Donations to fight pandemic reach R$2.2bn in three weeks
The coronavirus pandemic has produced an unprecedented engagement in Brazilian civil society, according to the amount and pace of donations and social actions. According to the Monitor of Covid-19 Donations, consolidated by the Brazilian Fundraisers Association (ABCR) based on public data, the current sum is R$2.2 billion, amount raised in three weeks. Of that total, 94% come from large companies and business leaders - the rest is donation of individuals in campaigns and collections of artists with online shows.
The biggest donations in this crisis are by families who have been traditionally engaged - groups that already have their foundations, with projects related to education, which actively participated in political donations and activities related to the environment. One reason for this, charity specialists and companies say, is that their boards are faster in approving and evaluating projects, because this already is a recurring subject in the day-to-day of the company.
Bank Itaú, for example, announced the donation of R$1 billion for actions to fight the covid-19, the biggest private donation in the country for a single cause. The bank and its shareholders had already made previous donations and have the practice of doing philanthropy. "I feel encouraged by the support we receive, demonstrating the importance of this historic act of solidarity of Itaú Unibanco, which we expect helps Brazil fight the coronavirus," co-Chairman Roberto Setubal said. Rather than choosing projects, Itaú put the funds in an endowment, and the bank will have no say on the use. "The destination of the funds will be decided by a group of health specialists," CEO Candido Bracher said.
Financial-service companies account for 72% of the donations announced so far. In these cases, it's not redirecting, but additional funds. The donations of Bradesco, including its insurer, don't interfere in the R$650 million spending this year of the group's foundation, which is oriented to education. The controlling family of Safra also has made donations through history, many to healthcare. The bank decided to make new spending independent of the projects to which it was already contributing - in this case, the analysis is made at each demand of project received, without fixed amount for future donations.
The Ermírio de Moraes family, owner of group Votorantim, donated another R$50 million to initiatives for fighting the coronavirus, money coming from holding company...
Para continuar a ler
PEÇA SUA AVALIAÇÃO