Brazil-based organisational development advisory

Organisational development and funding readiness in Brazil

Santi supports international funders and Brazil-based impact organisations with governance, financial architecture, compliance, leadership and impact measurement.

By combining local knowledge with strong management practices, we help build the institutional conditions required for effective funding and implementation.

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Local expertise for effective funding in Brazil

A strong programme idea is only the beginning. Effective funding also depends on organisations having the governance, financial systems, leadership, processes and evidence required to manage resources and deliver results.

Brazilian organisations operate within specific legal, financial, institutional and cultural contexts. International funders, in turn, have their own due diligence, compliance, reporting and accountability requirements.

Santi works at the intersection of these realities, translating expectations into practical structures that organisations can adopt and sustain.

Who we support

International foundations and grantmakers

Organisations funding social and environmental initiatives or institutional development in Brazil.

International organisations operating in Brazil

Organisations that need locally grounded support to design, structure, implement or monitor programmes.

Brazil-based impact organisations

Nonprofits, networks and social enterprises preparing to receive, manage or expand national and international funding.

Expertise

Expertise across the funding lifecycle

Programme and funding readiness

We translate programme designs into feasible implementation and financial structures.

Our work may include multi-year budget architecture, cost modelling, implementation planning, definition of institutional responsibilities and preparation for conversations with prospective funders.

Due diligence and grant readiness

We help Brazil-based organisations prepare for funder assessments and international grant requirements.

This may include the organisation of governance, financial and accounting information; internal processes and policies; institutional documentation; and support during equivalency determination and due diligence procedures.

Governance and post-award implementation

We develop the structures required to turn approved funding into coordinated and accountable implementation.

Our work includes governance models, decision-making processes, financial management, organisational design, leadership structures, executive recruitment and implementation routines.

Impact measurement and organisational systems

We help organisations transform strategic intentions into practical systems for monitoring, learning and decision-making.

Our work includes theories of change, strategic indicators, data collection processes, privacy and data governance guidelines, responsibilities, monitoring tools and implementation plans.

Selected case studies

Santi works across different stages of the funding lifecycle, from programme design and grant readiness to governance, implementation and impact measurement.

ActionAid

Financial architecture for a large-scale nationwide programme

Santi translated a complex programme design into an integrated and traceable financial architecture, providing a consistent basis for feasibility assessment, fundraising, implementation and accountability.

Read the case study

Mahin

Preparing a Brazil-based nonprofit for international funding

Santi supported Mahin’s organisational development and NGOsource equivalency determination process, enabling the organisation to receive a significant institutional grant from Imaginable Futures.

Read the case study

Viva Pequena África

Building the institutional structure for a multi-funder programme

Santi developed the financial, governance and executive leadership structures required to support the implementation of a complex programme involving Brazilian and international funders.

Read the case study

NESsT and Diáspora.Black

Turning strategic intentions into an implemented impact measurement system

Santi developed a complete impact measurement and data governance system that was validated by NESsT and Diáspora.Black and fully implemented.

Read the case study

Organisations we have supported

Santi has worked with nonprofits, social enterprises, networks and international organisations across social impact, human rights, racial equity, education, culture, health, public management and sustainable development.

About

Fábio Santiago

Founder and Principal Consultant at Santi Assessoria e Gestão

Fábio Santiago is a business administrator with a specialisation in Strategic Business Management and an MBA in Sustainability Management from Fundação Getulio Vargas.

He brings nearly 30 years of experience across education, culture, health, technology, sustainability and social impact organisations.

His career includes executive roles at Instituto Tomie Ohtake, the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo, Umane and Vetor Brasil, as well as experience at Fundação Estudar, Ismart, Banco Real, Artemisia and Instituto Unibanco.

As a consultant and mentor, Fábio works with leaders and organisations on institutional strengthening, professional development, decision-making and the implementation of organisational change.

Board service

Fábio currently serves on the statutory financial oversight boards of Fundo Baobá para Equidade Racial, Integrare, Instituto Ame Sua Mente and Associação Brasileira de Aprendizagem Criativa.

He is also a Business Advisor to Gestão Kairós – Sustentabilidade e Diversidade and a member of the Board of Directors of Instituto Devive.

This experience strengthens Santi’s understanding of governance from different perspectives: executive leadership, advisory support, financial oversight and board-level decision-making.

View Fábio’s experience on LinkedIn

Fábio Santiago, Founder and Principal Consultant at Santi Assessoria e Gestão

Frequently asked questions

Does Santi work directly with international funders?

Yes. Santi can be engaged by international foundations, grantmakers and organisations operating in Brazil, as well as by the Brazil-based organisations and initiatives they support.

Can Santi support an organisation before a grant is approved?

Yes. Santi supports programme and funding readiness through financial architecture, organisational assessment, governance structures, due diligence preparation and implementation planning.

Can Santi provide post-award support?

Yes. Santi can support governance, financial management, organisational structures, executive leadership, monitoring systems and implementation processes after funding has been approved.

Are services available in English?

Yes. Services are available in Portuguese and English, helping international funders and Brazil-based organisations navigate different institutional requirements and working contexts.

Contact

Planning to fund or strengthen organisations in Brazil?

Whether you are designing a new initiative, assessing the readiness of a prospective partner, preparing an organisation for international funding or strengthening post-award implementation, Santi can help build the structures required for responsible and sustainable delivery.

Email Santi Contact Santi on WhatsApp

contato@santiassessoria.com.br

São Paulo, Brazil

Services available in Portuguese and English