Values Open Call for Proposals

The Values Open Call for Proposals, managed by the Bulgarian Fund for Women under the EU CERV programme (BIRDS in BG-2, Grant Agreement 101184271), provides cascade grants to independent grassroots civil society organisations registered in Bulgaria to promote EU values, fundamental rights, democracy, gender equality, social justice and protection of civic space. The total programme budget is €1,489,644.34 and individual grants range from €5,000 to €60,000 for projects of 6 to 24 months, with up to 25% allowed for indirect costs. The single-stage call opens on 6 April 2026 and closes on 8 June 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time; applications must be submitted in Bulgarian via the BFW online portal after passing the eligibility test. Selection combines an administrative eligibility check and qualitative evaluation prioritising under-resourced, community-led organisations and proposals demonstrating relevance to under-addressed or contested issues, a clear theory of change, feasibility and potential for structural impact.

Quick summary

What it funds

Small to medium grants to independent grassroots civil society organisations in Bulgaria for activities that protect and promote EU values, fundamental rights, democracy, gender equality, social justice and civic space (advocacy, monitoring, capacity building, campaigns, partnerships and related activities).

Total budget and grant sizes:Total programme budget €1,489,644.34; individual grants €5,000 to €60,000 for projects lasting 6 to 24 months ¹.

Who can apply

Organisations registered in Bulgaria as non-profit legal entities operating in the public benefit (registered under Bulgarian law ZYULNC). Ineligible: private benefit organisations, commercial companies, cooperatives, unregistered groups and individuals. Applicants must be independent from state, party and commercial interests and aligned with EU values.

Key administrative points

1. 1Managed by Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) under project BIRDS in BG 2 (CERV co-financed, grant agreement 101184271).
2. 2Applications submitted in Bulgarian via BFW online platform after passing a short eligibility test.
3. 3Single-stage call; administrative check then qualitative evaluation using criteria such as relevance to EU values, focus on under-addressed groups, gender and intersectional approach, theory of change, community leadership, risk management and feasibility.

Indicative minimum number of grants:25. Partnerships encouraged (up to 10 organisations). One organisation may apply to multiple programmes within BIRDS in BG 2 provided total funding does not exceed €60,000. Up to 25% of grant may cover indirect costs for lead organisation.

Priority given to community-led, local and under-resourced organisations, initiatives addressing contested issues or marginalised groups (including women's rights, LGBTIQ+ and poverty/inequality root causes) and proposals likely to produce structural change or movement mobilisation.

For application guidance and the online portal see the Bulgarian Fund for Women resources and the official call page Values Open Call. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Application is submitted in Bulgarian via the BFW online grants platform; detailed applicant guidelines and the eligibility test are available on BFW websites and the call documents linked above.

Basic facts and administrative details

Call title:Values Open Call for Proposals. Managed by: Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) as part of the project BIRDS in BG - 2 (Grant Agreement 101184271), co-financed by the EU Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme. Opening date: 06 April 2026. Deadline (single-stage): 08 June 2026, 23:59 Brussels time. Total programme budget: €1,489,644.34. Grant sizes available to applicants: €5,000 to €60,000. Project duration for awarded grants: 6 to 24 months.

Call purpose:To support independent grassroots civil society organisations in Bulgaria that protect and promote EU values, fundamental rights, democracy, gender equality, human rights, social justice, and protection of civic space. The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of local and national CSOs, expand BFW's network, and support work on under-addressed or contested issues and groups.

Eligible applicants and partnership rules

Eligible applicants are civil society organisations registered in Bulgaria under the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities (ZЮЛНЦ) and operating for public benefit. Applicants must be independent from state, party or commercial interests and must share EU values (democracy, equality, human rights, rule of law). Specifically encouraged: local and community-based organisations, organisations working with vulnerable groups, small, under-resourced and newly established organisations, organisations outside the capital and those with limited prior access to funding.

