Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF) has been created in 2001 as indigenous Bulgarian NGO building its structure and capacities over the gained experience in the process of implementation of the Charity Know How Programme for Bulgaria. The organization is registered as a public benefit not for profit legal entity under the Act on the legal not for profit entities in Bulgaria. It has a special registration under the Ministry of Justice Department for the public benefit entities. Preconditions for such registration are public reporting and transparent accounts and two levels of management.

WCIF encourages different communities to undertake responsibility and work actively for social development using effectively the available local resources. WCIF has a long-term vision of becoming:

• A source of indigenous and independent funding for civic initiatives related to social justice, community development and CSOs development in Bulgaria;
• A source of cutting-edge expertise in the areas of CSOs development and sustainability, community development and participation, as well as local philanthropy development;

WCIF believes that the mission and the vision of the Foundation are relevant for the contemporary Bulgarian society, as in the years after 1989 the CSOs were the one that reinforced some important notion lost during communism, such as individual responsibility, trust, caring, and philanthropy.

The underlying values and principles of WCIF include:

• Participation and inclusiveness – we perceive participation and inclusiveness as a key factor for the success of our work as it provides the necessary balance and involvement important to every intervention in the field of development;
• Communities have their resources – this is crucial for the process of local development and is a turning point into our approach, as we build upon local assets instead of introducing new ones;
• Dialogue with all parties involved – this is our instrument to encourage partnership and assure involvement on the basis of honesty and openness for effective cooperation; 
• Accountability and transparency – we are open and accountable not only to our donors, but to the communities we work with and for, and to all others interested in our work; 
• Value for money – we provide know-how, but also build relations and invest in communities, thus mobilising local potential and ensuring an effect of our work going far beyond the value of the investment made; 
• Recognizing, understanding and respecting diversity.

To achieve its mission WCIF has identified three main areas of operations:

• Development and strengthening of civic organisations as an important factor in the process of civil society development; 
• Development of local philanthropy as a prerequisite for the development of vibrant civic organisations; 
• Development of cooperation among stakeholders in communities as an important tool for achieving social change on the basis of joint responsibility.
• WCIF’s operations are based on two main areas of intervention: funding for development and capacity building. WCIF is among the few foundations in Bulgaria that systematically combine financial assistance with capacity building to NGOs and CBOs. The goal is to provide financial support for the implementation of public benefit projects and at the same time strengthen the professional level of non-profit organizations, thus WCIF helps building vibrant and stable communities in Bulgaria.