If you have any questions or want to learn more about an Arapyaú project, contact us through these channels.
Av. Nove de Julho, 5617, 3º andar
São Paulo
Rua Osvaldo Ribeiro, 351/353
Serra Grande / Uruçuca
Arapyaú is a private, non-profit institution dedicated to strengthening initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development in Brazil. Within the philanthropic sector, its field of action is private social investment.
According to GIFE, private social investment is “the voluntary transfer of private resources in a planned, monitored, and systematic way to social, environmental, cultural, and scientific projects of public interest.” These actions can be carried out by foundations, corporate or family institutes, communities, or individuals.
The institute provides resources – financial, strategic, and networking (connections with other institutions) – to organizations, projects, and networks working on the front lines of promoting sustainability. In doing so, it aims to strengthen these initiatives and expand their positive impact on society.
The institute has chosen three priority areas to promote sustainable development in Brazil, represented by its programs: climate change, cities and territories, and territorial development in southern Bahia. Through these programs, it supports initiatives that are directly aligned with its values and strategy.
The institute does not work with areas or initiatives that are not directly related to its programs and strategy.
Networking is at the heart of Arapyaú’s work. It involves bringing together institutions and leaders from different sectors – social, private, public, and academic – around the creation of common goals and the collective construction of solutions for sustainability. Arapyaú believes that promoting a more sustainable world is an urgent matter that requires coordinated efforts capable of generating larger-scale actions and greater impact.
The institute has offices in São Paulo and Serra Grande, in southern Bahia, and supports initiatives in different regions of the country, as long as they are related to its programs.
Partners and initiatives to be supported are identified and selected by the executive leadership and program managers.
Arapyaú does not work with public calls for proposals. The initiatives to be supported are identified by the team in line with the institute’s strategy.
The resources invested by the institute come from its founder and other Brazilian and international institutions, both private and public, that act as co-funders for some initiatives.
The founder of the Institute is Guilherme Leal, a well-known Brazilian entrepreneur and social entrepreneur.
In the business sector, he was one of the founders of Natura Cosméticos and other ventures in the impact investing field.
In the third sector, he co-founded several organizations recognized for their work in sustainability, such as the Ethos Institute for Business and Social Responsibility and the Nossa São Paulo Network. He also served on the boards of other non-profit institutions, including the Abrinq Foundation and the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (Funbio).
In the 2010 elections, he made his only foray into partisan politics when he joined the Green Party (PV) and ran for vice president alongside Marina Silva. After the elections, he left the PV and co-founded the Political Action Network for Sustainability (RAPS), a non-profit, multiparty organization that trains political leaders, young people, and civic entrepreneurs committed to renewing Brazil’s political system and defending democracy.
The institute establishes strategic partnerships with institutions from the private, public, social, and academic sectors. However, it does not directly fund companies or governments, but rather supports sustainable development initiatives led by them in partnership with other institutions. It also participates in multisectoral alliances that involve representatives from various sectors of society.
The institute and its founder are not affiliated with political parties and do not fund parties or coalitions.
Arapyaú is not owned by Natura. The company has its own institute, Instituto Natura, which focuses on education.
Maraé is the holding company that brings together the various business and socio-environmental organizations of entrepreneur Guilherme Leal. These organizations operate independently but are committed to sustainable development.
The institute has a Governance Board that sets the main guidelines for its work and meets quarterly with the executive leadership and the team. The day-to-day operations are managed by the executive leadership, program areas, and support areas – including strategic planning, project management, communications, and administrative-financial management.
Our job openings, when available, are announced on our LinkedIn profile or on our website.
In the Guarani worldview, Arapyaú represents the constant search for a land without evil, in a cyclical act of renewal and transformation of the world.
