Disaster Response Bulgaria Project #46204

Support United Against COVID-19 Fund in Bulgaria

by Trust for Social Achievement Foundation

Support United Against COVID-19 Fund in Bulgaria

Project Report | May 18, 2020
Final Report

By Irina Ilieva | Program Officer

United: We Support Communities in Need in Bulgaria

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in Bulgaria, the United against COVID-19 Relief Fund was established with the confidence that joint philanthropic efforts are the best way to support people and institutions, deliver effective remedies, and build greater capacity to meet urgent needs. Through unconditional donations to the fund we managed to respond quickly and effectively to the urgent needs of Bulgarian society.

The Initiative. On April 9, 2020, the Bulgarian Donors’ Forum, America for Bulgaria Foundation, US Embassy, and American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria announced the establishment of the United against COVID-19 Relief Fund. Guided by its mission “to help communities in need in Bulgaria,” the fund established as its goal to financially support the most vulnerable groups across the country affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Transparency. For maximum transparency to donors, applicants, and other stakeholders, we created a dedicated website, www.united4bg.org, that includes detailed information about the fund’s mission, objectives, and governance; the donors and funds raised; the application requirements and application form as well as information about the approved organizations.

Donors. To date, the fund has raised 1,006,475 levs, donated by 44 donors—companies, foundations, and individuals—from March to May 2020.

Applicants. The fund administered the application process on a competitive basis, with two calls for proposals. The fund targeted medical institutions, municipalities, civil society organizations, community centers, schools, and micro and small businesses with ideas for how to support people affected by the crisis. The maximum funding per project under the rules of the fund is 10,000 levs.

The fund received 693 applications in the two rounds. Most of them, 303, were from nonprofit organizations, followed by 110 municipalities and 100 community centers. Fifty-five hospitals and 26 other medical institutions also applied. Most of the proposals came from small towns. One hundred organizations offered activities with regional or national scope.

Supported projects. The fund approved a total of 106 projects, as follows: 28 hospitals and 7 smaller medical establishments; 15 municipalities; 37 civil society organizations; 9 community centers; 2 schools; and 8 micro and small businesses. Through the fund’s financial support, the recipient organizations procured medical and personal protection equipment, food and medicines for elderly people, children without parental care, the unemployed, homeless, victims of domestic violence, and other vulnerable groups. The list of approved projects from both rounds can be found on the initiative’s website www.united4bg.org

Reach: The fund will provide assistance to 700,000 people, according to estimates provided by the approved organizations. The projects are in 82 locations (44 small towns, 26 villages, and 12 regional centers) throughout the country.

We are confident that the fund and its donors made a significant contribution to national and local anti-crisis efforts. The examples of collaborative efforts throughout the country are unprecedented and demonstrate the vast potential and impressive commitment of Bulgarian society.

These were challenging times for all of us. We witnessed remarkable real-life stories of kindness, humanity, and solidarity.

Thank you to the generous donors to the Untied against COVID-19 Fund!

You gave us the opportunity to demonstrate how people and businesses can fulfill their civic duty and lend their support to alleviate medical and equipment shortages and support medics, vulnerable populations, and needy families.

Links:

http://www.united4bg.org

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May 14, 2020
United Against COVID Fund - Round 2 Results

By Irina Ilieva | Program Officer

The Fund received nearly 700 applications; 106 of them are being funded

Eight hospitals, 13 nongovernmental organizations, and three municipalities are among the applicants who received funding from the United against COVID-19 Fund in the second and final call for proposals. If more funds are raised, the Fund will be able to support more of the submitted proposals. Thirty-two projects were approved and will receive a total of 287,509 levs in the second round. The maximum amount allocated per organization, as in the first round, is 10,000 levs.

In its two rounds, the Fund supported a total of 106 organizations all over Bulgaria—hospitals and other medical entities, NGOs, municipalities, community centers, as well as social initiatives of micro and small enterprises. The funding of 961,493 levs will be used to purchase medical and personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals tending to coronavirus patients, as well as food, medicines, and protective equipment for the elderly, the sick, children, unemployed, disadvantaged, and other vulnerable groups.

The United against COVID-19 Fund was created on the initiative of the Bulgarian Donors’ Forum, America for Bulgaria Foundation, US Embassy in Bulgaria, and American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria to support local communities in the country severely affected by the coronavirus crisis.

The Fund received a total of 693 applications in two weeks. Most of them (303) were from NGOs, followed by 110 municipalities and 100 community centers. Fifty-five hospitals and 26 medical institutions also applied. Most applicants were based in small cities. One hundred organizations proposed activities with regional and national coverage.

The full of lists of approved projects from both rounds can be seen here: Round 1 and Round 2.

The United founders are grateful for the generous support of: The Coca-Cola Foundation, America for Bulgaria Foundation, ContourGlobal Maritza East 3, NEPI Rockcastle, Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation, ING Bank NV, Progress Software, Citibank, Johnson & Johnson Bulgaria, UniCredit Bulbank, Glavbolgarstroy Holding, TELUS International Europe, Tsetska and Grozdan Karadjovi, Svetozar Georgiev, Trust for Social Achievement, AES 3C Maritza Iztok 1, Paraflow Communications, Mylan, EXL Servise Bulgaria, Blagotvoritel Foundation, AIG Europe SA (Bulgaria branch), Fadata, Green Step Club, Rossen Ivanov, Krassimir Nenov, Titan Machinery Bulgaria, and many individual donors like you!

Thank you for your trust in our work! Stay safe!

Links:

http://www.United4BG.org

Attachments:

3 Attachments

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Apr 24, 2020
Selected initiatives in the first round of United

By Irina Ilieva | Program Officer

The United against COVID-19 Fund will provide financial support to 74 projects in more than 65 locations in Bulgaria following the first round of applications, which ended on April 16.

We wish to thank all the generous donors, who trusted in us and joined our efforts to support vulnarable communities across the country!

Thanks to you, we are able to support local hospitals, civic organizations, community centers, and social enterprises. A total of BGN 673,984 will be allocated among the projects. The maximum amount allocated is BGN 10,000.

Most of the funding will be provided to 25 municipal hospitals and medical centers in small towns to purchase medical and protective equipment to treat patients affected by COVID-19.

In addition, the Fund will support 24 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in villages and small towns. These organizations are helping the most vulnerable groups, including children as well as the elderly, sick, unemployed, and impoverished. The projects will provide food, medicines, and protective equipment to these populations.

The Fund will also help 12 municipalities, seven community centers, five micro-businesses, and one school to implement emergency measures against COVID-19.

United against COVID-19 was established in support for local communities in Bulgaria affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The Fund has raised 945,000 levs so far.

The Fund reviewed 437 applications from April 10 to April 16. Most of the applications (183) were from NGOs, followed by municipalities and community centers. Forty-three hospitals and 18 medical institutions also applied to the Fund. Most applications came from small towns.

You can find the full list of approved projects here: www.United4BG.org

As part of the second round, the Fund is still accepting applications until 6 pm on April 27, 2020.

Thank you again for joining the efforts of the many generous donors in Bulgaria and abroad!

Please share with your friends so that we can continue supporting those most in need in the current crisis.

Links:

http://www.United4BG.org

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