.

 

Ticiana cofounded Zunne, which drives social impact businesses in the North and Northeast, in partnership with TRÊ and Yunus Social Business Brazil.

 

Watch the entire session 

 

 

In addition to being essential to listen to those affected by the decisions, discussing philanthropy in an open and accessible way was also considered a crucial aspect. Ticiana highlights her role in inspiring and mobilizing people by sharing her experiences and initiatives. Cristiane emphasized the importance of openly discussing issues such as racial equity, promoting transparent narratives to engage more people in the causes she embraces. Marlene, assertive in her positions, is one of the figures who brings to light in public debate criticisms of distributive models that exacerbate and sustain wealth inequalities, as well as environmental, gender and racial inequalities. The stories of the three philanthropists highlight the need for cocreation, participation, and collaboration to produce lasting changes.

 

Photos by: André Porto and Caio Graça/IDIS.

Brazilian Philanthropy Forum reflects on the challenges and responses of philanthropy nowadays

Credit: André Porto and Caio Graça.

What loose ends can philanthropy help interlace? In what way can the use of data, technology and artificial intelligence promote social transformations? What influence does family philanthropy have? How can philanthropy help reduce inequalities? These and many other questions conducted the panels in the 13th Brazilian Philanthropy Forum, that happened on September 4th, organized by IDIS – Institute for the Development of Social Investment, with the presence of influential people from brazilian and world philanthropy and organized civil society.

With the theme ‘Interlaced Philanthropy’, the Forum is organized in partnership with Global Philanthropy Forum and Charities Aid Foundation. “This is a space for learning, reflecting and exchanging experiences. Each year we seek to bring major issues to the debate, bringing together perspectives from different regions of Brazil and the world, and bearing in mind that it is these networks and knots that spread in our society the hope for a more equitable country”, emphasized Paula Fabiani, CEO of IDIS, in the event opening. 

IDIS also celebrated its 25th anniversary with the participation of the Institute’s founder, Marcos Kisil. “I realized the lack of technical support for active philanthropists as well as for those that might come. This was the motivation that originated IDIS”, he explained.

“Philanthropy has to engage with the multiple Brazilian realities”. With this warning, Cida Bento, the author of ‘O pacto da branquitude’, started her speech in the panel that discussed the impacts of philanthropy in reducing social inequalities, next to Renata Piazzon from Arapyaú Institute, Sergio Fausto from Fundação Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and moderation from Philip Yun from CCWA and Global Philanthropy Forum. 

“Brazil needs an environment in which people from different sectors talk more among one another. We need to get together and understand that ‘whiteness’ it’s not transparency, it’s a worldview. It’s a way to seek for a solution. We need black people to be a part, not only of the group who receives the projects’ support, but also of the group who thinks in which direction we must go”, continued Cida. According to Yun, “We need to be aware of the fact that the world has changed forever. What used to work in the past, won’t work in the future”.  

When it comes to the influence of family philanthropy, José Luiz Egydio Setúbal highlighted the importance of the dialogue between wealthy families for the resolution of social issues. “Philanthropy will not be the one to save Brazil or end inequality, but the ability of interacting and exchanging with multiple sectors will. In the case of family philanthropy, there is a big capacity to influence in the three different sectors: governments, companies and society”, he defends. 

The relevance of philanthropy for the provision of public health services was highlighted by Carla Reis, Chief of the Industrial and Services Complex Department within the Productive Development, Innovation, and Foreign Trade Area of BNDES. Today, in Brazil, philanthropic hospitals are responsible for around 60% of the high and medium complexity care services provided by SUS. 

Philanthropy and technology

“Do today’s technologies reach vulnerable territories?”, with this question Daniel Paixão, Founder of the NGO Fruto de Favela and of Hub-Periférico, discussed technology as a drive to social change. “We realized we were established in a city with one of the biggest technological complexes in the country, ‘Porto Digital’, but the most vulnerable communities were not being included in it”, he explained about his motivation to create the Hub. 

Credit: André Porto and Caio Graça.

Luana Genót, founder and executive director of ‘Instituto Identidades Brasil (ID_BR)’, addressed the launch of Deb, an artificial intelligence program that answers your questions about inclusion related themes. “Deb helps us expand what we have been doing with impressive numbers, but we want everyone to be able to ask their own questions without fear of being canceled”. Beatriz Johannpeter, director of Instituto Helda Gerdau, was also present in the debate, and she presented investments made on social impact businesses, with the moderation of Alex Pinheiro, co-founder and CEO of ‘Ecossistema Square’.

 

Commitment 1%

The event also presented the official launch of Commitment 1%, a movement envisioned by IDIS and Instituto MOL, this initiative aims to engage companies to donate at least 1% of their annual net profit to civil society organizations and social causes. Twelve companies have already pledged to Commitment 1%: AB Mauri, brazilian affiliate to the international group Associated British Foods, Agência Métrica, Cyrella, fama re.capital, Grupo Gaia,  KPMG, Mattos Filho, MOL Impacto, Pantys, PWC, RD Saúde e Tozzini Freire Advogados.