1. 1Eligible applicant types: nonprofit, civil society organisation, grassroots community organisation (registered in Bulgaria ZЮЛНЦ and working for public benefit).
2. 2Ineligible: private benefit organisations, commercial companies, cooperatives, unregistered groups and individuals.
3. 3Partnerships: allowed and encouraged — consortia of up to 10 organisations may apply; a single organisation can be the lead applicant.
4. 4One organisation may participate in more than one proposal, provided total funding across the three programmes within BIRDS in BG - 2 does not exceed €60,000 per organisation.

Funding type, modality and financial rules

Primary funding mechanism:grants (cascade funding / intermediaries giving financial support to third parties). Grants are direct monetary awards to successful lead organisations. The call permits up to 25% of an awarded budget to be indirect costs, intended for basic functioning and organisational sustainability of the lead organisation. The funding covers activities such as advocacy and institutional dialogue, civic space monitoring and protection, campaigns and public initiatives, capacity building and leadership, and partnership building. A full list of eligible activities is provided in the official Application Guidelines.

Total budget and grant size:Total programme budget €1,489,644.34. Individual grants range between €5,000 and €60,000. Indicative minimum number of grants: 25 ¹.

Geographic and thematic scope

Geographic eligibility:applicants must be registered and operating in Bulgaria; activities should take place at local, regional or national level within Bulgaria. Thematic focus: civil society, human rights, democracy, gender equality, protection of civic space, social justice, and defence of EU values and the rule of law. Priority is given to initiatives addressing contested or under-addressed issues and groups, including women, LGBTIQ+ people and other vulnerable populations, and to work tackling root causes of poverty and inequality.

Project maturity and expected activities

Target project stage:implementation and demonstration of community-level or national advocacy, capacity-building and civic engagement activities. Projects are expected to have clear theory of change, feasible implementation plans, demonstrable team capacity and partnerships, and potential for structural change, advocacy impact or movement mobilisation.

Submission, evaluation and selection process

Application language and portal:applications must be submitted in Bulgarian through the Bulgarian Fund for Women online platform. All applicants must first complete a short eligibility test on the BFW site; eligible organisations receive a link to the online application portal, where they create or use an organisational profile to submit the application and budget form.

1. 1Application type: open call, single-stage.
2. 2Submission method: online via BFW portal (applicants create an organisational profile and submit the form in the portal).
3. 3Evaluation stages: administrative eligibility and completeness check, followed by qualitative evaluation of eligible proposals. Final funding decisions are taken in line with the call rules.

Selection criteria:Key evaluation criteria include contribution to promotion of EU values and fundamental rights; focus on under-addressed or contested issues and groups; inclusion of gender equality and intersectional/anti-discrimination approaches; clarity and plausibility of theory of change, relevance and implementation plan; leadership and involvement of impacted communities; risk management, safety and ethics; feasibility (team capacity, partnerships and budget logic); and potential for structural change, advocacy results or movement mobilisation.

Application documentation, templates and guidance

Required documentation and templates:Applicants must complete an organisational profile in the BFW portal and submit the official Application Form and Budget Form. The Application Guidelines include detailed eligibility rules, the full list of eligible activities, priority thematic areas and target groups, evaluation criteria and scoring, and instructions for filling in the application and budget templates. Additional documents include BFW general terms and conditions for awarding grants within the BIRDS in BG - 2 project and a guidance document for creating/updating the organisational profile and submitting an application in the electronic platform.

1. 1Step 1: Complete the short eligibility test on the BFW website. If eligible, receive portal link.
2. 2Step 2: Create or update organisational profile in the BFW portal (register and set a password if first time).
3. 3Step 3: Complete the Application Form in the portal (project description, objectives, target groups, methodology, theory of change, workplan and timeline).
4. 4Step 4: Complete and attach the Budget Form, indicating direct and indirect costs (up to 25% indirect allowed).
5. 5Step 5: Attach required supporting documents (statute, registration documents, proof of public benefit registration if applicable, bank details, previous annual reports if requested).
6. 6Step 6: Submit application before the deadline and await administrative check and qualitative evaluation.

