FUNDAÇÃO SEMEAR (SEMEAR FOUNDATION)

Organizational Vision
Citizen Base Strategy
Results

Organizational Vision

Thirty-three companies and business entrepreneurs from the region of Vale dos Sinos created Fundação Semear to serve as a non-profit division for social responsibility. The primary focus of Fundação Semear is to increase citizen participation and volunteerism in local social organizations who are working on community development strategies.

Citizen Base Strategy

Through a partnership with FEEVALE - Centro de Pesquisa e Planejamento (Center for Research and Planning [local university]) and CECA - Centro Ecumênico de Capacitação e Assessoria (Ecumenical Center for Training and Advice), the Fundação Semear launched the Manual of Volunteer Action in June of 1998. The Manual has several purposes, including:

• Increasing the visibility of social organizations in the region;
• Facilitating community participation through the recruitment of local donations for these organizations, as well as through the provision of volunteer opportunities for local citizens;
• Serving as a source of information to local companies and individuals — interested in investing in the social arena;
• Functioning as a permanent recruiting source for Fundação Semear's own Volunteer Program.

Results

The Fundação Semear was able distribute the Manual of Volunteer Action free of charge by selling advertising space to local companies. The proceeds from these sales totaled R$30,000.00 and enabled the production of the manual and its free distribution. In addition, the sale generated a surplus, which was channeled to the maintenance of the Volunteer Incentive Program — another strategy to promote volunteerism.