Please read this section carefully, as it may help you to prepare a better application. If you need additional information, please email bulgariafund@gmfus.org or call +381 (0)11 3036 454

WHAT IS THE BULGARIA FUND?

The Bulgaria Fund is a 3-year, $3-million grantmaking initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). Created in 2007, it continues the USAID reform agenda in Bulgaria and provides financial assistance to project initiatives that aim to:

* advance the rule of law, judicial reform, and local and national government reform;
* provide economic and other opportunities for vulnerable groups; and
* generate a more competitive workforce and labor market through advanced training and other programs.

The Bulgaria Fund is managed by GMF’s Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD).

WHY WAS THE BULGARIA FUND CREATED?

From 1991 and to the end of 2008, the USAID-supported program has helped Bulgaria make significant progress in a number of different areas such as reform of the judicial system, increasing transparency in local and national government, the provision of public services to citizens, and enhancing economic opportunities as a whole. Despite the end of the USAID assistance program, several key areas of the USAID reform agenda remain incomplete. These include the rule of law, support for vulnerable groups and employment, education, and competitiveness.

In light of this, USAID-Bulgaria has determined the need to establish the Bulgaria Fund, a 3-year, $3-million legacy-grantmaking mechanism, and has decided to entrust the management of this mechanism to BTD, a successful grantmaking initiative of GMF.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BULGARIA FUND AND THE BALKAN TRUST FOR DEMOCRACY (BTD)?

The Bulgaria Fund

Managed by BTD, the Bulgaria Fund is a grantmaking initiative of USAID and GMF.

The Bulgaria Fund has three program areas: Good Governance, Vulnerable Groups, and Competitiveness.

The Bulgaria Fund awards grants to Bulgaria-based organizations only.

Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD)

BTD is also a grantmaking initiative of GMF.

BTD has two program areas: Linking Citizens with Government and Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Collaboration.

BTD awards grants in Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia, including Kosovo.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THE GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE BALKAN TRUST FOR DEMOCRACY?

USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. The agency supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives worldwide.

GMF is a nonpartisan American public policy and grantmaking institution dedicated to promoting greater cooperation and understanding between the United States and Europe. The institution maintains a strong presence on both sides of the Atlantic and is governed by a board of trustees.

BTD is a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States based in Belgrade. It supports democracy, good governance, and Euroatlantic integration in 10 Southeastern-European political entities: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia, including Kosovo.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BULGARIA FUND AND THE AMERICA FOR BULGARIA FOUNDATION?

The America for Bulgaria Foundation is a $200-million legacy grantmaking mechanism of the Bulgarian American Enterprise Fund, a private U.S. corporation. The Foundation will support private organizations and nongovernmental organizations that focus on entrepreneurship, business education, leadership-development and support for private sector philanthropy, and to key business sectors such as tourism and technology. The Foundation will be operational after spring 2008.

The Bulgaria Fund is an initiative of the United States Agency for International Development and the German Marshall Fund of the United States. One of the Bulgaria Fund’s three program areas is called Competitiveness, and will have similar goals as the America for Bulgaria Foundation: creating a more efficient and competitive labor force through practical, technical, and advanced training programs and career development services; albeit on a much smaller scale.

CAN BULGARIAN ORGANIZATIONS SUBMIT PROJECT PROPOSALS TO BOTH THE BULGARIA FUND AND THE BALKAN TRUST FOR DEMOCRACY (BTD) AT THE SAME TIME?

Bulgarian organizations may submit project proposals to both the Bulgaria Fund and BTD at the same time, as long as a different project proposal is submitted to each.

HOW MANY TIMES AND WITH HOW MANY PROJECTS CAN AN ORGANIZATION APPLY TO THE BULGARIA FUND AND RECEIVE A GRANT?

There is no limit on how many times an organization may apply. An organization may not apply with more than one project at a time. Previous grantees may apply again, provided they have fulfilled all the reporting requirements for their previous project. If the applicant has previously received financial assistance for a certain set of activities and is now requesting assistance for a similar or same set of activities, the applicant must clearly demonstrate why further assistance is necessary and what additional value such assistance would yield.

If the applicant was unsuccessful with several applications in the past, the applicant should contact BTD and see in what areas it has failed to satisfy the project criteria of the Bulgaria Fund.

WHAT/WHO CANNOT RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM THE BULGARIA FUND?

* Individuals (for travel, study, participation in conferences, fellowships, scholarships, travel, or related activities)
* For-profit initiatives and income generating projects
* Pure research projects where the direct benefit for a specific community is unclear
* Political, sectarian, or partisan organizations/groups or activities
* Organizations or groups which advocate intolerance or violence
* Activities that include the teaching or advocacy of a particular religion
* Purchase of medical equipment or services
* Humanitarian aid and/or the purchase of other goods for distribution
* Refugee or IDP return
* Organizations and groups from outside Bulgaria
* Buildings and other capital investment projects-unless the work helps to involve communities in particular initiatives
* Equipment such as computers, faxes, LCD projectors, and photocopiers alone with no community activity or initiative
* Projects that only involve expert lectures
* Microfinance schemes
* Arts or sciences

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A PROJECT PROPOSAL TO BE REVIEWED?

Once received, the project proposal goes through a review process that takes approximately 12 to 16 weeks, which may be shorter or longer depending upon a number of factors, including the requested amount of the grant. The Grants Review Committee meets approximately every 6 to 8 weeks. An additional review process by GMF’s Board of Trustees will be required for grant applications that are $25,000 and above, following approval by the Grants Review Committee. The GMF Board of Trustees meets only 5 times per year. Due to these procedures, we advise that proposals are submitted at least 4 months prior to the start of any given project.

WHERE CAN ONE FIND ALL THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK?

Applicants can find application and reporting forms on the Bulgaria Fund website. Applicants must choose which of the three program areas their project fits in, and complete in full all progam-related application forms in English only.

GENERAL FEEDBACK

If your organization is interested in receiving general feedback on a specific idea or concept and how it fits in with Bulgaria Fund goals, please contact one of the individuals listed below. The above section contains detailed answers to many of the questions you may have. Consultation from the contacts listed below does not constitute an endorsement of your proposal or a guarantee that your proposal will be funded. The Bulgaria Fund is a competitive initiative and proposals will be evaluated based on standardized criteria.

Pavlina Filipova
GMF / BTD / Bulgaria Fund
pfilipova@gmfus.org
Tel.: +381 11 3036454

Filip Vojvodic-Medic
GMF / BTD / Bulgaria Fund
fmedic@gmfus.org
Tel.: +381 11 3036454

Tamika Cameron
USAID/Bulgaria
tcameron@usaid.gov
Tel.: +359 2 939 5742

Katherine Ingmanson
USAID/Bulgaria
kingmanson@usaid.gov
+359 2 939 5747