On February 16, 2026, the Code Success Fund call for proposals was opened, offering civic organizations in Bulgaria the opportunity to turn their ideas into real actions with a lasting impact. With a total budget of €450,000, the initiative will support active civil society organizations that defend democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

The fund is part of the PACT project and is primarily aimed at smaller organizations outside major urban centers. Eligible applicants are non-profit legal entities registered in Bulgaria, including community centers and branches of foreign NGOs.

The fund will support initiatives that raise awareness of EU rights and values, promote democracy and active civic participation, protect media freedom and counter disinformation, and work for equality, inclusion, and non-discrimination, among other things.

Proposals must contribute to the priorities of the PACT project – “EU Rights,” “Democracy,” and “Diversity and Equality,” with gender equality and non-discrimination applied as a horizontal principle in all activities.

Around 30 initiatives are expected to be supported. The maximum amount of grant funding is up to €15,000 per project, with no co-financing required. The duration of the projects can be between 12 and 18 months.

The call for proposals will be conducted in two stages: By April 20, 2026 (5:00 p.m.), applicants must submit a concept for an initiative. Approved concepts will be admitted to the second stage—the development of a full project proposal with a deadline of August 3, 2026 (5:00 p.m.).

Applications are submitted entirely online through the Electronic System for Project Submission and Management (ESPUP). The guidelines and all necessary documents are available on the project website.

To assist candidates, three in-person information meetings are planned – in Sofia (February 23), Stara Zagora (March 9), and Burgas (March 11), as well as two online webinars on February 24 and 27, 2026, where the criteria and practical guidelines for successful application will be presented. Participation in these events is subject to prior registration. You can register for the face-to-face meetings here, and for the webinars – here.

The Code Success Fund is managed by the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation and is part of the PACT project. The project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program in the amount of €4,264,112.97, representing 90% of its budget. The funding institution is the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), in accordance with the powers delegated to it by the European Commission.

The project is implemented by a consortium comprising: Open Society Institute – Sofia Foundation, Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation, and The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) – International Non-Governmental Association “European Service for Citizen Action.”