Does Umane have any relationship with, or receive funds from, Hospital Samaritano?

No. Umane’s operations and governance are entirely independent.Since the full sale of Hospital Samaritano’s assets in 2016, Umane has had no relationship or direct partnership with the hospital, nor does it receive funds from third parties or any other institution.

Umane and its philanthropic activities are funded exclusively by the annual returns generated by its endowment fund, which was established using the full proceeds from the sale of Hospital Samaritano’s assets.The fund’s returns ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability, preserve its patrimony, and support its social mission. Umane does not receive external funding.

What are Umane’s social objectives?

Umane is an independent, nonprofit civil association certified by the Ministry of Health. Its social objectives focus on philanthropic initiatives that strengthen the public health system, improve the quality of life of people living in Brazil, and align with its three programmatic areas:Comprehensive Care for Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases (NCDs) Program:Initiatives addressing modifiable risk factors (such as smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and inadequate nutrition), screening, increased access to care and diagnosis, and the management and monitoring of NCDs within Primary Health Care.Primary Health Care Strengthening (PHC) Program:Initiatives aimed at operational improvements, work processes, team productivity, service integration, institutional capacity-building in public health, and the adoption of data, new solutions, and emerging technologies — with Primary Health Care as the coordinating axis of the health system.Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health Program:Initiatives that monitor pregnancy to assess risks and prevent adverse outcomes, and that support the prevention, management, and monitoring of children’s and adolescents’ health conditions related to NCDs and their modifiable risk factors.

Does Umane request anything in return from supported projects?

No. Umane does not require any form of compensation from supported institutions, except for the agreed-upon deliverables necessary for the execution of the project’s work plan and achievement of expected results.Support is granted exclusively to projects that meet Umane’s criteria and indicators and that align with its programmatic focus on improving public health.

Does Umane establish partnerships with public administration?

Yes. Umane forms partnerships with public administration through instruments such as Technical Cooperation Agreements without financial transfers.These partnerships exist solely to pursue the social objectives stated in its Bylaws. Umane does not receive or transfer public funds — 100% of its resources come from its private endowment fund.

How is Umane’s governance structured?

Umane’s governance consists of:A body of Associates: The institution’s sovereign body, which meets annually in a General Assembly.A Board of Directors: The organization’s senior deliberative body, composed of members recognized in their respective fields.An Executive Board: Responsible for day-to-day management and legal representation of the organization.Technical committees supporting the Board of Directors:Finance and Investment CommitteePhilanthropy CommitteeCompliance, Governance, Audit, and Ethics CommitteeNominating Committee

Does Umane compensate associates, board members, directors, or committee members?

No. Umane does not provide remuneration, profit distribution, bonuses, or benefits of any kind — directly or indirectly — to associates, board members, directors, or committee members for the roles and responsibilities established in its Bylaws.

Is Umane affiliated with any political party or ideological orientation?

No. Umane is a nonpartisan institution and does not favor any political orientation.The principles of independence and nonpartisanship guide its actions, and the organization is prohibited from engaging in political-party or electoral campaigns.

How do I request Umane’s support for a project?

Umane operates through a model of local implementing partners, working with organizations that share the mission of promoting health promotion and prevention actions. It does not provide donations outside its programmatic areas or directly to individuals.Project support is usually carried out through donations made directly to implementing partners or through contracts with private service providers. All proposals are evaluated based on an institutional guideline process.If you still have questions, contact us at contato@umane.org.br.

What types of institutions and projects does Umane fund?

Umane supports projects from civil society organizations and/or nonprofit institutions whose goal is to positively impact public health, according to its three programmatic areas:• Comprehensive Care for Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases (NCDs) Program: initiatives aimed at controlling modifiable risk factors (such as smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and unhealthy diet), screening, increasing access to health and diagnosis, and managing NCDs in Primary Health Care;• Primary Health Care Strengthening (PHC) Program: initiatives that promote operational improvements, work process organization, team productivity, service integration, institutional capacity-building in public health, and the incorporation of data use and new technologies into the system, with PHC as the coordinator of care;• Fostering Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health Program: initiatives that monitor pregnancy, assess and prevent risks, and promote prevention, management, and monitoring of health conditions in children and adolescents within the context of NCDs and their modifiable risk factors.Learn more about Umane.

What types of institutions and projects does Umane not fund?

Umane does not fund:Projects that do not fall within its programmatic areas (NCDs, PHC strengthening, and women’s/children’s/adolescents’ health);Projects aimed at hospital care or exclusively assistential approaches;Projects from individuals;Events or task forces.Additionally, Umane does not transfer or receive financial resources from the public sector or government institutions.

What are Umane’s project selection formats?

Umane selects projects through calls for proposals, qualified prospecting, active search, referrals, or spontaneous interest from potential partners.

What are the phases for submitting project support requests, and who decides on investments?

