🏷️ Title
Fundraising for Democracy Conference: Empowering Civil Society in Challenging Times
📅 Date
5 June 2025 (Thursday)
🕘 Start Time: 9:00 AM
🕔 End Time: 5:00 PM
📍 Location
Sofia Balkan Palace Hotel
Sofia, Bulgaria
📋 Agenda (Thematic Tracks)
Main Sessions Include:
- Philanthropy and Social Change in CEE
- Cross-sector Partnerships in Fundraising
- Crowdfunding for Difficult Causes
- Watchdog to Fundraising Transition
- Major Donors and Democratic Engagement
Parallel Panels:
- Digital Mobilization and Innovation
- Storytelling and Campaigning for Civil Rights
- Branding for Donor Trust
- Local Community Empowerment
- Corporate Giving and Donor Strategies
🎤 Speakers
International Experts:
- Dr. Rupert Graf Strachwitz (Maecenata Foundation, Germany)
- Richard Docwra (ChangeStar, UK)
- Eduard Marček (Transparency Int’l Slovakia)
- Andrzej Pietrucha (FAOO, Poland)
- Jan Kroupa (Czech Fundraising Center)
- Björn Lampe (Betterplace.org, Germany)
- Giedrė Šopaitė (Baltic Fundraising Hub, Lithuania)
- Cătălin Dinu (2doGood, Romania)
- Katarzyna Batko-Toluc (Citizens Network Watchdog Poland)
- Zuzana Suchova (Donio, Slovakia)
Bulgarian Fundraisers & Leaders:
- Petar Torneff (Accenture Bulgaria)
- Dilyana Maneva (For Our Children Foundation)
- Simeon Vasilev (GLAS Foundation)
- Milena Ivanova (INSEAD Fund)
- Neli Kocheva (Teach for Bulgaria)
- Nadia Shabani (BCNL)
- Svetla Parmakova (One Percent Change)
- Luben Panov (America for Bulgaria Foundation)
- Aylin Yumerova-Petrova (BCNL)
- Gabriela Marinova (CSR Expert)
💡 Summary of Value
This is Bulgaria’s first international fundraising conference focused on democracy, philanthropy, and digital activism. The event aims to:
- Equip NGOs and CSOs with cutting-edge fundraising tools.
- Showcase major donor engagement strategies.
- Bridge grassroots activism with sustainable funding.
- Build a regional network of philanthropic leaders.
- Offer exclusive access to fundraising knowledge from top European experts.
👥 Who Should Attend
- Fundraising professionals
- Grassroots CSO staff
- Donor organizations
- CSR & ESG managers
- Digital campaigners
- Civil rights advocates
- Philanthropy researchers
🏷️ Official Hashtags
#FundraisingBG2025#DemocracyInAction#GiveForChange#CEEPhilanthropy#FundraisingConference