The Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) has once again secured strategic funding from the European Commission to advance its mission of strengthening Bulgaria’s democratic civil sector. Over the next three years, €4,266,476 will be invested in the sustainable development of civil society organizations (CSOs) through three key funding programs.
This marks the second edition of the initiative, originally launched in 2023, which has already allocated over €1.5 million to 61 organizations nationwide. With this new round of funding, BFW is not only continuing but deepening its commitment to long-term, strategic, and flexible support – much needed in the context of shrinking space for civil society and increasing attacks on human rights and democracy.
Addressing the Funding Gap
“BIRDS in BG 2 is our response to the enormous need for sustainable funding. In the first edition alone, we received applications from 443 organizations requesting over €12 million, highlighting the significant funding gap for CSO initiatives,” said Dobromira Terpesheva, Senior Project Manager at BFW.
Over 70% of the total project budget—€4 million—will be directly allocated to organizations through the three existing funding programs, which will be expanded and refined over the coming years. The maximum total funding an organization can receive through these mechanisms is €60,000 (BGN 117,348).
Three Funding Programs
BFW’s funding philosophy is built around three strategic programs, each designed to support CSOs’ sustainability, capacity, and responsiveness to pressing issues:
- Mission: Possible – Bulgaria’s only program offering flexible, long-term core funding for organizational development. Applications open on April 10, 2025.
- Open Opportunities – A year-round, accessible program providing emergency and crisis support. Currently active until June 2025, it will continue uninterrupted for the next three years.
- Values – A program supporting initiatives focused on human rights, democracy, and equality, set to launch in 2026.
Beyond financial support, €266,476 will be dedicated to enhancing CSOs’ capacity through specialized training and thematic events led by experienced experts. More than 260 organizations that applied in the previous edition have already identified key training needs, including strategic planning, sustainable financing, online security, and integrating human rights and equality principles. The initiative will continue to assess and address sector-wide capacity-building needs.
Prioritizing Grassroots Organizations
“We remain committed to supporting grassroots organizations—those that are new, operate on small budgets, lack extensive project histories, or are based in remote areas. These groups often struggle to access funding despite working on some of the most urgent social issues,” emphasized Gergana Kutseva, BFW Co-Director.
Official Launch Event
The official launch of the project will take place on April 16, 2025, in Sofia, with an option for online participation nationwide. During the event, details about the Mission: Possible application process, and the broader initiative framework will be shared. For further updates, visit the BFW website and Facebook profile for more information.
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The BIRDS in BG 2 project is co-financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the issuing body can be held responsible for them.
