Event Agenda

Time slot

Session topic

Guest Speakers

Moderator

Hall

Time slot

9:00 – 9:30

Session topic

Registration – Reception

Hall

Panel 1: Plenary Sessions

Time slot

9:30 – 9:45

Session topic

Stand-up: Fundraising as the Courage to Care about the Daily Life
(English translated)

We’ll go back to the roots of Bulgarian history, where national heroes were already involved in fundraising long before the term became a buzzword. We’ll talk about money, its history, and what it means to us. We’ll reflect, we’ll laugh, and we’ll kick off a lively conversation about the power of philanthropy with stand-up comedy star Olya Malinova, better known as the Minister of Happiness.

Guest speaker

Olya Malinova

(3 Women on the Mic, Bulgaria)

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

09:45 – 10:30 

Session topic

Fundraising Without Burning Out: 10 Strategies for Navigating Transformational Change
(English translated)

Kay Sprinkel Grace, a seasoned international NGO thought leader and consultant, will examine the tremendous transformation occurring in our work and share 10 strategies that have kept her energized and motivated through significant changes in the challenges and opportunities we face.

Guest speaker

Kay Sprinkel Grace

(Transforming Philanthropy, US)

Moderator

Eduard Marček

(European Fundraising Association)

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

10:30 – 11:15 

Session topic

Community Fundraising: Digital mobilization of mass audience
(English translated)

Across the world, right-wing and far-right movements are shaping public debate with simple messages, strong narratives and relentless digital campaigning. Too often NGOs respond quietly. In this session, we will hear advice for charitable organizations that need to raise their voices and mobilize people at scale if they want to win the fights that matter. Drawing on political campaigns and NGO case studies, we will explore how clear messaging, strong values and simple actions can inspire people to give their time, voice and money and convert public support into real change.

Guest speaker

Paul de Gregorio

(Rally, GB)

Moderator

Eduard Marček

(European Fundraising Association)

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

11:15 – 11:45

Coffee break – Serdika, Ground floor

Panel 2: Business Panels

Time slot

11:45 – 12:30

Session topic

Business Alliance for Strategic Support of Good Governance and Democratic Institutions

(English translated)

During this session speakers from Slovakia and the Czech Republic will present models of business support for civil society organizations working in the areas of good governance and supporting democratic institutions.

Guest speaker

Michal Kissa

(Pontis, Slovakia)

Martin Vohanka

(Alliance for Modern State, Czech Republic)

Moderator

Luben Panov

(America for Bulgaria Foundation)

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

12:30 – 12:40

Session topic

Cross-Sectoral Partnerships with Business: The Driving Force for Civil Society Development

(English translated)

Cross-sector collaborations are the future, accelerating the next level of interaction between civil society and business and contributing not only to bringing these two worlds closer together, but also to devising truly effective solutions that benefit society. In this session, we will hear the lessons learned from the experience of the largest donor organization in Bulgaria.

Guest speaker

Nancy Schiller

(America for Bulgaria Foundation)

Moderator

Luben Panov

(America for Bulgaria Foundation)

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

12:40 – 13:20

Session topic

CEO talks: Mobilizing Private Capital for Social Good

(English translated)

In an informal conversation with leaders of companies implementing large-scale corporate social responsibility programs, we will discuss the role of business in mobilizing private capital for the public good including both opportunities and challenges. Can impact and profit go hand in hand? Are there business arguments for this? These are just some of the questions we will explore as we examine the business perspective on funding entrepreneurs and initiatives focused on impact.

Guest speaker

Petar Torneff (Accenture Bulgaria)

Vladimir Nikolov (Fantastico, Bulgaria)

Petya Dimitrova (Post Bank)

Moderator

Anna Korzeniewska

(Social Impact Alliance for Central & Eastern Europe)

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

13:20 – 14:00

Time for Lunch – Restaurant

Panel 3: Parallel sessions

Time slot

14:00 – 14:45

Session topic

Session 1: Engaging The Next Generation of Donors

(English translated)

As the younger generation begins to transform “traditional” approaches to philanthropy, is your organization ready to embrace this change? With the new generation of donors in mind, it is now more important than ever for charitable organizations to align their understanding of what motivates and engages with donors and potential donors.

Guest speaker

Lynda Harwood-Compton (Latch Fundraising, GB)

Moderator:

Latinka Ducheva (WWF, Fundraising Club Bulgaria)

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

14:00 – 14:45

Session topic

Session 2: Fundraising vs. AI: How Can We Harness the Power of AI Tools While Addressing Ethical Risks?ng aware of the ethical risks (Bulgarian only) Beyond everything that has been said about artificial intelligence, in this session we will focus the discussion on the benefits of AI tools as fundraising assistants. But we will also pay special attention to ethical standards when using new digital tools for communicating with donors, for building and maintaining trust, and for all other hidden risks for organizations.

