2024 was a landmark year for Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) – a year of bold action, partnerships, and our 20th anniversary! We are excited to share some of the key moments and achievements from our 2024 Annual Report, showcasing the strength of the feminist movement in Bulgaria, substantial growth, and the collective impact of the organizations we proudly support. It is a story of resilience, solidarity, and a shared vision for a more just and equal society.
20 Years BFW: Feminism is for All
In 2024, the Bulgarian Fund for Women marked a special occasion – its 20th anniversary. Two decades of mobilizing feminist movements, supporting civil society, and standing up for human rights in Bulgaria were celebrated with pride and even further determination.
Over the past 20 years, BFW has supported more than 750 projects, experienced an impressive 75-fold financial growth since its founding in 2004, and established itself as a strategic partner to civil society in Bulgaria. These numbers represent far more than outputs — they are stories of courage, persistence, and solidarity among people and communities fighting for change.
To honor this journey, BFW hosted an international conference, a grantee meeting and a celebration that brought together long-standing partners, grassroots activists, politicians and other stakeholders. Together, we celebrated hard-won victories, reflected on the impact of our work, spotlighted the urgent issues faced by women and vulnerable groups, and reaffirmed our commitment to collective action and social justice.
Building Movements, Enabling Change
Leaning on BFW’s Theory of Change, our work in 2024 focused on strengthening the resilience, sustainability, and leadership of our partner organizations. Through tailored support, we helped them engage in local and national decision-making, mobilize and transform their communities, and become key players in the gender equality movement.
Over the past year, our grantees resisted discriminatory and anti-democratic legislation, amplified the strategic power of advocacy and litigation, and brought the stories of marginalized communities to national media. They fought for the survival of essential support services, addressed gender-based violence, and stood beside refugees, LGBTIQ+ individuals, victims of trafficking, people with disabilities, and many others whose rights are too often overlooked.
Record Fundraising and Grantmaking Achievements
2024 was also successful in terms of resource mobilization. BFW raised over € 4.2 million, thanks to the trust of 22 institutional and corporate donors and 118 individual donors — marking a 32% increase from the previous year and bringing our annual operating budget to more than € 2.3 million.
Of this, 69% (over € 1.5 million) was directed to 66 civil society organizations (CSOs) through 82 direct grants under seven funding programs and a series of capacity-building opportunities. Because for BFW grantmaking and capacity building are two inextricably linked processes, where we are guided by the belief that the right kind of comprehensive support will bring about systemic and profound social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental changes.
Introducing our Largest Program Yet
A major milestone in 2024 was the launch of FORCE – the largest grantmaking initiative in BFW’s history – distributing over € 1.8 million to combat gender-based violence in Bulgaria. FORCE is the result of our ongoing efforts to channel European funding directly to CSOs across the country. As part of this commitment, we applied for and were awarded a second grant under the CERV program. The new BIRDS in BG 2 project will continue to strengthen democratic and pro-European civil society actors through financial support and capacity-building opportunities.
Advocacy in Action
In 2024, BFW deepened its advocacy efforts amid growing threats to democracy and civil society. We stood firmly against the discriminatory ‘Hate Law’, backed the My Voice, My Choice initiative for safe and accessible abortion across the EU, and continued to raise awareness about gender-based violence through protests and policy engagement. On the international stage, we amplified the role of feminist grantmaking at the European Parliament and the Fundamental Rights Forum. As part of the Ravni BG coalition, we helped unite nearly 40 progressive organizations in defending human rights and calling for political accountability. Despite institutional roadblocks, BFW remained active in the Council for Civil Society Development, pushing for meaningful state support to the CSO sector.
The Power of Solidarity
In a year marked by political instability and growing threats to democratic values and human rights, our community’s resilience has never been more essential. We are profoundly grateful to everyone who has stood with us — donors, partners, activists, and supporters alike.
The past 20 years have proven that lasting change begins with trust, solidarity, and collective action. We remain committed to supporting feminist movements, elevating voices for justice, and building a world where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination.
We invite you to read BFW’s Annual Report for 2024 and immerse yourselves in the stories that shape our work.
