Instituto Dourados
Flagship Institute Budget & Plan
Instituto Dourados (institutodourados.org) is the Flagship Institute of the Generation of Participation in Democracy (GPD). As a Flagship, it serves as a primary site of development, testing, and deployment—where research, infrastructure, and field collaboration are integrated into working systems. The goal is not only to study sustainable participation, but to build and validate it in practice.
Purpose and Plan (2026–2027)
This budget bridges Instituto Dourados from its current startup phase to autonomous operation with a 5-10 year operating endownment beginning January 2027. The 2026 bridge year prioritizes:
- Director capacity (research, operations, and fundraising)
- Field integration with Brazilian partners
- Institutional visibility through conferences and collaboration
The objective for Instituto Dourados is to become a self-sustaining research exchange program by 2027. In 2027 we will expand staffing to support more student intern trainees and add a new field site, likely in the state of Bahia. Self-sustaining here means the Instituto’s endowment reaches a level to guarantee 5-10 years of a growth-oriented budget.
2026 Bridge Budget
This budget enables:
- Three field visits to Brazil in 2026 (Q2–Q4)
- Conference participation and partner coordination
- On-site collaboration and exchange programming
- Focused time allocation for institutional buildout
The 2026 bridge year is designed to:
Establish recurring funding streams
Expand partnerships and institutional visibility
Support initial hiring and program growth
| Category | Item | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel | Matt (FT Salary) | 9 Months @ $150k/yr (1.0 FTE) | $112,500 |
| Personnel | Iza (0.2 Effort) | 9 Months @ $150k/yr (0.2 FTE) | $22,500 |
| Personnel | Benefits/Tax | 25% Burden on Compensation | $33,750 |
| Operations | 4 Field Sprints | Dourados, Bahia, MedTrop 2026 | $27,000 |
| TOTAL | $195,750 |
2027 First Full Year of Full-Time Operation
Beginning January 2027, Instituto Dourados transitions to full-time directorship and autonomous operation.
2027 First-Year Operating Budget
| Category | Item | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel | Iza (Director) | $200k/yr (1.0 FTE) | $200,000 |
| Personnel | Matt (Director) | $200k/yr (1.0 FTE) | $200,000 |
| Personnel | PT Senior Intern, US 1 | $20/hr (0.25 FTE) | $10,400 |
| Personnel | PT Senior Intern, US 2 | $20/hr (0.25 FTE) | $10,400 |
| Personnel | Benefits/Tax | 25% Burden on Compensation | $105,200 |
| Operations | 2 Field Residencies | California (mountain + Central Coast; community-anchored collaboration) | $27,000 |
| Operations | 2 Director Visits | Bahia; sustainability & public health convening (Q4 target) | $27,000 |
| TOTAL | $580,000 |
Fiscal Structure
During the bridge period, Instituto Dourados may seek and operate under fiscal sponsorship while its parent organization, GPD, completes 501(c)(3) status.
An alternative pathway is direct administration through existing institutional accounts to support salary and travel during the transihhhtion period. We are opening our doors to the general public first, though, before seeking larger institutional investors.
Director Commitment
The directors commit to matching institutional support through active fundraising during 2026. This alignment ensures that bridge funding directly accelerates long-term sustainability and growth.
Outlook
Instituto Dourados is designed as a replicable model: a field-anchored institute that integrates research, infrastructure, and education to produce measurable improvements in public health and democratic participation.