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Description
Over the last 6 months of the COVID-19 we have witnessed how giving, mutual help and the infrastructure of civil society organizations are vital in times of a crisis. Over 43 million BGN have been donated for 3 months only for emergency actions. Hundreds of organizations and thousands of volunteers supported national and local authorities in their attempt to address the crisis. At the same time the upcoming months and even years will most probably pose a lot of challenges for both the society and NGOs. We do not have the answers to such questions as how vulnerable groups will be supported, how conditions will be created to overcome the epidemiological and economic risks, how human rights will be safeguarded, how the civil society will be preserved in its pursuit of public benefit. The project addresses one of the most urgent issues facing the civil sector, i.e. financial sustainability. This is a challenge facing most organizations including BDF. That is why BDF will gain greater expertise regarding giving services it provides to corporate and individual donors. With this project BDF will create conditions to improve its financial stability by providing structured giving service and contributing with its services to the development of the donors’ environment in the long run. The direct users of the project outcomes will be corporate and individual donors (BDF members and non-members), and the end beneficiaries will be the NGOs enjoying donations and the people whom they benefit.
Summary of project results
The main role of the Bulgarian Donors’ Forum (BDF) is to foster the development of the philanthropic environment in Bulgaria. A key part of its mission is to provide expert support to donor organizations, directly enhancing the capacity of companies and foundations and improving the effectiveness of their giving programs and initiatives in the country.
The project enabled the BDF team to participate in a methodological program, led by external experts, focused on analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of its donor-support services.
The past two years, shaped by the COVID-19 crisis in social, educational, and economic spheres, have been particularly challenging for civil society organizations in Bulgaria. On the one hand, philanthropy and volunteering played a crucial role in supporting the most affected groups. On the other hand, the extraordinary demands and long-term mobilization efforts led to fatigue and exhaustion among both NGOs and donors.
The Active Citizens Fund (ACF) project directly addressed this challenge by strengthening BDF’s capacity to support donors effectively. The BDF team engaged in a structured process to better understand its role as a consultant within Bulgaria’s donor development market.
Key Achievements
- With expert guidance from The Business Institute—a recognized leader in the field—BDF developed a model of core services with the potential for further expansion, ensuring its financial and organizational sustainability.
- A specialized methodology was introduced, equipping the BDF team with new knowledge and improved skills for enhancing and upgrading its service offerings.
- A strategically developed communication campaign was implemented, focusing on:
- Positioning BDF as a trusted and expert partner for socially responsible businesses.
- Aligning the campaign with specific business communication models to maximize outreach and impact.
- The project’s campaign reached over 270 companies, fostering new opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.
- The individualized approach to engaging companies in discussions about potential partnerships continues beyond the project’s completion, ensuring long-term strategic benefits for BDF’s development.
Through this initiative, BDF has strengthened its role as a key actor in Bulgaria’s philanthropic ecosystem, offering expert donor services that enhance the impact and sustainability of corporate and private giving programs.