Good practice:

Entrepreneurship for non-profit organizations

The program combines a few components: 1) Building business planning and financial planning skills among civic organizations planning to launch a mission-related economic activity. 2) Opportunity to participate in the competition NGO Best Business Plan and receive a cash prize, as an initial investment for entrepreneurial activity. 3) Follow-up mentoring at the start-up stage.
Updated program with the Initiative «Save the Saviors» (due to the COVID-19 situation): 1) supports 5 small businesses that work for the most vulnerable: people with disabilities, young people in difficult situations, single mothers, the elderly and others in difficult situations. 2) The enterprises received between 3 and 6 thousand BGN to cover their reduced revenues or newly incurred expenses in the emergency situation. 3) Individual expert consultation on key questions for their survival.
4) Special edition of the competition NGO Best business plan - 30,000 BGN prize fund, distributed among the three best business ideas of civil society organizations. 5) Online platform for products and services with a cause produced by Bulgarian social enterprises.

The program supported 5 small businesses that work for the most vulnerable. The enterprises received between 3 and 6 thousand BGN to cover their reduced revenues or newly incurred.

The social impact of the 2014-2019 NGO Entrepreneurship program: 1) Over 430 people who directly benefit from the activities of social enterprises (training and other support); 2) Over 50 new jobs created for people from vulnerable groups; 3) Over 180 volunteers involved; 4) Over 90 new business clients attracted.
New program: 1) Initiative «Save the Saviors»; 2) Special edition of the competition NGO Best business plan; 3) Online platform for products and services with a cause.

The declared state of emergency and the restrictive measures imposed due to the spread of COVID-19 have led to a change in the business environment and to an increase in social needs in society.

The initiatives, experience, method of interaction can be easily disseminated and transferred to all member states, especially in current difficult COVID-19 situation. The development and implementation of such initiatives and programs can be easily transferred to other geographic regions or countries. All states have to deal with the challenge of developing instruments within the difficult situation of COVID-19. The methodology of the program is flexible and easily adaptable to various stages of development of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem.