А quarter-century on high alert

Hey! For 25 years now, thanks to people like you, we’ve been on the front lines, defending civil rights, supporting active citizens, and fostering social entrepreneurship in Bulgaria, and, of course, we act quickly when rights and freedoms are at risk. That’s why we often sound the alarm in times of crisis.

25 LAWS WERE ENACTED OR AMENDED WITH OUR INVOLVEMENT OR DUE TO OUR INITIATIVE
1,800+ ORGANIZATIONS WERE TRAINED ON HOW TO FUND THEMSELVES TRANSPARENTLY AND COMPLY WITH THE COMPLEX LETTER OF THE LAW
7,500+ ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND RESOLVED THEIR CASES
280 ORGANIZATIONS WERE TRAINED ON HOW TO START THEIR BUSINESS
620 ARTISTS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR CIVIC POSITION THROUGH ART

For 25 years, the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law has been working to strengthen the environment in which civil society organizations in Bulgaria can develop, operate freely, and serve the public good. Our role is to support the NGO sector where legal frameworks, institutional practices, or public debate create obstacles. Over the years, we have served as a unifying force for the civil sector and its initiatives.

What we do:

We work on key legal issues that directly affect the activities of civil society organizations and support their practical implementation;
We build the capacity and financial sustainability of NGOs through training, consultations, and growth programs;
We respond to legislative and public attacks against civil society, and;
We facilitate dialogue and partnerships between civil society organizations, institutions, businesses, and active citizens.
BCNL is the “amplifier” of free association for public causes in Bulgaria.

BCNL is where it needs to be, working for an active civil society:

For a quarter of a century, we have worked tirelessly for a modern and functional legal framework for the establishment, registration, and taxation of NGOs, and for reducing the administrative burden on organizations.

Our expertise extends not only to the basic law governing the registration of non-profit legal entities in Bulgaria, but also to many other regulatory acts that affect the daily operations of civil society organizations.

Over 25 years, we have influenced 25 administrative acts to facilitate easier association, decentralize social services, and expand rights and protections for vulnerable groups.

Here are some of the key legislative changes we are proud of:

An easier, more accessible, and transparent registration mechanism

Adoption of a modern Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities (2001), which enabled active citizens to register non-governmental organizations. We participated in the processes to improve it following the mass re-registration (2006) and modernization (2018), which transferred the registration of non-profit legal entities from the district courts to the Registry Agency.
We also actively engaged in the debates on amendments to the Law on the Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities. This brought the registry reform to a close, simplified the registration of non-profit legal entities, and streamlined the reporting system through amendments to the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities (adopted in 2016 and entered into force in 2018).

A Better Environment for Civic Participation

Establishment of a Council for the Development of Civil Society and a Fund to Support Projects of Public Interest by Non-Profit Legal Entities (2018) – We actively participated in a working group to develop the first Strategy for Supporting the Development of Civil Society Organizations, adopted by a decision of the Council of Ministers in 2012.
We submitted proposals for amendments to the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act, which regulates the establishment of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and the adoption of the Strategy by the Council of Ministers. BCNL is a member of the CSO Council (2022 and 2025) and the Public Council of Civil Society Organizations attached to the Commission for Direct Citizen Participation and Interaction with Civil Society under the 47th, 48th, 49th, and 51st National Assemblies.
Introduction of higher quality requirements for public consultations and impact assessments of draft legislation at the central and local levels (2016);
Since 2004, we have been working on the issue of a law on volunteering and have been a part of all thematic working groups over the years.
In the 45th and 47th National Assemblies, we advocated for the creation of the Commission for Interaction with Civil Society Organizations.
We participated in the development of a Sofia Municipality Regulation on the Conduct of Public Consultations, which provides a framework for how the municipality should consult with its citizens on key policies.

Reducing the administrative burden on organizations:

We advocated for the adoption of a simplified regime for the implementation of measures against money laundering and terrorist financing by non-profit legal entities through amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the Counter-Terrorist Financing Act (2018 and 2023);
We participated in the Working Group on the Sectoral Assessment of Non-Profit Legal Entities, concerning the risk of terrorist financing and other risks (2023);
Together with the institutions, we trained over 800 NGOs on how to comply with this complex legislation and reduce their vulnerability to terrorist financing and money laundering.

Together with other organizations, we worked to create a better environment for philanthropy through:

Adopting tax breaks for donors to public-benefit non-profit legal entities (2001) and maintaining them (2007 and 2008). This resulted in a tax break of up to 10% for corporate donors and up to 5% for individual donors when donating to public-benefit non-profit legal entities, and;
Eliminating VAT on donation SMS messages (2012), which made donating easier and further encouraged philanthropy.

