The America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonpolitical American grant-making organization. We began our work in 2009, but our connection to Bulgaria dates to the democratic changes of 1989. ABF is the successor to the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund, which helped create thousands of jobs between 1992 and 2008 by supporting emerging Bulgarian entrepreneurs and enabling the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Building on this legacy, ABF works in partnership with businesses, institutions, communities, non-governmental organizations, and visionary leaders who champion economic freedom, entrepreneurship, civic space, and the rule of law as the essential building blocks for a strong economy and a vibrant democracy.

As we enter the third decade of our work in Bulgaria, we will continue to support the country’s progress toward the forefront of the European Union—a place it deserves thanks to the talent, creativity, and resilience of its people.

One of the most important lessons we have learned is that the most complex societal and economic challenges cannot be solved by any one sector alone. Lasting and effective solutions are only possible when the energy of civil society meets with the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of business, the partnership of donors, the political will of the government, and the objective storytelling of independent media. Only through the constructive collaboration of all sectors can long-term social, political, and economic progress be achieved. That is why we focus our efforts on three priority pathways:

• Innovative Private Sector Development
• Democratic Resilience
• Private Sector-Civil Society Collaborative Impact

ABF accepts proposals throughout the year through our Apply for Funding Page. We also solicit proposals through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Active RFPs will be posted on our Request for Proposals Page. We also proactively approach organizations that are independently identified by our staff and initiate projects ourselves.

If you want to learn more about us and our work, check the FAQ section.