Support, contacts and information events

BFW will host an online information day on 21 April 2026 (11:00–12:30 local time) where the programme will be presented and questions can be asked; a recording will be available thereafter. Applicants may consult the Frequently Asked Questions section on the BFW portal and direct questions or technical issues to the stated programme email address gro.nemowrofdnufgb@ksa. Telephone consultations will not be provided. Data processing information and privacy policy are available on BFW’s website.

Timetable and contract dates

Key dates:call publication and application opening 06 April 2026; online information day 21 April 2026; application deadline 08 June 2026; anticipated contracting and first payments by end of August 2026.

Assessment of application process complexity and stages

Number of evaluation stages:two primary stages — (1) administrative eligibility and completeness check, (2) qualitative evaluation of eligible proposals, followed by decision and contracting. The overall process includes an application gateway (eligibility test), submission in the portal and post-evaluation contracting and payment steps.

Success rates and number of awards

Indicative minimum number of grants to be awarded is 25. The call does not publish a guaranteed maximum number of awards; with the given total budget and minimum grant size, the theoretical maximum number of small awards could be higher, while the practical number depends on grant sizes awarded. No explicit historical success rate is provided; applicants should consult the Guidelines for any selection quotas or scoring thresholds.

Co-funding and financial requirements

The call documentation does not state an obligation for applicant co-funding of project activities. Financial rules highlighted in the Guidelines include allowable direct costs, and up to 25% of the grant may be allocated to indirect costs for the lead organisation’s core functioning. Applicants should consult the full Application Guidelines and Terms and Conditions for details on eligible and non-eligible costs, financial reporting and audit requirements.

What applicants should demonstrate in their proposals

1. 1Clear contribution to promotion and protection of EU values and fundamental rights.
2. 2Targeting of under-addressed or contested issues and marginalised groups, with an intersectional approach and gender perspective.
3. 3A clear theory of change and well-structured implementation plan with realistic timeline and budget logic.
4. 4Strong involvement, leadership and empowerment of impacted communities and evidence of community relevance.
5. 5Risk assessment and mitigation measures addressing safety, ethical issues and protection of participants.
6. 6Demonstrated organisational capacity, relevant partnerships, and feasible monitoring and evaluation approach.
7. 7Potential for advocacy impact, structural change or movement-building beyond the life of the project.

Mentioned countries and geographic references

Explicitly mentioned country:Bulgaria. Programme is implemented nationally within Bulgaria and is aimed at Bulgarian-registered civil society organisations. The funding source is the European Union CERV programme and the funded project is part of an EU co-financed initiative.

Contact and useful links:Primary application portal: Bulgarian Fund for Women online grants portal. Official call page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal contains the call record and links to documents Values Open Call on EU Portal. Further information and the application guidelines are hosted on BFW’s website and the programme announcement page BFW Values Programme announcement.

Administrative and privacy notes:BFW is the data controller for applicant personal data and processes such data in line with applicable data protection law and Regulation (EU) 2016/679. Official grant agreement number for the parent EU-funded project: 101184271.

Concluding summary

This open call, managed by the Bulgarian Fund for Women under the EU-funded BIRDS in BG - 2 project, offers competitive grants to independent Bulgarian civil society organisations working to protect and promote EU values, human rights, democracy and gender equality. The programme is financed from a total envelope of €1,489,644.34 and aims to award at least 25 grants ranging from €5,000 to €60,000 for project durations of 6 to 24 months. Applications are submitted in Bulgarian via the BFW online portal after passing a short eligibility test. The single-stage selection process includes an administrative eligibility check and a qualitative evaluation against criteria that emphasise relevance to EU values, focus on under-addressed topics and groups, gender and intersectional approaches, community leadership, feasibility, risk management, and potential for advocacy and structural impact. Applicants should consult the Application Guidelines and use the provided templates (organisational profile, application form and budget form) to prepare proposals. The call strongly encourages applications from small, newly formed or under-resourced grassroots organisations, especially those from underserved regions and working on contested topics. Contracts and payments are expected to be completed by the end of August 2026. For full rules, templates and official forms consult the BFW portal and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1The call documentation, Application Guidelines, templates and detailed terms and conditions are published on the Bulgarian Fund for Women portal and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; applicants should download and follow those documents when preparing and submitting their proposals.

