UBS Optimus Foundation expands into Brazil

São Paulo, August 31, 2026– UBS today announced the launch of ”UBS Optimus Brasil” establishing a local presence in the country.  Brazil becomes the UBS Optimus Foundation¹ network's tenth onshore location globally and its first in South America. The expansion builds on the Foundation‘s work undertaken in Brazil in the past three years, during which UBS Optimus Foundation began supporting local initiatives through its global network.

Giving clients in Brazil access to a global platform for strategic philanthropy

Through the new hub, clients in Brazil will now be able to engage directly in philanthropic initiatives supported by UBS Optimus Brasil. Local organizations will also gain greater access to the network’s global expertise, resources and partnerships.

Established more than 25 years ago, the UBS Optimus Foundation network is at the heart of UBS's Sustainability and Impact strategy. Through partnerships with donors and implementing organizations, the network seeks to create lasting change by addressing the root causes of social and environmental challenges, mobilizing additional capital, strengthening local capacity, and supporting collaborative approaches that deliver meaningful outcomes. The network focuses on education, health, climate and environment, as well as emergency and humanitarian philanthropy. Since 2014, Optimus has helped mobilize more than USD 1.5 billion in philanthropic capital, reached over 34 million people globally, and built a network of more than 700 delivery partners worldwide. In 2025 alone, Optimus mobilized a record USD 472 million in donations, including UBS matching contributions, and committed USD 461 million in grants globally.

Supporting education and environmental initiatives across Brazil

The launch of UBS Optimus Brasil reflects Brazil’s growing role in global philanthropy and increasing client interest in aligning wealth with purpose and a long-term legacy. The Foundation currently supports seven initiatives across Brazil, representing approximately USD 10 million in commitments since 2023. The work ranges from literacy and education programs to environmental conservation and biodiversity restoration efforts across the country.

One example is Brazil Collaborative Literacy, a nationwide initiative bringing together organizations including Fundação Lemann and Instituto Natura to expand a proven literacy model first developed in Ceará, where collaboration among municipalities contributed to significant progress in literacy. The Brazilian portfolio also includes environmental initiatives such as the Santa Tereza Reserve Conservation Project in the Pantanal, developed by Onçafari, and restoration of the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor, in collaboration with Black Jaguar Foundation in Pará (Santana do Araguaia) and currently scaling to establish a second restoration hub in Tocatins.

"Brazil has been an important part of our work for several years, and establishing a local presence is a natural next step in that journey. It allows us to deepen relationships with local partners while creating new opportunities for clients and employees in Brazil to participate directly in carefully selected initiatives capable of delivering meaningful, measurable and lasting impact," says Tom Hall, CEO of UBS Optimus Foundation Network. 

"As families increasingly seek to align wealth with purpose and long-term legacy, strategic philanthropy is becoming a more important part of our conversations with clients. UBS Optimus Brasil strengthens our ability to support those ambitions through access to a global platform built on expertise, rigorous project selection and a long-term perspective," says Marcello Chilov, Head of UBS Global Wealth Management Latin America.

"By combining local knowledge with the capabilities of a global platform, this local hub will help to create new opportunities to strengthen the philanthropic ecosystem in the country. We are excited to help connect organizations, donors and partners around initiatives that can generate meaningful social and environmental outcomes over time", says Daniel Barros, Country Head UBS Brazil & Regional Head UBS Latin America, CEO of UBS BB.

About UBS

UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. UBS manages 7.3 trillion dollars of invested assets as of the second quarter 2026. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm operates in more than 50 markets around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

About UBS Optimus Foundation

The UBS Optimus Foundation is a global network of separately organized and regulated, tax-exempt charitable organizations, founded by UBS. The foundation offers UBS clients a platform to use their wealth to drive positive social and environmental change. It provides financial support to implementing partner organizations for solutions that have the potential to be transformative, scalable, and sustainable. Between 2021 and 2025, the UBS Optimus Foundation received 1.6 billion USD in donations, surpassing its goal of 1 billion USD for the same period.

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