Marianna Camargo, legal manager, represented the institution at the 4th Social Responsibility Seminar of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation.

Two days of programming dedicated to discussing the role of the third sector in addressing the climate emergency, educational practices and policies, management, and fundraising. The IV Social Responsibility Seminar, promoted by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation with support from Aegea, Globo, and the Iter Institute, took place on September 29th and 30th at the FGV headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

The event is linked to the FGV Social Responsibility Award, which recognizes and encourages practices that promote positive social impact, aligned with the principles of sustainability, equity, and human development.

On the second day of panels, the roundtable discussion on Tax Reform and Incentive Laws for the Third Sector featured Marianna Camargo, legal manager of Fiotec, in a debate about funding prospects for projects managed by cultural foundations and those supporting educational, scientific, and technological development institutions. The lawyer highlighted the impact of tax exemptions on the development of projects and public policies that directly influence the well-being of Brazilians. According to her, Fiotec alone secured over R$ 100 million in resources for Fiocruz projects in 2024, stemming from tax immunity for research. "The Tax Reform, in its current text, does not guarantee tax exemption for support foundations. On the contrary, in many sections, the wording equates foundations with private companies," she warned.

The manager continued her speech by highlighting the approximately 25 years of legal battles that led to the consolidation of tax exemption for research, science, and innovation projects by support foundations. She stated that the approval of the Tax Reform, in its current form, would represent cost increases in all purchases made by these institutions: “and I'm not talking about chairs bought for administrative teams, for example. But rather essential supplies for the development of research. All of this would be taxed.”

Previously, the municipal secretary of culture for Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Padilha, raised similar risks for cultural development projects in the city. In his speech, the official criticized the amount of tax exemption granted to the soft drink industry in Brazil, which, according to him, represents almost double the amount allocated for investment in culture. "There is no objection to the need for tax reform; it rationalizes costs in projects at the national level. But it does not present a clear solution for raising the funds to be invested," he argued.

The panel discussion "Tax Reform and Incentive Laws for the Third Sector" was moderated by Silvia Finguerut, coordinator of social responsibility at FGV Conhecimento, and also included the participation of Ana Flávia Cabral, CEO and Vice-President of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra Foundation.

#SCIENCEWITHOUTTAX

The entities linked to the National Council of Foundations Supporting Higher Education and Scientific and Technological Research Institutions (Confies) are mobilized in a movement against the approval of the Tax Reform (PLP 108/2024) in its current form, which would mean fewer resources for scholarships, laboratories, and innovation in public universities and institutes.

Directors and managers of support foundations have publicly requested the support of the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, and the Ministries for the approval of Amendments No. 543 and No. 602, which would guarantee these foundations the same treatment already given to public teaching and research institutions.