The Values Open Call for Proposals is a cascade funding opportunity managed by the Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) under the EU CERV programme project BIRDS in BG-2 (Grant agreement No. 101184271). It aims to support independent grassroots civil society organisations (CSOs) in Bulgaria working on fundamental rights, democracy, gender equality, human rights, social justice, and protection of civic space. The total budget is €1,489,644.34, with a minimum of 25 grants expected.

Key Dates and Timeline

• Opening date: 6 April 2026
• Online info day: 21 April 2026 (11:00-12:30, registration required)
• Deadline: 8 June 2026, 23:59 Brussels time (single-stage submission)
• Contracts and payments: By end of August 2026

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants are CSOs registered in Bulgaria according to the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act (ZULNC), operating for public benefit, and independent from state, political, or commercial interests. They must share EU values such as democracy, equality, human rights, and rule of law. Ineligible: private benefit organisations, commercial companies, cooperatives, unregistered groups, and individuals.

• Priority for small, under-resourced, newly established local organisations led by their communities
• Focus on underprivileged areas, contested topics (e.g., women's rights, LGBTIQ+ rights, vulnerable groups, poverty causes)
• Organisations without project history, permanent staff, outside the capital, or with limited funding access
• Partnerships encouraged (up to 10 organisations); one organisation may join multiple proposals if total funding across BIRDS in BG-2 programmes does not exceed €60,000

Funding Details

Grant size:5,000 to €60,000 per project.

Project duration:6 to 24 months.

Indirect costs:Up to 25% of budget for core operations and sustainable organisational development of the lead organisation.

Funding covers specific activities including advocacy and institutional dialogue, monitoring and civic space protection, campaigns and public initiatives, capacity building and leadership, partnerships and coalitions. Full list in Applicant Guidelines.

Application Process

Applications in Bulgarian via BFW online platform. Start with eligibility test; eligible organisations receive portal access link. Steps: create/update organisational profile, complete application form. Detailed instructions in Applicant Guidelines and platform guide.

1. 1Administrative eligibility and completeness check
2. 2Qualitative evaluation based on criteria: contribution to EU values/fundamental rights, focus on under-addressed issues/groups, gender equality/intersectional approach, theory of change/relevance/implementation, community involvement, risk management/safety/ethics, feasibility (team/partnerships/budget), potential for structural change/advocacy/mobilisation

Evaluation Criteria

• Contribution to promotion of EU values and fundamental rights
• Focus on under-addressed or contested issues and groups
• Integration of gender equality perspective and intersectional/anti-discrimination approach
• Theory of change, relevance, and implementation plan
• Involvement, influence, and leadership of impacted communities
• Risk management and mitigation (safety, ethics)
• Feasibility: team capacity, partnerships, budget logic
• Potential for structural change, advocacy, movement mobilisation

Key Resources and Contacts

• Primary source: EU Funding Portal
• BFW application portal: BFW Grants Portal
• Announcement page: BFW Programme Values
• Key documents: Applicant Guidelines, General Terms, Profile Guide (available on BFW site)
• Support email: gro.nemowrofdnufgb@ksa (check FAQs first; no phone consultations)

This is a re-granting mechanism under CERV-2024, targeting local impact in Bulgaria to build inclusive, resilient democratic society¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Based on scraped content from EU portal and BFW sites; full guidelines mandatory for application.