‘Unraveling the S in the ESG Agenda’ follows the narrative that highlights the importance of corporations to drive social and environmental change. The session had the contribution of Luciana Morelli, executive director of the Office of Equality at Salesforce for Latin America, Liane Freire, founder and CEO of BlendGroup and Mônica Gregori, COO at Global Compact Network Brazil, with the moderation of Tarcila Ursini Corporate Advisor and Co-Chair of the System B Council. 

The Forum’s closing session proposed a debate that would intertwine life stories to weave the future, with the participation and deposition of Cláudia Soares Baré, executive director of Fundo Podáali, Grace Maingi, executive director of Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) and Julia Brindisi, head of Philanthropic Investments for the Americas at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, with the moderation of Paula Fabiani. Other issues were also discussed throughout the day, such as emergency response, the use of data as raw material, the role of intermediary organizations and the role of philanthropy in strengthening communities. 

The event as a whole received 57 panelists and specialists in 11 different sessions, with an in-person audience of 294 people. Also, the live broadcast through YouTube received 1,398 viewers throughout the day. The event was made with Movimento Bem Maior as Master partner, RD Saúde as Silver partner, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Fundação Grupo Volkswagen, Fundação Itaú, Fundação José Luiz Egydio Setúbal, Instituto Aegea and Instituto Sicoob as Bronze partners, as well as UNICEF Brazil as institutional partner. 

Watch the full event here:

About IDIS 

We are IDIS – Institute for the Development of Social Investment, a civil society organization founded in 1999 and pioneer in technical support to social investors in Brazil. With the mission to inspire, support and promote strategic philanthropy and its impact, we serve individuals, families, companies, corporate and family run institutes and foundations, as well as with civil society organizations, in actions that transform realities and contribute for the reduction of social inequality in the country. Our actions are based on the tripod of generating knowledge, offering advisory and developing social impact projects that contribute to the strengthening of the ecosystem of strategic philanthropy and of giving culture.

Brazilian Philanthropy Forum 2024: how to participate

Brazilian Philanthropy Forum’s 13th edition has already set a date: September 4th. Once again, besides the in-person event in São Paulo that is exclusive for guests, the event will also take place online. 

 

In the Brazilian Philanthropy Forum 2024, when IDIS commemorates its 25th anniversary, we celebrate achievements and look forward to inspiring, supporting, and amplifying private social investment and its impact.

 

Inequalities, Hunger, Education, Health, Productive Inclusion, Climate, Environment. Complex, interconnected causes. Amid this tangle, philanthropy, presenting paths, testing solutions, and interlacing loose ends. In this space dedicated to the community of philanthropists and social investors, we bring together leaders, organizations, and experiences that offer concrete and effective answers.

 

As a result, INTERLACED PHILANTHROPY is the theme of this year’s Forum. We invite you to be inspired by the stories that will be presented.

 

REGISTER HERE FOR THE LIVE STREAMING

 

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

 

Among the confirmed speakers are Aline Odara (Executive Director of the Agbara Fund), Beatriz Johannpeter (Director of the Helda Gerdau Institute), Cida Bento (Co-Founder and Board Member of the Center for Studies on Labor Relations and Inequalities), Cristiane Sultani (Founder of Beja Institute), Giuliana Ortega (Sustainability Director at RD – Raia Drogasil), José Luiz Egydio Setúbal (President and Founder of the José Luiz Egydio Setúbal Foundation), Luana Génot (Founder and Executive Director of the Instituto Identidades do Brasil), Mariana Moura (President of the Family Council of Baterias Moura), Patrícia Villela Marino (President of the Humanitas360 Institute), Renata Piazzon (Managing Director of the Arapyaú Institute), Sergio Fausto (General Director of Fundação Fernando Henrique Cardoso), Tarcila Ursini (Corporate Counselor and Co-Chair of the Board of Sistema B Brazil) e Ticiana Rolim Queiroz (Founder and President of Somos Um).

 

In addition to international guests such as Grace Maingi (Executive Director of the Kenya Community Development Foundation), Marijana Sevic (Head of International Strategic Partnerships at CAF), and Philip Yun (Co-President and Co-CEO of CCWA and of GPF). 

 

ORGANIZERS AND PARTNERS

 

 

The event’s organization is a joint initiative by the Institute for the Development of Social Investment (IDIS, in Portuguese), alongside the Global Philanthropy Forum and the Charities Aid Foundation, as well as the master partner Movimento Bem Maior; silver partner RD Saúde; and bronze partners Aeage Institute, Volkswagen Group Foundation, Itaú Foundation, José Luiz Egydio Setúbal Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Aegea Institute and Sicoob Institute. Unicef Brasil is our institutional partner. Alliance Magazine is the media partner. 

 

This year, the forum will again have Alliance Magazine as its media partner. Based in England, the world’s biggest philanthropy magazine will cover the event live and broadcast it in English on their YouTube channel.

 

BRAZILIAN PHILANTHROPY FORUM

 

The Brazilian Philanthropy Forum offers a space for the philanthropic community to come together, exchange experiences, and learn from their peers, strengthening strategic philanthropy to promote the development of Brazilian society. The event has gathered more than 1500 participants among philanthropists, leaders, and national and international specialists. On IDIS’ YouTube channel, playlists are available with recordings from all previous editions. Check it out!