Developed by the Bucharest Community Foundation through the Environmental Platform for Bucharest, with support from ING Bank Romania, the program „In ZONA TA” will be available until April 7, 2025. Civic initiative groups, non-governmental organizations, and public educational institutions can submit ideas and project proposals that can make a difference in their local community and the selected initiatives will receive support from concept to implementation.

Funding of up to €15,000 for the second edition of „În ZONA TA”

The "In ZONA TA" program continues to actively engage local communities in transforming the environment and quality of life in the city, neighborhood by neighborhood. Last year, the Bucharest Community Foundation revitalized the civic movement in the Capital, bringing concrete solutions at the heart of urban life, in apartment buildings. By mobilizing ten communities and providing funding of up to €15,000 per project, six new civic initiative groups and four NGOs transformed neglected spaces into gardens, increased separate waste collection and energy efficiency in residential buildings, and developed infrastructure for alternative transportation for themselves and their neighbors.

In the second edition of the program, in addition to nearly €140,000 in total grants for selected environmental initiatives, the Bucharest Community Foundation provides a project incubator, mentorship, and access to specialists to help civic groups turn their ideas into concrete solutions.

Eligible projects for a grant include repair centers for household items, community-accessible libraries of shared objects, neighborhood events for exchanging clothes, books, and other items, cooking workshops aimed at reducing food waste, composting stations, parking and repair hubs for bicycles and scooters, and urban community gardens.

”We all surely notice things around us that could be improved for our community and the environment and our mission is to move from observation to action, because each of us has the power to make a difference. The projects funded in the first edition have already proven that change is possible and the dedication and energy of the micro-communities that came together around these initiatives have been truly inspiring, giving us the confidence that, together, we can continue making Bucharest a better place to live in,” said Alina Kasprovschi, Executive Director, Bucharest Community Foundation.

How to sign up to the „În ZONA TA” program

Initiative groups composed of at least three people who want to plan and implement a project together, non-governmental organizations with no political affiliation, and public educational institutions looking to develop an environmental project with community engagement potential can apply for funding until April 7, 2025, by completing this online application form.

Submitted initiatives will be evaluated, and representatives of the selected projects will participate in the project incubator, from April 28 to May 31, 2025, receiving support in project planning and management, budget administration, community engagement, project communication, and specialized consultancy tailored to their development needs.

The final projects eligible for grants will be selected by June 10, 2025, and implemented by May 31, 2026. The allocated funding amounts will be established based on the complexity of each initiative and the resources required for its development.

”We know that addressing environmental challenges in the community is a shared responsibility and that everyone can contribute to change, which is why we wanted to support the Environmental Platform for Bucharest in multiple initiatives. We are happy that, through the program, we can amplify the civic movement and provide people with the resources they need to turn issues around them into concrete solutions for a healthier, cleaner, and greener Bucharest,” said Tomina Vodarici, Community Investment Specialist, ING Bank Romania.