Norberto Odebrecht Foundation Among Brazil’s Top 100 NGOs

“Celebrating 60 years of history and, at the same time, being recognized once again among the country’s top 100 NGOs is a milestone that reinforces the Foundation’s mission: educating to impact lives that transform tomorrow,” says Alexandre Baltar, the institution’s superintendent.

Founded in 1965 by Norberto Odebrecht, FNO is one of the oldest corporate foundations in the country. As the social arm of the Novonor Group, it is dedicated to promoting education as a strategy to reduce social inequalities and strengthen rural communities. Through the coordination of social technologies, it drives organizations, companies, and individuals toward a more sustainable future, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Among its initiatives, the Integrated Development and Growth Program with Sustainability (PDCIS) stands out—a social technology created in 2003 that has since strengthened family farming and promoted sustainable territorial development in Baixo Sul, Bahia. Between 2022 and 2024, PDCIS was replicated in a new territory in Macaé (RJ), and in 2025, it begins a new phase of international expansion with its arrival in Angola, in partnership with Odebrecht Engenharia e Construção.

Throughout its history, more than 700,000 people have been impacted by the Foundation’s actions through PDCIS—a result that reflects the core of its identity: the spirit of service, a value of the Novonor Group that inspires the FNO’s 60th-anniversary campaign motto, “Serving is our history.”

“This award is the result of joint work with partner institutions that implement PDCIS. To all who walk with us on this journey, our deepest gratitude. We remain committed to generating positive impact and building a sustainable future,” Baltar adds.

The winners of the 9th edition of the Best NGOs Award were selected after a rigorous analysis process conducted by Certificadora Social and Ambev Voa, sponsored by Mercado Pago and Doare. The process was supported by Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) and evaluated by a panel of professors, researchers, journalists, and social leaders.

The complete list of organizations selected for their best practices in governance, transparency, communication, and resource management is available at www.premiomelhores.org.

About the Best NGOs Award
Organized by Certificadora Social since 2017, the Best NGOs Award recognizes the fundamental work carried out by non-governmental organizations in Brazil and serves as a guide for donations. It also encourages best practices, contributing to improved management for all participants, including those not awarded, who receive detailed feedback from the evaluation.