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America for Bulgaria Foundation

Annual Giving
$20.0M
Grant Range
Up to $0.1M00
Decision Time
2mo
Success Rate
10%

America for Bulgaria Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $20 million
  • Success Rate: ~10% (rejects approximately 90% of requests)
  • Decision Time: Typically completed within a few months
  • Grant Range: Varies by program (e.g., up to $110,000 USD for Schools of the Future)
  • Geographic Focus: Bulgaria (organizations in Bulgaria and USA supporting Bulgaria)
  • Total Investment: Over $200 million in 900+ projects since 2009

Contact Details

Sofia Office:

US Office:

  • Location: Homer Glen, IL
  • EIN: 20-8076166

For inquiries about grants for economically disadvantaged groups, contact the Trust for Social Achievement (TSA), established by ABF in 2012.

Overview

The America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonpolitical American grant-making foundation established in 2008 as a successor to the Bulgarian American Enterprise Fund (BAEF), which was created under the SEED Act of 1989 through USAID. Since its founding in 2009, ABF has invested over $200 million in more than 900 projects across Bulgaria. The foundation allocates approximately $20 million annually and works in partnership with Bulgarians to strengthen the country's private sector and democratic institutions. ABF positions itself as more than a funding mechanism, emphasizing collaborative partnerships with grantees to achieve sustainable change. The Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund that created ABF was the most successful of the ten SEED Act Enterprise Funds, outperforming Poland, Romania, and Hungary.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

ABF operates through both rolling applications and specific Request for Proposals (RFPs):

Rolling Grant Applications:

  • General project support across priority areas
  • No fixed deadlines; applications accepted throughout the year
  • Grant sizes vary by project scope and impact

Recent RFP Programs (2024-2025):

  • Science with a Future Program: Applied science projects in sustainable development and environmental science for researchers aged 18-40
  • Tourism Development: Projects to develop tourism in Northwestern Bulgaria and along the Danube
  • Media E:volution Journalism Fellowship Program 3.0: Fellowship for journalism professionals (Application deadline: July 7, 2025)
  • Leadership Education in America Program (LEAP): Three-week program in Boston and New York for early to mid-career Bulgarian professionals (Application deadline: February 7, 2025)
  • Digital Marketing Fellowship Program: Nine-month paid placements for recent graduates or requalifying professionals (Application deadline: September 15, 2025)
  • Schools of the Future: Grants up to BGN 200,000 (approximately $110,000 USD) for enhancing learning environments in Bulgarian schools

Priority Areas

ABF focuses on four key strategic areas:

  1. Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology: Supporting private sector development and innovation
  2. Developing and Retaining Human Capital: Education and professional development programs
  3. Business Enabling Environment: Strengthening institutions and rule of law
  4. Cultural Heritage and Nature Tourism: Preserving heritage and developing sustainable tourism

Cross-cutting themes include:

  • Education (all levels)
  • Cultural heritage preservation
  • Arts and culture
  • Civil society and democratic institutions
  • Private sector development
  • Economic development

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals: ABF does not make grants to individuals
  • Economically Disadvantaged Programs: All inquiries for grants concerning work with economically disadvantaged groups should be directed to the Trust for Social Achievement (TSA), a separate organization established by ABF in 2012

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Nancy L. Schiller serves as President and CEO of the America for Bulgaria Foundation.

Organizational Philosophy: ABF emphasizes partnership over transactional funding relationships. Their grant-making process presumes collaborative planning between ABF and its grantees, based on the understanding that common solutions best lead to sustainable change. The foundation also encourages partnership and synergy among its grantees to maximize the sharing of experiences and lessons learned.

ABF partners with companies, institutions, communities, non-governmental organizations, and visionary leaders that champion economic freedom, entrepreneurship, and rule of law as essential building blocks for a thriving economy and democracy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

ABF accepts applications through three pathways:

  1. Rolling Applications: Submit through the online form at https://us4bg.org/how-to-apply-for-funding/

    • No fixed deadlines; applications accepted throughout the year
    • Fill in all fields in the electronic form
    • Briefly present your organization, project purpose, objectives, duration, and total funding request

  2. Request for Proposals (RFP): Apply for specific programs posted at https://us4bg.org/requests-for-proposals/

    • Fixed deadlines for each RFP
    • Program-specific requirements and formats

  3. Proactive Outreach: ABF staff independently identify and approach organizations

    • Foundation may initiate contact with potential partners

Important Note: ABF NEVER charges an application fee. Be cautious of any requests for payment to apply.