Guest speaker

Atanas R Raykov (AI Recurring Results, Bulgaria)

Moderator:

Zahari Yankov (BCNL)

Hall

Columbus

Time slot

14:45 – 15:30

Session topic

Session 3: Financial Sustainability Perspectives of Civil Society Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe

(English translated)

This session will focus on examples from the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia of effective tools for the financial sustainability of CSOs, as well as the challenges they face: fundraising potential from private donors, the percentage mechanism, and the overall environment for work and development.

Guest speaker

Eduard Marček (Slovak Fundraising Center, Slovakia)

Andrzej Pietrucha (Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation, Poland)

Nikola Horejs (Alliance for Modern State and Blizksobe Foundation, Czech Republic)

Moderator

Alexandra Mircheva (AIBEST, Bulgaria)

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

14:45 – 15:30

Session topic

Session 4: Brand building: How do advertising agencies help tell the stories of NGOs’ causes in the context of new challenges?

(Bulgarian only)

In an open conversation between leading advertising agencies and PR specialists, we will discuss modern trends in content creation and storytelling for the causes of civic organizations. How partnerships with advertising agencies can help amplify the impact of fundraising campaigns and overcome new restrictions on social media are among the questions we will bring to the table.

Guest speaker

Gergana Ivanova (The Smarts, Bulgaria)

Ivelina Gicheva (The Convo, Bulgaria)

Iva Grigorova (Publicis, Bulgaria)

Moderator

Dilyana Maneva (For Our Children Foundation, Fundraising Club Bulgaria)

Hall

Columbus

Time slot

15:30 – 16:15

Session topic

Session 5: Brave NGO Campaigns for Stretching the Boundaries

(English translated)

The goal of every fundraising campaign is to inspire, give hope, and motivate action. In the context of fundraising in times of courage, we will hear the inspiring stories of Bulgarian organizations that dare to push the boundaries of the familiar and successfully raise support for causes that are unconventional for the Bulgarian reality.

Guest speaker

Denitsa Rukanova (Anti-Corruption Fund, Bulgaria)

Petar Dimitrov (A to Jazz, Bulgaria)

Maria Tsantsarova Оff the Air Project, Bulgaria)

Moderator

Neli Kocheva

(Teach for All Bulgaria, Fundraising Club Bulgaria

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

15:30 – 16:15

Session topic

Session 6: Social Impact of Fundraising: Why is it important to measure the effect of our work?

(Bulgarian only)

Despite the common understanding that fundraising is not an end, are we able to demonstrate the true impact of our fundraising efforts? Why is it important to measure the impact of our campaigns, and more importantly – how to demonstrate the impact of donated funds in a way that earns the trust of our donors and inspires them to continue their support—we will learn in this conversation between organizations and research agencies with specialized impact measurement metrics.

Guest speaker

Lora Lalova (Generali Insurance Bulgaria)

Moderator

Theodora Ivanova (Impact Drive, Fundraising Club Bulgaria)

Hall

Columbus

Time slot

16:15 – 16:30

Short break and gathering in Einstein Hall

Panel 4: Plenary

Time slot

16:30 – 16:50

Session topic

The Only Constant is Change: More Than Ever, You Matter

(English translated)

As leaders and fundraisers, we are both the anchors and the sails for our organizations and our communities. Closing our June 18 Conference, Kay Sprinkel Grace’s plenary will focus on you and your importance to the future of the NGO sector. Through stories and insights, she will leave you inspired and motivated.

Guest speaker

Kay Sprinkel Grace (Transforming Philanthropy, US)

Moderator

Hall

Einstein

Time slot

16:50 – 17:00

Session topic

Closing Sketch: Fundraisers Talk

(English translated)

At the end of the conference, we will hear the most important lessons, tips, and challenges facing fundraisers, as summarized by the fundraisers themselves.

Guest speaker

Moderator

Hall

Einstein

* If necessary, the organizers may change the schedule of the sessions without affecting the content of the agenda. The final version of the agenda will be sent to registered participants together with the information package by June 4, 2025.

The conference is initiated by Fundraising Club Bulgaria and organized by the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL) with the financial support of the America for Bulgaria Foundation within the project “Stronger Together: Engaging Other Sectors in Civil Society Initiatives (2026–2028)”.

Partners supporting the event are Accenture Bulgaria, Fantastico, and Vivacom.

The event is held in collaboration with the European Fundraising Association (EFA) and Social Impact Alliance for Central and Eastern Europe