Together with organizations of and for people with disabilities, we participated in advocating for better support for vulnerable groups:

We advocated for the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2012) and the introduction of a draft Law on Individuals and Support Measures in the National Assembly (2016). It aims to repeal the 1949 guardianship regime and adopt a modern system to support people with mental health issues and intellectual disabilities when they need to make decisions that affect them;
We participated in amendment proposals to the Law on Persons with Disabilities, which provided for support measures for the participation of persons with disabilities in legal proceedings (2018).

Decentralization of services from state structures

Introduction of mechanisms for contracting public services to civil society organizations: in the field of social services, as early as 2002 and 2003, we participated in the process of changing the legislative framework. We also supported the organization of the first tenders for the procurement of social services (2003 and 2019), with over 20% of these services currently provided by NGOs;

We participated in proposals for the introduction of a modern and flexible framework for establishing private kindergartens and schools, and the creation of centers for personal development support with the adoption of the modern Law on Preschool and School Education (2016);

We worked on a proposal for new forms of public-private partnerships, adopted in the Social Services Act (2020), and;

We made proposals for contracting public health and social services for HIV/AIDS on behalf of the Euro-Asian Harm Reduction Network (2017).

We monitor and analyze from every angle

Our analytical work focuses on systematically tracking and gaining a deep understanding of the legal, institutional, and financial environment for the development of the Bulgarian civil sector. We produce analyses, comparative legal studies, and thematic research that provide reliable empirical data and expert interpretation to support better policies, sustainable legislation, and effective funding mechanisms for non-governmental organizations.

We are part of a network and work in close collaboration with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) (www.icnl.org) and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) (www.ecnl.org). These two organizations work in over 100 countries to advance legislation for civil society organizations.

At times, we serve as a shield for the sector, defending its legitimacy, trust, and capacity to act. We help organizations respond to propaganda, misinformation, and pressure that divert their energy away from public-benefit work.

Over the years, BCNL has consistently responded to:

Attempts to stigmatize NGOs
Legislative initiatives restricting freedom of speech and association;
Procedural abuses aimed at preventing citizens from participating in the decision-making process

Guided by the principles and values that underpin our stability, we have assisted over 7,500 organizations with legal consultations, opinions, and analyses to bring their legal documents, registrations, and rules into compliance and improve their accountability. Each year, we provide over 300 consultations to colleagues in the civil sector and train over 800 NGO representatives on how to better develop their advocacy plans, conduct mission-related business activities, build public-private partnerships, share their achievements, mobilize support, and develop innovative models to support people in vulnerable situations.

Among our largest capacity-building programs are:

Summer School for NGOs and Master Class – now in its 13th edition,through which we develop the knowledge, skills, and leadership qualities of nearly 300 people from 215 organizations working in the civil sector via theoretical and practical sessions, role-playing, and simulations.
We integrate training on key topics in organizational management and development with opportunities for participants to build a network of professional contacts and engage in shared learning.

Spring and Fall Training Program, now in its 16th consecutive edition with over 860 participants, we conduct a series of hybrid training sessions (in-person, online, and condensed video lessons) on key topics relevant to every organization, including taxation, reporting, fundraising, communication, and more.
Civil Society Academies for NGOs (within the framework of CERV) – an in-depth training program aimed at systematically building the capacity of civil society organizations by focusing on strategic management, sustainability, advocacy, and public influence. A total of 349 civil society activists have completed the training.

We promote the strengthening of organizations’ financial health and engage teams from small towns to develop financial literacy. Our main initiatives related to this mission include:

LET’s GO: Entrepreneurship Program for NGOs, through which we have trained over 280 organizations, half of which have launched mission-related business activities that bring financial sustainability and visibility;

Fundraising Club Bulgaria – a community of fundraising professionals who share common values regarding fundraising from individuals and companies, based on the highest standards of philanthropy, accountability, and integrity. As of 2026, the Club has 42 fundraisers from 27 organizations as members, and the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law serves as the coordinator.

International Fundraising Conference – we held the first-of-its-kind international conference dedicated entirely to fundraising for civic initiatives, bringing together over 200 participants and more than 30 international and Bulgarian speakers.

Fundraising School – an intensive training program that, for three consecutive years, has developed basic knowledge and practical skills among 70 civic activists from 60 organizations for successfully raising funds for socially significant causes from individual and corporate donors.

We make rights visible by putting them on the stage. We show that being a civic activist is not an abstract concept and that there are many ways to be useful to society.

