Onçafari has been named one of the 100 Best NGOs in Brazil in 2025, and during the awards ceremony it was also recognized as the Best Environmental and Sustainability Brazilian NGO. The largest award in Brazil’s nonprofit sector, the Best NGOs Award (Prêmio Melhores ONGs in portuguese), announced the list of the 100 best organizations in November, and Onçafari was included for the second consecutive year!
According to a 2023 study by IPEA (Institute for Applied Economic Research), Brazil has more than 800,000 active civil society organizations (CSOs). Being among the country’s 100 best is a remarkable achievement for Onçafari. “For 14 years, Onçafari’s conservation efforts have expanded into four Brazilian biomes through different fundraising strategies, many partners engaged in the cause, and above all, planning and strategy. After many years of dedication, Onçafari is recognized as one of the 100 Best NGOs for the second consecutive year, becoming a reference among non-profit organizations in the conservation field,” says Cassia Yamanaka, Onçafari’s Fundraising Coordinator via Grants.
The award, open to non-profit associations and foundations from across Brazil, recognizes organizations that stand out in management, transparency, financial sustainability, governance, and accountability.
The award has had nine editions and more than 6,000 NGOs have been evaluated over the years. On the website premiomelhores.org, you can find the full list of the organizations recognized in this edition.
Winners of the special categories will be announced at the official ceremony in December. In addition to selecting the top 100, the award will also highlight the best NGOs by state, by cause, the best small organizations, and the overall winner of the year.
About the Best NGOs Award
Organized by Certificadora Social (Instituto Doar) since 2017, the Best NGOs Award values the work of Brazil’s non-governmental organizations and serves as a reference to guide donations. The award evaluates five major areas: cause and strategy of action, representation and responsibility, management and planning, funding strategy, and communication and accountability.
The award recognizes and certifies social initiatives aligned with positive societal transformation and is supported by partners such as Ambev, who help strengthen and expand the reach of the initiative.
