How Afesu Structures Corporate Partnerships
Sonia de Almeida explains the corporate support models and donations sustaining the non-profit's 10 million annual budget.
Sonia de Almeida details the social investment models and corporate partnerships funding technical and human development at Afesu. The executive director also breaks down individual giving options and custom-tailored projects for companies.
In an interview with Bruno Gimenes on Marketing - The Podcast, Afesu Executive Director Sonia de Almeida explained how the non-profit organizes its funding formats and attracts private-sector partnerships to keep all its educational activities running. Dedicated to the professional training of girls and women, the organization operates 100% tuition-free for students and relies on ongoing fundraising to cover its operating costs.
In the video above, Almeida outlines corporate engagement models and details the donation mechanisms open to individual donors. The organization collaborates with more than 50 companies, including brands such as WEG, Porto, Kraft, and Schneider Electric, distributing resources across its three centers.
Corporate partnership models
The institutional fundraising model incorporates flexible formats to meet different corporate investment profiles. These avenues range from one-off actions to tailored programs aligned with partner brand goals.
"When it comes to companies, we have cases where the company formats a project and brings it to us, and we execute that project for them. In other cases, we present our project and the company supports us," Almeida explains. Companies can also participate in the "Adopt a Student" program, engage in corporate volunteering for classes, or sponsor training spaces.
Sponsored learning spaces serve as an integration point between the institution and the corporate ecosystem. "We also have what we call sponsored classrooms, which is really great. Today at Afesu, for example, we have a classroom sponsored by Schneider, hosting courses backed by Schneider. It's fantastic because at certain times of the year, they bring clients and employees to see our work firsthand," says Almeida.
Individual donations and financial sustainability
Beyond institutional corporate partnerships, Afesu secures funding through tax incentive mechanisms accessible to individuals. The model leverages tax credits to channel donations at no direct cost to donors.
"We also have partnerships with individuals, which in our case are generally through Nota Fiscal Paulista, so many people donate through Nota Fiscal Paulista. For those unfamiliar with it, it's a way to support an institution without taking money out of your own pocket by redirecting taxes to an organization," Almeida notes. Deductions during the annual income tax filing process also form part of individual donations.
All of the institution's initiatives are provided free of charge to enrolled students. "Every Afesu program is 100% free—students pay nothing at all. So we truly rely on support. If it weren't for these corporate partners and individual donors helping us, we wouldn't be able to do this. And we're talking about an annual cost of 10 million reais," Almeida points out when detailing the annual budget for the three centers.