A prize fund of 40 000 leva will be distributed
among the best business plans to develop their ideas

 

The Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law is launching applications for participation in the the program “Entrepreneurship for Non-Profit Organizations” for 2018/2019. Everyone who participates in the Program will receive individualized expert support on how to develop their entrepreneurial activity. The program is supported by the „America for Bulgaria“ Foundation and is in partnership with TELUS International Europe and UniCredit Bulbank.

 

In the Program so far: •           we have trained over 140 organizations to develop their ideas in business plans; •           we have invested over 155 000 leva in the realization of the best ideas; •           more than 300,000 leva revenues have been realized by the finalists in the Program, thanks to our support.   In 2017, 24 organizations joined the program. 5 of them were selected by an authoritative jury and received financial support of 8 000 leva to start their ideas. The winners were: BULGARIAN FOUNDATION BIODIVERSITY (BFB) for its gift box with products from small farms in Western Stara Planina. „GIFT WITH TASTE OF TRADITION AND BULGARIAN NATURE“ is a representative gift that "tells" through food about the preserved traditions and nature. COMMUNITY CENTER "LIGHT -1861", for „THE TCHIRPANLIEVA HOUSE“, to develop it as an ethnographic complex that attracts visitors through interactive activities. „CHILDREN'S BOOKS“ FOUNDATION, who will promote reading among children through an online platform to easily find suitable children's books recommended by individual readers' interests - DETSKIKNIGI.COM – A COMPASS FOR PARENTS IN THE WORLD OF CHILDREN‘S BOOKS. SYNERGIA FOUNDATION, who, at their HI TOUCH MASSAGE STUDIO, will provide the opportunity for well-trained masseurs with visual impairments to work in teams with sighted masseur-mentors. "SAINT NICOLAS THE MIRACLE-WORKER“ FOUNDATION with HOTHOUSE FOR PRODUCING SEEDLINGS, which will provide suitable working conditions for people with intellectual difficulties in the production and growing of flower seedlings.

Description of the program

The Program “Entrepreneurship for Non-Profit Organizations” contains the following three stages:

First Stage „Expert support for improving a business plan and skills for its public performance“ –the participants will receive expert support to improve their specific entrepreneurial activity developed in a business plan. Within two consecutive training sessions, topics related to preparing financial forecasts for business plans, advice from experts in business companies, improving presentation skills to better communicate business ideas will be presented. The participants will also get acquainted with examples of successful social business in Bulgaria and will exchange experience with the finalists from previous years in the program. During this stage the participants will be able to receive individual consultations and ask specific questions to the consultants of the competition.

Second stage „NGO Business Plan Competition“ - includes the presentation of the developed business plans in front of a jury, which will determine the winners. Excellent business ideas will distribute a prize pool of 40,000 leva.

Third Stage "Lab4e - mentoring program for a successful start“ - the winners in the contest will participate in periodic meetings and will receive follow-up expert and mentoring support from business representatives to develop their business activity.

Who can apply for participation

The initiative is appropriate for all non-governmental organizations that are developing or intend to develop business activity in support of their mission and goals. NGOs (associations, foundations and community centers), that may apply for participation, are those which:

• have at least two successfully implemented projects / initiatives (either alone or in partnership);
• have annual revenues of over 5,000 leva for the last two years (2016 and 2017).

 

Organizations, that have participated in the competition in previous years but have not received awards then or such that were among the finalists but want to develop a new entrepreneurial idea, may also apply for participation in the program this year.
 

An advantage in the selection of the participants in the program will be given to active organizations that have a well-prepared team and a willingness to accomplish their business idea. The main criterion will be the mission of the organization and the connection between the mission and the proposed idea for developing business activity.

All organizations willing to participate must complete an online application form by July 15, 2018.
The application form must be completed and sent by the official representative of the relevant non-profit organization. Please be brief, clear and specific when answering the questions in the application form!
 

Schedule

• Application deadline – July 15, 2018;
• Announcement of the candidates approved for participation – end of August, 2018;
• Conducting the first training meeting in Sofia – end of September, 2018;
• Conducting the second training meeting on presentational skills in Sofia – in the middle of November, 2018;
• Deadline for submission of final business plans and participation in NGO's Best Business Plan Competition – end of December, 2018;
• Presentation of concepts to a jury – beginning of February, 2019;
• Lab4e (intensive mentoring program) – from March, 2019 to December, 2019.

 

To participate in the program, the applicants must pay a fee of 150 leva. The organizers will cover the costs of the participants for accommodation, meals and coffee breaks during the training meetings, part of the program.

Deadline for receiving the documents is July 15, 2018.

For more information, please check our website www.bcnl.org or contact us at tel.  02/981 66 17, contact persons – Pavleta Aleksieva (pavleta@bcnl.org) and Anna Adamova (anna@bcnl.org).