The submission phases vary depending on the project type and scope.Call for Proposals: follows predefined criteria described in the call itself.Qualified prospecting, active search, referral, or spontaneous demand:After initial contact, the proposing organization sends the requested information. Meetings are held for presentation and clarification. If the project aligns with Umane’s strategy, the proponent receives the standard documentation for completion.A logical framework of indicators is then jointly developed, and the project is presented to the Philanthropy Committee.With the committee’s recommendation, the proposal is sent to the Executive Board and the Board of Directors. After approval, conditions are agreed upon, the contract is signed, and support begins.

How long does it usually take for a project support request to be approved?

Approval can take 3 to 12 months, depending on:Accuracy and completeness of the required documents;Technical maturity of the proposal;Operational feasibility;External factors such as negotiations with the public sector;Participation of cofunders;Maturity of the proponent in project management.

What type of contract is signed between Umane and the supported project?

Umane commonly uses Donation Agreements with Obligations, though other formats may also be applied. These contracts are established with implementing organizations and ensure donated resources are used efficiently and aligned with Umane’s guidelines.

How are the results of a funded project measured?

Evaluation is carried out through a logical evaluation framework jointly developed between the proponent and the Monitoring & Evaluation team.This framework outlines the sequence of outputs and outcomes and includes specific indicators to track progress, measured through monitoring data and, when necessary, additional data collection.Learn more about Monitoring & Evaluation.

Can I resubmit a proposal that was previously rejected?

Generally, Umane does not recommend resubmitting a rejected proposal. The institution’s decisions are conclusive and ensure resources are directed to aligned projects.However, proponents may submit new and different proposals in the future.

Can I access documentation from previously supported projects?

Umane does not release full documentation of supported projects.However, by reading this FAQ, exploring the “How We Work – Operating Model” section, and reviewing the supported projects, you can better understand Umane’s criteria and processes.

What is the duration of Umane’s support for projects?

The duration varies according to expected objectives and outcomes and may last from a few months to several years.

In which regions does Umane operate?

Umane supports initiatives throughout the entire Brazilian territory.

Primary Health Care Strengthening Program (PHC)

Observatory of Brazil’s Health Ecosystem

Lever
Use of data, telehealth and new technologies

Type of grant
Applied Public Health Research

Brazil

Benefited population
The entire Brazilian population

Initiative supported since 2024

Partners

The Brazil Health Ecosystem Observatory (OESB) is an initiative carried out by the Institute for Health Policy Studies (IEPS) and fostered by Umane, with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) of the United Kingdom. Launched in 2025, the OESB aims to strengthen the Unified Health System (SUS) and broaden the understanding of the relationships between the public and private health sectors.

The initiative is an outgrowth of the study **Private Sector and Public-Private Health Relations in Brazil: In Search of Lost Insurance**, published in 2024. The survey analyzed recent trends in the Brazilian healthcare system, service providers, health insurance and plans, financing, human resources, philanthropic entities, Social Health Organizations (OSS), the presence of foreign capital, and forms of interaction between supply and demand in the public and private sectors.

The OESB seeks to fill evidence gaps regarding how these spheres share professionals, equipment, services, and other production factors. To achieve this, it brings together studies, technical articles, news, and compiled data, supporting researchers, public managers, communication professionals, and anyone else interested in the subject.

By consolidating qualified information on the Brazilian health ecosystem, the platform contributes to the monitoring, evaluation, and formulation of public policies that take into account the interdependencies between sectors. The initiative reinforces the importance of strengthening SUS funding, improving the regulation of the private sector and public-private partnerships, and consolidating robust, state-led governance to guarantee the universal right to health in Brazil.

Outcome

Presentation of data and proposals to address challenges in key aspects of public–private relations in Brazil and their impacts on the Unified Health System (SUS).

actors, representing the health system, participated in the study’s launch seminar.

+80

instances of advocacy/engagement with representatives of the federal executive and legislative branches, SUS councils, and regulatory agencies, alongside coordination with other strategic actors.

participations in congresses and other events.

+24,000

views of the episode “Private health, public symptoms” from the CALMA, URGENTE! podcast, which discussed the study.

News

Saúde Privada, Sintomas Públicos: episode about the project on the Calma, Urgente! podcast

Public–Private Relations in Health: In Search of the Missing Insurance

Press Release

Testimonial

Rudi Rocha

Director of Research at IEPS

“In collaboration with Umane, we promoted valuable spaces for debate and reflection, which resulted in a robust survey of more than 400 pages with unprecedented data on the private health sector and its relations with the public sector. It is based on data, scientific evidence, and dialogue between researchers and public authorities that it will be possible to address the issues impacting the Brazilian health system. This project is a contribution to strengthening the debate and paving the best way to guarantee protection and health insurance mechanisms for the entire population.”

Materials

Observatory of Brazil’s Health Ecosystem

Presentation of data and proposals to address challenges in key aspects of public–private relations in Brazil and their impacts on the Unified Health System (SUS).

Saúde Privada, Sintomas Públicos: episode about the project on the Calma, Urgente! podcast

Public–Private Relations in Health: In Search of the Missing Insurance

Press Release

Brazil Health Ecosystem Observatory

Transition to OSS in Public Hospitals: Evidence in the Brazilian Context

Private Sector and Public-Private Health Relations in Brazil: In Search of Lost Insurance – Single Volume