DarPazar is an example of what we can achieve together with the support of businesses that believe in social value. We created the first online store for products and services with a cause—a collaboration of more than 20 social enterprises from across the country. Since then, we’ve been teaching people that support can take many forms. When you buy a handmade handbag, a person with mental health challenges receives the care they need. When you buy a scented candle, you help a person with disabilities find dignified work. When you buy an educational game, you support people with disabilities in finding their place in the labour market. The examples are many, and the stories are real and human.
Click – with a focus on purpose, and together with other organizations, we opened a shared social space in the heart of Sofia. A place where you go to connect with like-minded people, discuss ideas for good causes, and see for yourself that supporting meaningful ideas can take many forms—like having a coffee, attending an interesting event, or shopping for gifts for family and friends.
Civil Alarm – through creative provocation across the seven editions of the competition, we encouraged over 620 artists to use art to demonstrate the power of association, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful protest. The festival’s editions put civil rights on the stage, where, together with over 2,600 visitors, we learned, experienced, and celebrated civil liberties.

We understand that for a good idea to see the light of day, it needs funding—and we don’t distinguish between small and large projects, but give a chance to everyone backed by enthusiasm and determination:

Vivacom Regional Grant – For 10 years, we have been a key partner of Vivacom in the design and implementation of the company’s most ambitious socially responsible initiative. For a decade (2015–2025), Vivacom has donated over 700,000 BGN to support 128 projects by 115 civil society organizations across the country, addressing critical local issues and engaging over 40,000 people.
Social Innovators – through the innovative training program in the NGO sector (2020–2021), we helped 120 young people, including those from the NEET group, acquire and develop job skills by engaging with the causes of 49 civil society organizations and under the guidance of 70 mentors.

WeAct – we partner with Accenture Bulgaria to encourage employee giving. During the first two editions, employees donated 27,760 BGN to socially significant causes and the urgent needs of 14 civil society organizations from across the country.
Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Program – BCNL joined the team of the Program Operator for the Mechanism for Civic Engagement and Transparency, which aims to strengthen civic participation and open governance in Bulgaria. Through this, we are supporting more Bulgarian citizens to become actively engaged and participate in a more transparent and inclusive public debate regarding the decisions that affect them.

Over the past 25 years, BCNL has established itself as a systemic impact organization that works not on “case-by-case” issues, but on the structures that define the rules of the game.

The House of Civil Society Organizations – for over 10 years now, we have been building a community of more than 30 NGOs that have passed through our hub for joint work, collaboration, and unlocking our potential to do good together. After all, one NGO does not make a house; a whole community is needed.

United– we bring together civil society organizations and active citizens united by a common vision: for Bulgaria to be a free, democratic, and united country where fundamental rights, freedom of expression, association, and participation are defended with responsibility and determination.

Wonders of Bulgaria – together with seven other civil society organizations, we launched a national campaign featuring a digital calendar and nearly 100 real-life stories. The video content alone reached over 1 million views on YouTube. This allowed us to showcase the concrete, human work that civil society organizations in Bulgaria do on the ground, by placing care, volunteering, and a direct impact on people’s lives at the center, not through abstract causes, but through accessible and inspiring actions.

We have also hosted and trained over 200 colleagues from Central and East Asia—Uzbekistan 2006 (legal framework for NGOs in Bulgaria), Tajikistan 2006 (framework for NGOs in Bulgaria), and 2012 (contracting social services to NGOs), Kyrgyzstan 2012 (contracting social services to NGOs), Kyrgyzstan 2013 (contracting social services to NGOs), Kazakhstan 2013 (contracting social services to NGOs), Afghanistan 2013 (civil society development), Turkmenistan 2018 (contracting social services to NGOs), Mongolia (social services, 2019), and others.

We work in partnership with universities, civic engagement hubs, and legal clinics to address issues faced by people with disabilities at the Law Faculty of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski,” and participate in hackathons at New Bulgarian University and the American University in Blagoevgrad.

In the context of growing political polarization and risks to democratic standards, our role becomes even more crucial. The coming years will require rapid responses, high expertise, and independent resources.

What we have achieved over the past 25 years is the result of long-term partnerships, trust, and strategic support. These remain critically important so that the BCNL can continue to be a driving force for the development of civil society organizations and civic participation. And for at least another 25 years, we will remain vigilant

If you want BCNL to stay vigilant, monitor the passage of laws that harm people, and continue to train and support social entrepreneurs, activists, artists, and people with a civic stance, then please DONATE to our mission. Because when we speak together, the law works.

MAKE A DONATION HERE!