In 2017 donations by individual benefactors, companies and foundations in Bulgaria totaled 101 million Leva (52 million euro), or 0.1 percent of the GDP, Krasimira Velichkova, head of the Bulgarian Donors Forum told the Bulgarian National Radio.

Compared to 2016, donations have marked a 5 percent increase. Approximately half of the donations were for causes and projects connected with education, and child and youth development. An analysis by the forum shows that “in recent years there has been a tendency of constant attacks, by certain media outlets and circles, against the civil sector, but also against any active and independent person or business, or organization, and of stigmatizing the work of these organizations.” That is the reason why the Bulgarian Donors Forum is registering a deterioration of the philanthropy environment in the country.