Decision Timeline

Initial Review:

  • Foundation staff review incoming grant concepts weekly
  • Initial decisions made about which inquiries will be invited to develop a full proposal
  • If your initial proposal is of interest, program director will contact you to discuss ideas and help shape a full proposal

Full Application Process:

  • Invited applicants complete a detailed Application and Budget Form
  • Process may include research, meetings, site visits, grant negotiations, legal review, and presentation for approval
  • Typical timeline: Generally completed within a few months (some sources indicate as little as one month, though this may vary)

Decision Authority:

  • Recommendations made to Executive Director, President, or Board of Directors
  • Final funding decisions made by appropriate level of leadership

Success Rates

ABF rejects approximately 90% of all grant requests, resulting in an estimated 10% success rate. This highly competitive rate reflects the foundation's rigorous selection process and focus on effective organizations with original thinking and proposals relevant to private sector development.

Reapplication Policy

Information about specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants was not available in public sources. Applicants should contact ABF directly for guidance on resubmitting proposals.

Application Success Factors

What ABF Looks For

When making grants, the foundation evaluates proposals based on three key criteria:

  1. Effective Organizations: Track record of successful implementation and organizational capacity
  2. Original Thinking: Innovative approaches and fresh solutions to challenges
  3. Relevance to Mission: Clear connection to private sector development and democratic institution building

Collaborative Partnership Approach

ABF emphasizes that its grant-making process "presumes collaborative planning between ABF and its grantees." This means:

  • The foundation seeks partners, not just funding recipients
  • They work collaboratively to shape proposals and ensure sustainable impact
  • They value organizations willing to engage in ongoing dialogue and planning
  • Program directors actively help applicants refine their proposals during the development stage

Strategic Alignment

Successful applicants demonstrate clear alignment with ABF's four strategic focus areas (business/entrepreneurship, human capital development, business enabling environment, and cultural heritage/tourism) and show how their work contributes to a thriving market economy and democratic society in Bulgaria.

Building on Lessons Learned

ABF encourages "partnership and synergy among its grantees to utilize to the highest degree experiences gained and lessons learned." Proposals that demonstrate awareness of what has worked (or not worked) in the sector and build on existing knowledge are valued.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Highly Competitive: With a 90% rejection rate, only the strongest proposals succeed. Ensure your application demonstrates exceptional organizational effectiveness, innovative thinking, and clear mission alignment.

  • Collaborative Approach: ABF sees itself as a partner, not just a funder. If invited to develop a full proposal, expect and embrace collaborative refinement with program directors.

  • No Fixed Deadlines for General Grants: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, allowing flexibility in timing. However, weekly staff reviews mean competitive pressure is constant.

  • Initial Inquiry Is Critical: The first brief inquiry determines whether you'll be invited to submit a full application. Make this initial submission compelling and directly relevant to ABF's mission.

  • Focus on Private Sector Development: Even for education, cultural, or civil society projects, articulate the connection to economic freedom, entrepreneurship, rule of law, and market economy development.

  • Consider RFPs for Targeted Opportunities: If your work aligns with a specific RFP, these targeted calls may offer clearer pathways than general applications.

  • Economically Disadvantaged Work Goes to TSA: If your project focuses on poverty reduction or economically disadvantaged populations (especially Roma communities), apply to the Trust for Social Achievement instead.

References

  1. America for Bulgaria Foundation official website - https://us4bg.org/ (Accessed December 2024)
  2. "About ABF" - America for Bulgaria Foundation - https://us4bg.org/about-abf/ (Accessed December 2024)
  3. "Apply for Funding" - America for Bulgaria Foundation - https://us4bg.org/how-to-apply-for-funding/ (Accessed December 2024)
  4. "FAQ" - America for Bulgaria Foundation - https://us4bg.org/faq/ (Accessed December 2024)
  5. "Open Calls" - America for Bulgaria Foundation - https://us4bg.org/requests-for-proposals/ (Accessed December 2024)
  6. "Guiding Principles and Core Values" - America for Bulgaria Foundation - https://us4bg.org/about-abf/our-principles-and-core-values/ (Accessed December 2024)
  7. "Contact Us" - America for Bulgaria Foundation - https://us4bg.org/contacts/ (Accessed December 2024)
  8. America for Bulgaria Foundation - GuideStar Profile - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/20-8076166 (Accessed December 2024)
  9. America for Bulgaria Foundation - Charity Navigator - https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/208076166 (Accessed December 2024)
  10. America for Bulgaria Foundation - Cause IQ - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/america-for-bulgaria-foundation,208076166/ (Accessed December 2024)
  11. America for Bulgaria Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/208076166 (Accessed December 2024)
  12. "Trust for Social Achievement" - America for Bulgaria Foundation - https://us4bg.org/projects/trust-for-social-achievement/ (Accessed December 2024)
  13. America for Bulgaria Foundation - Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law - https://bcnl.org/en/partners/america-for-bulgaria-foundation.html (Accessed December 2024)
  14. America for Bulgaria Foundation - AmCham Bulgaria - https://amcham.bg/member/america-for-bulgaria-foundation/ (Accessed December 2024)
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