Call for Applications: Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) “Values” Program for Financing Projects of Civil Society Organizations 2026

Application Deadline: June 8, 2026

About the Program

The Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) announces a “Values” program to finance projects of organizations working at local, regional or national level in the name of protecting, promoting and raising awareness of fundamental rights, gender equality, European Union (EU) values, rule of law and democracy. The program is part of the project “BIRDS in BG – 2” (Building an Inclusive Resilient Democratic Society in Bulgaria), co-funded by the European Union under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program. The Bulgarian Fund for Women is the first and only women’s fund in Bulgaria, dedicated to supporting organizations that promote gender equality, women’s rights, and social justice. Through this “Values” program, BFW aims to strengthen civil society organizations that are working to protect fundamental rights and uphold European values in Bulgaria.

Funding Details

• Total Budget: €1,489,644
• Maximum Financial Support per Organization: Up to €60,000
• Project Duration: 6 to 24 months
• Funding Source: European Union (CERV program) – Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

Organizations registered in Bulgaria under the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities and working in public benefit are eligible to apply.

Ineligible Applicants:

• Organizations for private benefit
• Commercial companies
• Cooperatives
• Unregistered groups
• Individuals

Additional Requirements:

• Candidates must be independent of state, party and commercial interests
• Must share the EU’s values of democracy, equality, human rights and the rule of law

Priority will be given to:

• Local and community-based organizations
• New and small organizations
• Organizations outside Sofia (based in other regions of Bulgaria)
• Organizations working with vulnerable groups

Program Focus Areas

Projects should focus on protecting, promoting, and raising awareness of:

• Fundamental rights
• Gender equality
• European Union (EU) values
• Rule of law
• Democracy

Projects may include activities such as advocacy, public awareness campaigns, capacity building for civil society, monitoring of rights implementation, and other initiatives that strengthen democratic culture and human rights protection in Bulgaria.

Application Process

Applications are made entirely online through the portal of the Bulgarian Fund for Women.

Step 1: Complete Eligibility Test

All applicants must complete a short eligibility test via the BFW portal. If the organization is eligible, it will receive a link to the online application portal.

Step 2: Access the Application Portal

• First-time users: Upon first login, create a user profile and password
• Existing users: Log in with already registered data

Step 3: Complete the Application

The application process includes:

• Create/update an organizational profile
• Fill out an application form
• Attach a budget

Detailed instructions are available in the Application Guidelines on the BFW website.

Application Link: Click here

For More Information: Visit the Official Webpage of the Bulgarian Fund for Women