Institutional Philanthropy and Justice Philanthropy in Brazil: An Analysis Based on GIFE Members

In recent decades, debates about philanthropy's role in promoting social justice, challenging traditional practices that often perpetuate the status quo are present in the field. In this context, the approach of justice philanthropy has gained prominence, proposing to address the structural causes of social, economic, and racial inequalities by supporting social movements and transformative public policies. Such discussions are not restricted to academia, but also mobilize agents in the practical field, among which the Group of Institutes, Foundations, and Enterprises (GIFE) stands out in Brazil, a non‐profit association that brings together about 160 philanthropic organizations. Given this scenario, this article investigates how leaders and organizations associated with GIFE position themselves in relation to the principles of justice philanthropy. To this end, it combines a critical review of the literature on traditional philanthropy, with an emphasis on justice philanthropy, with empirical analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. The results indicate that institutional philanthropy in Brazil remains concentrated in the Southeast region, has a predominantly corporate profile, and adopts governance practices that are still not very permeable to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Although grantmaking is not yet dominant, its promotion in the field is growing, especially by new actors such as Independent Funds, which emerged in the 2000s. Finally, it is worth noting that, despite the progressive discourse conveyed in GIFE's public materials, effective adherence to practices aligned with justice philanthropy remains limited and uneven among its members.