History

• Establishment of the Foundation as a continuation of the British Charity Know How program implemented in Bulgaria.
• Implementation of the first WCIF program – “Knowledge, Success, Change”.

• WCIF launches the pilot edition of the Living Heritage Program, the only program funded by private foundations and companies that has been running for over 10 years.
• WCIF becomes a partner of the English organization Alawida in the program for the promotion of youth cooperation in South East Europe – youthEXchange.SEE, that is implemented for two years.

• The first corporate fund managed by a foundation in Bulgaria – the First Investment Bank’s Social Responsibility Fund – is established at WCIF.
• WCIF becomes the founder of the Bulgarian Donors Forum /BDF/. In the period 2004 – 2012, a representative of WCIF sits on the Board of BDF.
• WCIF publishes the book “Knowledge, Success, Change” – a training manual for NGO trainers.

• The first fundraising platform in the country, FloodAid, is created by WCIF. The funds raised cover the damages from the 2005 floods in Bulgaria. The platform wins an award for the best fundraising website.

• WCIF launches an online fundraising website – zaedno.bg.
• The first edition of the “Zaedno” /Together/ awards that promote successful fundraising campaigns, takes place.

• WCIF becomes the national support organization for Community Foundations in Bulgaria.
• WCIF becomes the official partner of the TechSoup technology donation platform for Bulgaria.

WCIF establishes the country’s first Standards for Good NGO Governance.

• Valya Krushkina Fund is established at WCIF in memory of the beloved Bulgarian journalist Valya Krushkina.
• WCIF becomes a partner of Eurofootball and together they launch the program “Sports Talents” to support the young promising athletes of Bulgaria.
• WCIF becomes member of the consortia of the Fund Operator of European Economic Area NGO Program.
• WCIF establishes, through a fundraising campaign, its own endowment fund.
• WCIF and SAP Labs Bulgaria launch the “Knowledge for Success” program, which aims to encourage the interest of young people from small towns in mathematics, science and information technology.

• WCIF together with SAP Labs Bulgaria receives the award of the Bulgarian Donors Forum for the most successful partnership between business and NGOs.
• WCIF receives the Democratic Citizenship Award of the European Citizenship Forum in the category “Media Initiative of the Year” for the project “Comics for Equality”.
• WCIF organizes the tenth anniversary edition of the Zaedno /Together/ Awards.
• With the financial support of the OAK Foundation, WCIF launches the Child and Youth Development Program, based on an approach that takes into account and builds on children’s strengths.

• WCIF and Eurofootball receive the Most Successful Partnership award for the Sports Talents program and Biggest Corporate Donor award of the Bulgarian Donors Forum /BDF/.
• WCIF, together with Lidl Bulgaria and in partnership with the BDF launches the initiative You and Lidl – for a better life.

• WCIF’s Executive Director – Iliyana Nikolova becomes Ambassador for Bulgaria of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
• WCIF, together with the Open Society Institute – Sofia and the Trust for Social Achievement, became the Fund Operator of the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria of the European Economic Area
• MIF Initiatives Fund is established at WCIF. The fund aims to support and promote the development of mathematics and informatics in Bulgaria.

• For Ali Fund is set up at WCIF in support of the education of Albena Ivaylova’s daughter Ali.
• WCIF and Lidl Bulgaria win the prize for Best Business-NGO Partnership for the initiative You and Lidl for a Better Life.
• Iliyana Nikolova, Executive Director of WCIF, becomes the Ambassador for Bulgaria of the European Citizenship Initiative.
• WCIF and Eurofootball receive an award for the Sports Talent Program at the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum Awards in the category “Investor in Society”.
• The initiative You and Lidl – for a Better Life receives the award of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum in the category “Investor in Education”.
• The initiative You and Lidl for a Better Life wins the award “Most Sustainable Giving Program” in the competition Biggest Corporate Giver of the Bulgarian Donors Forum.

• For the children of Milen Fund is set up at WCIF in support of the education of the daughter and son of the prominent journalist Milen Tzvetkov.
• WCIF together with the Bulgarian Donors Forum and the National Network for Children launch the IRIS Program that supports children and families affected by COVID-19.

• WCIF and SAP Labs Bulgaria win the BDF’s “Largest Corporate Donor” award in the “Most Successful Partnership” category. The award is for the joint initiative “Meet and Code”.
• The MIraGE project has been uploaded as an example of good practice on the European Integration website.

The initiative You and Lidl for a Better Life wins the prize in the category Best Donation Program at the annual awards of the Bulgarian Donors Forum in the category Corporate Donor.

WCIF’s Executive Director wins the special award “Golden apple” of the National Network for Children