A total of 315 projects were submitted through the online platform of United Bulgarian Bank’s (UBB) donation program “Choose to Help”, part of KBC Group in Bulgaria. At the end of July, the first phase of the program’s 17th edition came to a close. Unique in its nature, the initiative combines individual, corporate and external donations to support the implementation of impactful social causes.

This year’s edition attracted 97 more projects than last year, representing a growth of 44.5% and marking the highest result in the program’s history. “Choose to Help” continues to gain the trust of non-governmental organisations and institutions, with the number of participating projects setting a new record compared to the previous record-breaking year, when 218 projects were submitted.

As in previous years, projects have been submitted from all regions of Bulgaria, representing small, medium-sized and large municipalities. They are distributed across four categories: healthcare Projects, social Projects, cultural and educational Projects, and environmental projects. Among the applicants are both long-standing participants who regularly submit initiatives under the programme and organisations applying for the first time with a new project or idea.

“The large number of submitted projects is a clear sign of the trust that organisations across the country place in the ‘Choose to Help’ program and in UBB as a partner in supporting important social causes. For us, this is proof that the program delivers real value and addresses specific needs within society. I am particularly pleased to see such broad representation this year, with projects from different regions and communities, as well as many new organisations presenting their ideas for the benefit of people for the first time. Through these initiatives, we gain a deeper understanding of society’s pulse, identifying the real challenges and the areas where UBB can have the greatest positive impact as a responsible organisation,” commented Christof De Mil, CEO of UBB.
In accordance with the program regulations, all projects meeting the eligibility requirements of “Choose to Help” have been submitted for external evaluation by the Bulgarian Donors’ Forum (BDF). The projects are assessed based on the organisation’s capacity to implement the project, its social impact and sustainability, the alignment between the scope of the campaign and the funding requested, the feasibility of implementation relative to the funding sought, and the measurability of results. Additional consideration is given to projects that can involve UBB employee volunteers in their implementation.

Following the BDF evaluation, the projects will go through UBB’s internal review and approval process. At the beginning of October, the Bank’s Management Board will approve the projects that will proceed to the main fundraising phase. The campaign is scheduled to launch on 20 October 2026 for KBC Group employees in Bulgaria and on 1 November 2026 for external donors.

The fundraising campaign will continue until 31 December 2026. UBB will match and supplement employee donations by contributing an additional EUR 50 for each donation of EUR 10 or more per project, EUR 25 for donations between EUR 5 and EUR 9.99, and EUR 5 for donations between EUR 1 and EUR 4.99 per project.

“Choose to Help” is UBB’s corporate donation program, which has been running for 16 editions to date. Over the years, it has raised more than EUR 2 million and supported 345 projects implemented by 180 organisations across Bulgaria. The program remains an integral part of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility strategy.