New Philanthropy in Brazil Education: An Analysis of the 3M Approach of Lemann Foundation and the Discursive Practices in Social Media

This article discusses new philanthropy participation in public education in the context of the broader transnational policymaking landscape. Drawing on data published by the Lemann Foundation on its official Twitter, now known as X, along with previous research from the authors, this article examines how policy problems are framed for the general public and what education policy agendas were settled and mobilized in Brazil from 2010 to 2020. The Lemann Foundation’s image is predominantly associated with prestigious international universities and the promotion of a culture of meritocracy. Moreover, the narrative also promoted a techno-solutionist stance emphasizing positive and emotive language. As such, Twitter/X is considered a crucial strategy for influencing and amplifying the positions and self-image of organizations and individuals and for publicizing strategic relationships and policy priorities. Through our analysis, we identify several recurring themes, including promoting a national curriculum, using a narrative that can be framed as “disaster didacticism,” and using the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to promote change/reform. We conclude by suggesting that Lemann Foundation utilizes a 3M approach to effectively influence the three levels of curricular decision-making—macro, meso, and micro. This approach enables the foundation to impact educational policy and practice across states and municipalities (macro), school and communities (meso), and the classroom (micro).