In 2013, 20 organizations took part in the competition with their business ideas

On 17 January 2014 expired the deadline for submission of business plans by NGOs participating in the social entrepreneurship programme. This programme is organized for already a third year by the Bulgarian Center for Not-For-Profit Law Foundation, Programme and Analytical Center for European Law Foundation and UniCredit Foundation with the support of America for Bulgaria Foundation as part of the Efficient Approaches to NGO Sustainability project.

Out of the 24 organizations which took part in the programme in 2013, twenty developed their own business plans and joined the competition. 7 finalists had to be selected among them, however, due to the great number of valuable and well-grounded ideas, the shortlist committee nominated 8 finalists, which will compete for the allocation of the prize pool of BGN 30,000. These eight organizations will be granted the opportunity to present their plans before a jury which consists of representatives of America for Bulgaria Foundation, UniCredit Bulbank AD, Srednogorie Med Industrial Cluster, Musala Soft AD, Microfund AD, Capital Daily, Yatoto.com.

An official award ceremony for the best three business plans will be held in Grand Hotel Sofia, Triaditsa Hall at 17 h on 20 February 2014.

The shortlisted organizations and their business ideas are listed below:

1. Animal Rescue Foundation (Sofia) – A Dog and Cat Hotel;

2. Hug Me Association (Sofia) – Art workshops with the participation of popular artists, where along with children and adolescents from care institutions, participants will be also children of solvent parents for a fee;

3. Seeder Foundation (Sofia) – An electronic store selling goods for the home and for gifts, hand-made by people from disadvantaged groups;

4. ECIP Foundation (Sofia) – A home care agency offering flexible home-based services to elderly people in Burgas;

5. Transformatori Association (Sofia) – VELOVRZ – convenient and interesting solutions for bicycle parking in private properties and public spaces;

6. Protection, Love and Faith Association (Targovishte) – A year-round greenhouse for bio-vegetables, which employs people from disadvantaged groups;

7. Community Center “Saglasie 1905” (Balgarovo) – A social enterprise for knit-work, aimed at women who are members in the community center and have social and health problems.

8. Association “Three Six Five” (Sofia) – “Academy 365” – A tour guide school providing courses for tour guide licensing.

The goal of the Best Business Plan Competition is to encourage NGOs to develop a business activity related with their mission. This activity must not only support the organization financially but also contribute directly to the achievement of its goals. Globally, carrying out a business activity is one of the main sources by which civil organizations finance their activities.

The competition is financed by America for Bulgaria Foundation and UniCredit Foundation.

For contacts:

Svetlana Todorova, Bulgarian Center for Not-For-Profit Law, Tel: 0877 929529

The initiative is organized with the support of UniCredit Foundation and America for Bulgaria Foundation within the Efficient Approaches to NGO Sustainability project.