A Donor’s Dilemma, Solved: Why Alex Barcinski Trusts EMpower

For more than two decades, Alex Barcinski has been a steadfast supporter and insightful partner to EMpower. A Brazilian with a global career in emerging markets finance, Alex was initially drawn to EMpower's roots in the financial services industry and its dedication to giving back to the economies where its founders were working. As a Leadership Council Member, his commitment has only deepened further through his belief in our mission and level of personal access to the work that has truly showcased the impact of EMpower’s unique funding model. 

"Being from Brazil, I had never seen an organisation before that was based in the U.S. but completely dedicated to EM," Alex shares. "It's hard to see what EMpower does and not commit to it".

As part of Alex’s continuing engagement, during a personal trip to his home country, he visited Abraço Campeão, one of Empower’s Brazilian grantee partners. The trip was organised after he met Alan Duarte, the founder of Abraco Campeao, during the 2025 U.S, Dinner.  A shared heritage sparked a connection, leading to Alex personally tour Alan through NYC, then taking time during his family's annual summer trip to Rio de Janeiro to visit Alan and the Abraço Campeão centre. This connection truly resonated, as his own children also volunteer to teach in local favela schools each summer—a full-circle example of the family's deep commitment to service.

A Firsthand Glimpse: The Power of Abraço Campeão

Abraço Campeão is an EMpower Brazilian grantee partner that provides a safe space for young people in the Complexo do Alemão. Alex’s visit powerfully illustrated EMpower’s mission in action. He was impressed by the dedication of Alan and his team, who emphasize a comprehensive approach to supporting young people. Alex saw firsthand how they offer structured activities, including boxing, martial arts, and capoeira, and how they include other onsite support, such as a psychologist who follows each child and their families. 

The most powerful moment for Alex, however, was listening to the people who work at Abraço Campeão and the children themselves. "The most important thing is listening to the young people talking about the impact the grantee had in their lives," Alex emphasises. One girl shared how she used to be disengaged from school and spent her days on the streets, struggling with a lack of respect for herself and others. Now, through Abraço Campeão programs supported by EMpower, she stopped skipping school and has a new sense of self-worth, purpose and place where she feels safe.

The EMpower Solution

"Visiting the work in person changes the way you see the impact of EMpower," Alex explains. "It’s one thing to be in New York, London, or Singapore and hear the stories and see the pictures, but it is powerful to experience the surroundings of a place firsthand because it gives you a sense of why EMpower's support is so vital. If you are ever on a business or personal trip to a country near an EMpower grantee, I would strongly recommend requesting a visit. A couple of hours visiting the place and talking to the people involved will really make a difference for you and for them."

While Alex was inspired by the work being done, he also saw how much more is needed to meet the demand in a community. This reality highlights the crucial role of EMpower's model. What a single donor might find frustrating, the collective power of our community of supporters can help solve. As an accelerator and incubator, EMpower provides long-term grantmaking and capacity-strengthening to expand the impact and sustainability of more than 165 locally-led organisations across 15 emerging market countries.

For Alex, EMpower’s true strength lies in its ability to solve a common dilemma in philanthropy. As someone with an investment background, he wanted to find the "winners" and back organisations that would make a lasting impact. But he saw how difficult this process could be on his own—it can become a chore and a burden. EMpower has a solution for this.

EMpower’s in-country programme teams do thorough due diligence, developing personal relationships with local organisations run by leaders with lived experience. This means donors can be confident their funds are used to support the most effective and innovative community-based organisations. EMpower’s model goes further by providing a stable base for these organisations to work from, partnering with them for up to 10 years. This ensures they can make a greater impact over the long term, without becoming dependent on a single donor.

Alex finds it reassuring that EMpower’s individual donor gifts go entirely to making a difference in emerging market communities. This is because the Global Board Underwriters and Leadership Council supporters like him cover the costs for management, administration, and fundraising.

"No one individual can do this," Alex reflects. "As a community, we can do more".