Catalyzing a New Era of Brazilian Philanthropy
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Cristiane Sultani
This story is part of the Architects of Impact series, highlighting stories of innovation that demonstrate how our Community is mobilizing to ensure a world that works for all people and the planet.
Cristiane Sultani is reshaping the philanthropy landscape in Brazil. As founder of Instituto Beja, she is building the connective tissue for a thriving philanthropic ecosystem—one rooted in trust, strategic investment, and global solidarity. Her vision is clear: “Private capital is catalytic,” she affirms. “We dictate the trends—what we do, what we consume, how we plan.” She believes that how and where capital flows matters deeply, especially in moments of global uncertainty.
Instituto Beja stems from Cristiane’s vision to innovate in philanthropy and encourage others to join the movement for systemic change. Instituto Beja funds and supports high-impact social projects, fosters collaboration among philanthropic actors, and promotes more effective and innovative philanthropy.
A Global Lens on Local Change
When Cristiane came to Forward Global in 2023, she found that our Community offered a welcoming space focused on social impact that she struggled to find in Brazil—a space to exchange big ideas and build relationships that transcend geography. “The members come from every place on Earth—from India, the Middle East, the U.S., and it’s so important to understand what’s happening globally. We need to act collaboratively.”
Shortly after becoming a member, Cristiane played a pivotal role in co-developing Forward Global’s first Global Journey to Brazil, a transformative experience where members explored the country’s natural beauty and engaged directly with its dynamic social impact sector. The Journey sparked deeper cross-border dialogue and marked a new chapter for Forward Global in Latin America. Since then, several Brazilian members have joined the Community, further enriching the collective with local insight and global ambition.
Cristiane later joined the Journey to Madagascar, continuing to build relationships across regions and deepen her global perspective. She sees the Forward Global community not just as a network, but as a place to reimagine what power and partnership can look like in philanthropy.
In conversations about impact investing, trust-based funding, and systems-level change, Cristiane has found both inspiration and guidance. “We’re learning a lot about how to make the journey more strategic—for both disbursements and relationships,” she says. “That’s not easy to find.”
Brazil’s philanthropic sector remains young, with a reliance on traditional giving models. Cristiane is working to shift that—whether integrating learnings from peers or tapping into the expertise of our team, she’s forging cross-border connections that inform her local work.
Imagination As Infrastructure
What sets Cristiane apart is her blend of pragmatism and imagination. She’s keenly aware of the structural challenges that define Brazil’s social landscape, yet equally attuned to the opportunity for reinvention. “Without imagination, it’s impossible,” she says. “We need collaboration to build a future that is more collective.”
Her work embodies the ethos of Forward Global: deploying capital with clarity, courage, and care. For Cristiane, joining the Community wasn’t just about gaining knowledge—it was about aligning with a values-driven movement for deeper, more accountable philanthropy. “I have a lot to learn still—with other examples around the world,” she says. But in her learning, she’s also leading—sparking a new philanthropic imagination in Brazil and beyond.
