14 de July de 2026
By definition, the third sector—composed of nonprofit civil society organizations—operates in the gaps left by the public and private sectors, seeking to promote social well-being through actions and partnerships in the areas of health, education, culture, environment, among others. A third sector entity with technical competence, vision, and transparency is capable of serving as an articulator between institutions, with a view to addressing relevant public challenges not by doing “for,” but by acting together with the State. At the Education Laboratory, we understand that it is possible to develop productive cross-sector collaboration by mapping the different roles and identifying the difficulties and potential of each actor, so as to avoid overlapping responsibilities. In the educational field, we advocate for the need to invest in knowledge production based on research conducted in real contexts of public policy implementation. We are seeking mechanisms to strengthen public structures and scale our know-how acquired and tested in practice.
Considering this role, it is not difficult to see that NGOs are important social actors for a country, conferring relevant benefits to the population. But this is only possible when there are qualified teams permanently allocated to these institutions, responsible for all stages of a project, from diagnosis and research to implementation. To carry out serious work, in which each new initiative actually incorporates the lessons of previous work, maintaining a critical eye, it is essential that there be continuity across all parts of the process.
Financial sustainability, in this sense, creates conditions to foster renewal and innovation in social areas, ensuring that a diversity of approaches contributes to transformation processes. In this way, donations become essential for strengthening the third sector. Investing in Non-Governmental Organizations contributes directly to the improvement of methodologies and strategies used to respond to public needs, as it favors the consolidation of technical teams with know-how specialized not only in their specific field of action, but also in collaboration processes with the public and private sectors.
What barriers or difficulties can impact the capacity of a non-governmental organization to generate the expected changes?
The main challenge facing institutions of this nature is, without a doubt, financial sustainability, as it requires constant realignment with the variety of support strategies and models available, generally mirrored in an annual investment logic, with expectations of short-term results. However, given the complexity of social problems in our country, one year is rarely sufficient for the changes brought about in territories to consolidate and be appropriated by local structures. In 12 months, an institution like ours can achieve impacts, but ones that still depend on direct actions to be maintained. It is necessary to incorporate into project design an intentional transition period that ensures the transfer and appropriation of knowledge, so as to guarantee the sustainability of changes.
Furthermore, structuring funding through annual projects makes it difficult to maintain the technical team when the implementation cycle of actions linked to a particular supporter is completed. Labedu understands the formation of teams and the ongoing qualification of experienced and committed professionals as an organizational value. It is our collective repertoire that helps us revisit strategies, correct course, and ensure adaptability in the face of diverse scenarios. Therefore, we seek to develop financial conditions that allow for team continuity between projects, as well as to respond to unexpected needs and opportunities that each context presents, without jeopardizing the sustainability of the institution itself.
Labedu’s main investment channel has been the support of institutes, foundations, and private companies that have Education among their priorities and strategies. There are, however, other forms of support for NGOs like ours. Individuals can donate part of their Income Tax, make direct monthly donations, transform part of the bill amount at stores and supermarkets into micro-donations. Publicizing the work of NGOs and making your support public also helps create social recognition among your peers, initiating a culture of donations that can make a big difference. Anyone can invest in Non-Governmental Organizations, creating links between the government and third sector entities in order to generate positive impact on society.
By supporting the Education Laboratory, you contribute so that projects directly reach:
So, shall we embrace this cause together? Start making a difference today by clicking here. And to learn how to donate your Income Tax, read the step-by-step guide at this link.