"I only have twenty reais, it's not even worth it." We hear this often, and we understand where it comes from. When we think of philanthropy, we picture big companies, famous artists and large checks. But the reality of giving in Brazil is very different, and it is made mostly by ordinary people.
In this article, we show why small donations carry so much weight and how they turn into care.
Those who give in Brazil are people like you
The Brazil Giving Survey, by IDIS with Ipsos, is the broadest study of donor behavior in the country. The edition covering 2024 interviewed 1,500 people over 18 with family income above one minimum wage.
The result: 78% of these people made some kind of donation in 2024, whether money, goods, food or time. And 43% gave money to a social organization, campaign or community project.
And how much did each person give? The survey uses the median, which represents the middle value, without distortions caused by very large donations. In 2024, the median was R$ 480 per person for the whole year. That comes to about R$ 40 a month. It is not a fortune. It is the price of a snack, a ride-hailing trip, a streaming subscription.
Added up, small donations become billions
Now look at the other side of the math. Adding up all individual donations, IDIS estimated a total of R$ 24.3 billion given by people in 2024. It was the largest volume since the first edition of the survey, even adjusting previous years for inflation.
In other words, most of this money did not come from a single big donor. It came from millions of small gestures, repeated by people who decided to do their part.
What a small amount does in a children's shelter
In a house like PROHACC, which cares for about 18 children and teenagers, the expenses are those of a very large family. In a May 2020 post, the house listed its main monthly expenses: food, clothing, house maintenance and medicine.
That is why a small donation rarely goes unused. Here are some real requests PROHACC has made on Instagram:
- infant formula, requested in November and December 2025;
- disposable diapers, requested in November 2025;
- warm clothes, in the May 2021 winter campaign;
- help to take the children and teenagers to the movies, in July 2026.
None of these requests, on its own, seems grand. But this is exactly what the daily life of a well-cared-for child is made of.
Trust makes the difference
The same survey brings an important warning. Only 30% of respondents think most NGOs are trustworthy, and 33% believe they make clear what they do with the money. In addition, 49% said they have stopped giving because of negative news about organizations.
These numbers show that giving a little or a lot is not the main barrier. The barrier is trust. That is why it is always worth checking who you are giving to. In PROHACC's case, when making a PIX transfer to CNPJ 02.163.594/0001-87, check that the name Associação Proteção Habitacional das Crianças Carentes appears before confirming.
A donation that repeats is worth even more
A small one-time donation already helps. Made every month, it changes the game. When a children's shelter knows it can count on a set amount, it can plan purchases, avoid debt and prepare for the unexpected. It is no accident that PROHACC invites its followers to become monthly donors, as in its post of October 17, 2024.
If you can, try turning your PIX into a monthly habit. A reminder on your phone, on the day that works best for you, does the trick. We talk more about this in the article on recurring donations here on the blog.
Start with what you have
Don't wait to have a lot left over before starting. The ideal amount is the one that fits your budget without strain. Ten, twenty, fifty reais: they all go into the same account, which is caring for the children.
PROHACC has operated since 1997 with no government funding agreement. In a 2020 post, the house asked for support "with whatever amount fits your pocket". That's it: everyone helps with what they can. Learn about all the ways to support on the How to help page and be part of this sum.
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Sources
- IDIS. Pesquisa Doação Brasil 2024, results infographic: https://www.idis.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/InfograficoDigital_PDB_2024.pdf
- IDIS. Brazil Giving Research: volume of individual donations in Brazil reaches BRL 24.3 billions in 2024, 08/18/2025: https://www.idis.org.br/en/?p=24100
- Official survey website: https://www.pesquisadoacaobrasil.org.br/
- PROHACC on Instagram (@prohacccasa), post of 05/19/2020, the house's monthly expenses: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYu4ZkgBlV/
- PROHACC on Instagram (@prohacccasa), post of 05/20/2020, invitation to become a monthly sponsor: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAanJX5g4z5/
- PROHACC on Instagram (@prohacccasa), post of 05/19/2021, warm clothing campaign: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPEt6zoAzcN/
- PROHACC on Instagram (@prohacccasa), post of 10/17/2024, invitation to become a monthly donor: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBPYk57u9aR/
- PROHACC on Instagram (@prohacccasa), post of 11/22/2025, request for diapers and infant formula: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRX38KzCZFx/
- PROHACC on Instagram (@prohacccasa), post of 12/16/2025, request for infant formula: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSWPuWNjXsh/
- PROHACC on Instagram (@prohacccasa), post of 07/18/2026, movie outing campaign: https://www.instagram.com/p/Da9LygLNsN3/